Title

HEALTH

Lack of social care plans could 'destabilise' reforms

Local authority leaders have warned that the absence of a long-term, fully funded plan for social care could destabilise other health and care reforms.

Local authority leaders have warned that the absence of a long-term, fully funded plan for social care could destabilise other health and care reforms.

A report by the Health and Social Care Committee into government reforms of the NHS and social care called for new legislation that would impose a duty on the Government to publish a 10-year social care plan with detailed costings, within six months of the Health and Care Bill receiving Royal Assent.

The committee warned that the lack of a fully funded plan for social care could undermine the success of the creation of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) throughout England.

Its report follows criticism from across the care sector that there was no funding pledge on social care reform in the Queen's Speech.

Chairman of the Local Government Association's (LGA) community wellbeing board, Cllr David Fothergill, said: ‘The absence of a long-term, fully funded plan for social care has the potential to destabilise other proposed health and care reforms.'

However, Cllr Fothergill said that the LGA had ‘significant concerns' about the report's recommendation for Ofsted-style ratings for councils' social care services.

HEALTH

Impact of ICB cuts leads councils to moot legal challenge

By Paul Marinko | 06 November 2026

Councils have been warned they may need to test the legalities of Integrated Care Board (ICBs) cuts as restructuring plans leave gaps for them to fill.

HEALTH

Levelling out uneven social care provision

By Rosie Fogden | 29 October 2026

Fixing the postcode penalty for social care is key if growth is to reach all places, say Ben Franklin and Rosie Fogden.

HEALTH

Post-Grenfell progress still under scrutiny

By Dan Peters | 28 October 2026

The Building Safety Bill strengthens council enforcement powers on unsafe cladding, but funding and staff shortages threaten remediation progress. Dan Peters...

HEALTH

Local government seeks SEND deficit clarity ahead of Budget

By Martin Ford | 22 October 2026

Local government has called for clarity on deficits arising from special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services in next week’s Budget.

Popular articles by William Eichler

-->