Our vision at More Than a Provider, which brings together six not-for-profit organisations that support adults with learning disabilities and autistic people, is to help people live “gloriously ordinary lives” in our communities and neighbourhoods.
That vision depends on stable, well-funded social care. This Budget does not move us any closer to that.
Rather than taking responsibility for reform in this parliament, the government has chosen to wait for the Casey Commission, whose final report will not land until 2028. Adults who draw on support, and the colleagues who support them, cannot put their lives on hold until then.
The promised £500 million for the first Fair Pay Agreement in social care, also not due to be implemented before 2028, is far too small to transform pay or conditions at scale.
There is still no interim plan that would lift support worker pay towards NHS Band 3, support career progression, and retain experienced colleagues in the sector.
We want to see urgent investment in pay, and a realistic settlement for councils, so that social care workers are properly valued, and people receive consistent, high-quality support in their own homes through supported living.
The future of social care should be built now, not left to the next parliament.