This will all get fed into the Secretariat of the Casey Commission.

I'm hearing the whole range of issues and experienced being raised covering housing, care and support for older and younger adults, unpaid carers, PIP and benefits concerns, social care charging, accessibility, integration and so on - loads raised and lots of stories.

An interactive session allowed people representing all part of social care to voice their concerns, ideas, experiences to the Casey Commission. MPs dropped in as well.

MP for Shipley, Anna Dixon, one of the co-chairs of the APPG on Carers, also spoke and illustrated what she wants to see and stressed the diversity of people and communities who need a working care and support system to draw upon as well as the diversity of services needed.

The Minister for Care spoke first and outlined the government's priorities and plans - focused on legislating for a Fair Pay Agreement and the work of the Casey Commission + immediate actions they have taken. No new details I think

Good to be at ASC APPG parliamentary event today to launch their new report on meaningful engagement with people by the Casey Commission, discussion around the government's plans and an opportunity to meet MPs and voice ideas and concerns. It's a packed room! @ncfcareforum.bsky.social

Excited for #caresectorsgottalent to start & to bring @careinnovchallenge.bsky.social to The Birmingham Rep! NCF out in force to celebrate the wonderful talents within our amazing care sector! Good luck to all participants! @ncfliz.bsky.social

"It is clear that the #SpringStatement today on top of the welfare reform announcements last week will create far reaching impacts on the millions of people who rely on care & support services every day to live good lives" www.nationalcareforum.org.uk/ncf-press-re... @ncfliz.bsky.social

“While we welcome the government’s ambition to support more people into work or to stay in work, the sheer scale of the envisioned £5bn of accompanying cuts is extremely concerning for everyone relying on PIP"NCF's response to welfare reform green paper: www.nationalcareforum.org.uk/ncf-press-re...

1/4 📣 The Government has just announced major changes to benefits, including proposed changes to the Work Capability Assessment and PIP. 
 
Nothing will change immediately, but we know many people with a learning disability are anxious about what this means for them.

From the PM's speech earlier on the abolition of NHSE. Isn't this exactly what the government has done re adult social care reform?

We're at the #ProvidersUnite day in Westminster with some of our members because we #ValueSocialCare & want to help amplify provider voices about the enormous damage the employers' NI rises will cause for social care & support providers, their staff & those they support @ncfliz.bsky.social

A powerful day, a powerful message.

The government cannot ignore us when we stand together.

Social care saves lives, supports jobs, and strengthens society. It’s time for real action.

#ValueSocialCare #CareCannotWait

NCF responds as DHSC announces Casey Commission on social care  - National Care Forum The National Care Forum (NCF) - the leading association for not-for-profit social care has responded to the announcement today by the Department of Health and

“Whilst the commission makes ready, the need for urgent support for the sector continues." Read @vicrayner.bsky.social's statement in response to the announcement of an independent commission on social care www.nationalcareforum.org.uk/care-sector-... @ncfliz.bsky.social @pixelatednathan.bsky.social

On a personal note, really glad to see faith and faith organisations taken seriously as part of this vision.

Read the manifesto here:www.pilgrimsfriend.org.uk/resources/empowering-com...

'Unlocking existing community assets is essential to creating effective and long-lasting change in the care for people, as a complement and multiplier of a comprehensive government response'.

We 'need a whole community response with every player - state, voluntary, community and commercial - working together and leveraging all their assets to deliver the care that older people need.'

CEO Stephen Hammersley pointed out that simply restructuring state institutions won't bring the outcomes that the Care Act envisaged. Communities have been trying to get on with things, with limited resource.

... get on with providing support to a diverse range of people despite the barriers and lack of resource.

After the publication of the Older Persons' Housing Taskforce report earlier today, it is good to be at the Pilgrims' Friend Society event on 'Empowering communities to care' - a big stress on the power of community organisations in the face of the ever-shifting and slow gov policymaking to...

Isaac also called for a change in the narrative - let's start talking about how care helps people live good lives when thinking about recruitment.

Great point from Prof Dhesi - we need to also include the workforce in our co-production work in terms of building better services but also putting pressure on policymakers to reform the wider health and social care system and future-proof them.

"We often ask people about their experience, but we don't ever seem to use that data.... in shaping, developing and reforming the services offered".

Proper future-proofing will require the voices of people in the discussion. Isaac pointed out the need to get beyond the usual suspects, to those that are less confident to use their voices and are hidden.

Prof Dhesi brought the older adult point of view and the changing demographics - we need to tackle the current state of services for older adults while at the same time building the infrastructure around working-age adults. They aren't mutually exclusive.

We need to build the social care infrastructure to support our diverse society and changing demographics. Services need to develop to meet the changing needs.

Perhaps one of the most important issues she raised is the invisibility people feel and exclusion from wider society - we need to make people more visible and ensure that different groups of people aren't just lumped together and seen as 'the same thing'.

She also outlined how Mencap is working to ensure that people with learning disabilities are part of every part of their organisation and is shaping the work.

Jackie emphasised the need to ensure people have access to advice about their rights as well as accessible community. Employing people with learning disabilities and supporting them to reach out to peers builds accessible communities - give people agency.