Social Care Reform Gains Momentum
Adult social care has returned firmly to the national spotlight, with a series of developments this month signalling growing momentum behind long-awaited reform.
The Government has published an update to Baroness Casey outlining progress against recommendations relating to safeguarding, dementia and motor neurone disease, while reaffirming its commitment to the Casey Commission's wider programme of reform. Baroness Casey has also indicated that she would be open to an accelerated timetable should the new Prime Minister seek to move more quickly. Alongside this, a new report from the Health Foundation has highlighted ongoing fragility within the social care workforce, warning that workforce pressures remain a significant challenge for the sector.
Taken together, these developments point to a period of significant change for adult social care. Questions about workforce sustainability, prevention, community support, and the future shape of care services are increasingly moving to the centre of national policy discussions.
As part of this conversation, the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH) submitted evidence to the Casey Commission in January 2026, setting out our perspective on how adult social care could better harness preventative, relational and community-based approaches. Our submission highlighted examples of creative health supporting social connection, reablement, support for autistic people and people with learning disabilities, workforce wellbeing, and unpaid carers. It also argued that community and voluntary sector assets are too often overlooked, despite their potential to strengthen prevention, improve quality of life, and reduce pressure on formal services.
The submission reflects our view that future reform should not focus solely on how care services are organised, but also on how people are supported to live meaningful, connected and fulfilling lives. It calls for greater recognition of the behavioural, social and relational factors that underpin independence and wellbeing, alongside efforts to improve efficiency and productivity.
Looking ahead, NCCH is committed to strengthening its contribution to social care policy and practice. With social care reform once again rising up the national agenda, we look forward to building on this work in the years ahead, supported by the expertise and insight of our newest trustee and through continued collaboration with partners across health, social care, culture and communities.
