Adult social care: all “innovation”and no money
The government’s White Paper “Care and Support”, on reforming adult social services, was launched on 11 July. It is full of supposedly innovative ideas but without any money or commitment. The government keeps repeating that it will put £300 million into adult social care between 2013 and 2015. The majority of this money is to implement the innovative ideas with none left to cover shortfalls left by cuts to a system that was already on its knees. The government’s answers to problems involve the appointment of principal social workers in local authorities (with a very ill-defined role), social...