There have been long-standing issues across the adult social care market, which covid-19 has further impacted. These include increasing signs of market-stress, data limitations, and high staff vacancy rates and turnover levels.
At the same time, there is an increasing demand for care due to an ageing and growing population with more complex needs, and repeated calls for urgent system reform.
The Department of Health and Social Care is responsible for health and adult social care policy in England, while local authorities commission social care and some also provide care services. The inquiry will examine:
- how adult social care is currently provided and structured;
- DHSC’s effectiveness in overseeing the market and holding providers to account; and its understanding of future demand, costs and alternative delivery models;
- the impact of COVID-19 on the market and the sector’s financial sustainability.
This inquiry builds on the Committee’s previous work on readying the NHS and social care sector for the first peak of covid-19
The Committee will question senior officials at DHSC and the Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission. If you have evidence on the issues raised in this inquiry please submit it here by 6pm on Monday 12 April.