VODG Responds to Yvette Cooper’s Social Care Workforce Plans
Speaking at the Party Conference today, Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced plans for a social care workforce action plan, including an expansion of the Work Academy programme in care, with a focus on career opportunities for young people. She also reaffirmed the Prime Minister’s commitment to social care reform and announced plans for the first national collective pension scheme for people working in care.
Responding to the announcements, Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), said:
“We welcome Yvette Cooper’s announcements on social care today, which further underline the Prime Minister’s commitment to the delivery of care and support millions of people rely on.
'Within the new social care Workforce Plan, we are pleased to see a focus on supporting more young people into employment through the expansion of academy places in care. The Fair Pay Agreement is an important first step towards greater recognition of the contribution made by people working in adult social care, alongside plans announced today for a national collective pension scheme for care workers.
“However capacity remains an immediate pressure across social care. With a number of changes underway, it is important that organisations already experiencing significant change and challenge are supported, and fully funded, to implement the reforms coming down the line, and not placed under further strain.
“As the Government takes forward its wider plans for social care, disabled people of all ages must be at the heart of the conversation. While much of the debate continues to focus on care in later life, we must not lose sight of the millions of disabled people who rely on social care to live independently and have choice and control over their lives.
“VODG and our members stand ready to work with the Government to ensure these reforms deliver for both the social care workforce and the people they support.”