The annual political party conferences have been all over the news in recent weeks, with Prime Minister David Cameron attacking Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-austerity policies by calling the newly elected Labour leader ‘Britain-hating’. As the rival parties, their leaders and their supporters seem to be more in opposition than ever before, what does that mean in regards to their social care policies? Let’s take a look.
Conservatives
While in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives introduced the Health and Social Care Act 2012. This Act, among other things, offered provisions for the regulation of health and social care workers, as well as greater integration between health and social care. However, a 2014 local government report stated, as its key finding, that during the coalition’s tenure, local government cuts, including a reduction in social work jobs in certain areas, had ‘impacted dramatically on adult social care and its capacity to deliver’.
The Lib Dems are now gone, and the Conservatives govern alone. In the run-up to this year’s general election, more funding and increased integration was promised, via the Better Care Fund, which supports councils and NHS organisations to plan, deliver and manage local services. This was tied into the Tories’ ‘bigger picture’ of devolved regional government. In their manifesto, the party also promised to cap charges for residential social care from next April and be flexible in terms of payment, so people don’t have to sell their homes to fund care.
Labour
Labour has repeatedly promised to repeal the controversial Health and Social Care Act if elected. Consigned to a further five years in opposition, we now know that this will have to wait, although the recent ascent of Mr Corbyn to the party leadership has shaken things up a little.
Corbyn has echoed the Tories’ calls for greater integration between the NHS and social care. He has strong sentiments in regard to mental health, promising to increase expenditure in this area and even make mental health education part of the curriculum. This view correlates with that of the Labour party manifesto which places an emphasis on a good education being vital in tackling the problems of society.
One of Labour’s main health and social care policies is to invest in 5,000 new social work jobs and care workers to help support disabled and vulnerable people in their own homes. The party also wants to end the 15 minute time limit on social care visits, something often experienced by older people.
