Health and Social Care Secretary outlines social care strategy

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has set out the government’s programme to address the social care challenge.

Speaking to the Local Government Association at its annual conference in Bournemouth, Mr Hancock laid out a seven point plan to tackle the social care crisis.

The Health and Social Care Secretary firstly highlighted the need to develop Integrated Care Systems bringing together the NHS and local government.

He focused on areas, such as Hampshire, Salford and Leeds, where the NHS and local authorities are pooling budgets, jointly designating lead commissioners and creating more integrated systems.

Secondly, the minister highlighted the role of Health and Wellbeing Boards in bringing together local authorities, NHS commissioners, and elected representatives to create a strategic vision and identify care needs and co-ordinate care.

The minister also announced the introduction of specialist content within the Care Certificate to help staff develop the skills and training they need to support people with learning disabilities, autism or mental health issues.

He also highlighted the government’s £3m recruitment campaign to attract the right people into social care and announced a rise in the Carers Innovations Fund from £0.5m to £5m to support the millions of people caring for a loved one.

Mr Hancock added the government aimed to provide an additional 5m people with personalised care within the next decade.

Lastly, the minister stressed the importance of technology in the provision of health and social care.

He indicated the importance of assistive technology such as Amazon’s Alex in helping he elderly and vulnerable in remembering to take their medication.

The minister also described audio monitoring systems in care homes as “life-saving” technology and drew attention to the specialist tech unit, NHSX, which is designed to take tech transformation to health and social care.