A sector-leading and nationwide private home care group, Guardian Angel Carers, has commented on the long-anticipated reforms announced by the Labour government since the elections last July and offered clarity about the impacts and timings of those changes from the perspective of the at-home care space.
Guardian Angel Carers, first established in 2012, has a reputation for exceptional quality care. Through a franchise-based model, it has expanded rapidly over the interim years, now offering a full array of personalised, visiting, live-in, and overnight care in 15 territories across England and Wales, with a head office based in Chichester.
Summarising the Changes Made to Social Care: The Positives and Negatives
In the last few months, there have been numerous announcements and proposals, and some reforms and changes have directly affected familial finances, security, and access to care, with the most significant impacts almost always affecting the most vulnerable.
Among those changes broadly considered as having a detrimental impact are:
- The introduction of means testing to receive winter fuel payments. This has resulted in 10 million retirees, including those on or close to the poverty line, not receiving a payment.
- The previously proposed cap on lifetime care costs is being removed without an indication that it will be reintroduced. This means that families are responsible for some or all of their care costs at home or in a residential facility if they have incomes or assets worth over £23,250.
Other unwelcome changes for many include the news that the planned investment in a Development Fund for Adult Social Care Training will not now proceed. The intention had been to create a new fund to help develop a better-skilled adult social care workforce.
More positive announcements include the launch of a new Level 2 Care Certificate qualification and the development of a Care Workforce Pathway, alongside tentative proposals around fair pay agreements and the creation of a National Care Service. As yet, none of these initiatives have been realised.
Upcoming Investments and Reforms to Benefit the Adult Social Care Sector
Vikki Craig-Vickers, MD of Guardian Angel Carers, says, ‘It is no secret or surprise that much of the home care and wider adult social care sector is under critical pressure, to the extent that services are simply unavailable or already operating at multiple times capacity in some areas.
The impacts on individuals and families are profound, with some unable to find any form of practical support following a life-limiting diagnosis or progression of a cognitive condition, worried about being forced to sell a family home, or left reliant on family caregivers and unpaid carers to cope.
We are pleased to hear about some of the new proposals, but, as always, the home care sector needs action now, before already severe circumstances become even less manageable. Otherwise, the private home care sector will again be left to find innovative and dynamic ways to fill the gaps and ensure the most vulnerable are protected, supported, and respected.’
Those reforms referred to include the latest government news, published on 3rd January 2025, which announced immediate investment, the appointment of Louise Casey to lead an independent commission, and transformations to the social care sector.
Labelled the Plan for Change, the scheme is intended to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, support people who can live independently at home, and investigate the situation in adult social care to define where change is most urgently needed.
It notes that funding is being directed toward the Disabled Facilities Grant and that there is an intention to harness care technology to transform care at home, although further details about what this may look like have not been published.
The Future of Adult Social Care in the UK From 2025 Onward
Vikki adds, ‘Any promises of additional funding and new schemes are welcome. However, the government recognises that it is embarking on 'long-term reform' and a system of 'overhauling social care', both of which, in reality, are unlikely to happen very quickly.
We hope that the government and the Independent Commission will take the opportunity to look at the private home care sector. It has already demonstrated how to make swift, proactive, and meaningful changes to extend community support, using localised knowledge and feedback to ensure that care services are adaptable, relevant, and designed to meet local needs.’
The government has stated that its plans are split into two phases, with the commission due to report back in 2026 to identify the critical issues in adult social care with recommendations. The second phase is not expected until 2028, which is due to include long-term recommendations to transform adult social care.
Read more about Guardian Angel Carers - Guardian Angel Carers Highlights Access to Free Care Needs Assessments
About Guardian Angel Carers
Guardian Angel Carers is a leading home care provider dedicated to delivering compassionate, personalised care services. With a strong focus on independence, dignity, and quality of life, the company supports individuals in the comfort of their own homes, offering a range of services from companionship to complex care needs.
Media Contact:
Vikki Craig-Vickers
03333 660550
www.gacarers.co.uk
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Source Company – https://www.gacarers.co.uk/
Source: Digital PR
Release ID: 1260940