West Sussex Labour leader urges councils to shape Government’s renewed adult social care plans

West Sussex politicians and local authorities will be watching closely after the Government set out a refreshed push to reform adult social care. The announcement, which includes bringing forward an independent review and moves to improve pay and career routes for care workers, has been welcomed by West Sussex Labour Group leader Martin McCabe, who warned councils must be partners, not afterthoughts, in any redesign.

Local services at the frontline

McCabe said the debate is not abstract for the people who depend on social care, their families or the thousands employed in the sector across the county. He stressed that councils deliver care day to day and therefore understand where the system succeeds and where it fails. In his view, local government should be involved at the heart of policy design and implementation.

"For people who rely on social care, their families and the thousands of people who work in the sector, this isn't an abstract policy debate. It's about whether people can live with dignity, whether families can get the support they need, and whether care workers are properly valued for the incredibly important work they do."

What the Government says it will do

The Government has outlined several immediate actions intended to accelerate change. Those measures include:

• bringing forward an independent review by Baroness Louise Casey;
• improving pay and career progression for care workers;