The Big Care Debate
All of us – whether as service users, carers, relatives, service
providers or taxpayers – have an interest in the future of the
adult care and support system.
A national debate, led by the Department of Health, called the
Big Care Debate, centred around the future funding of social
care.
Background
The Government published ‘Shaping the
Future of Care Together’, a Green Paper on the reform of
the adult care and support system in England.
Care and support helps people do everyday things like living in
their own homes, working, shopping and caring for their family,
which most of us take for granted.
The current system is struggling to meet the needs of our
society. Designed back in the 1940s, when life expectancy was
shorter and social attitudes and expectations were very different,
it urgently needs updating.
Shaping the Future of Care Together spells out a vision
to build a National Care Service that is fair, simple and
affordable for all adults in England. It sets out the options for
service reform, and how the new system could be organised and paid
for.
The publication of the Green Paper marked the start of the Big
Care Debate, with a public consultation that ran until 13th
November 2009.
Big Care Debate Events
The County Council held two Big Care Debates to discuss the
Government’s proposals, one in Bromsgrove (14th October) and one in
Worcester (26th October), giving service users, carers, relatives,
service providers, residents and our own staff the opportunity to
voice their thoughts on the proposals and help us to shape our
response to the Department of Health.
Full Council Debate
A Key Issues Debate was held in full Council on 12th November,
where elected Members debated the Green Paper to also help shape
our response.
Worcestershire County Council's Submitted
Response
Our response to the Green Paper was sent to the Department of
Health on 13th November 2009, along with both Bromsgrove and
Worcester's Big Care Debate responses and the Key Issues Debate
held in full Council on 12th November.
