Blog

The government’s White Paper has done little to dispel concerns that reform of adult social care is faltering, says Simon Bottery.

Despite the recent criticism, the government’s proposed social care reforms are still a step forward, says Simon Bottery, but the acid test will be its imminent White Paper.

Simon Bottery explores reasons for the lack of younger workers in social care and finds snapshots of innovation among providers trying to reverse the trend.

Partnership working can be transformative – if it works well. Here we share two techniques, observed as part of the Healthy Communities Together programme, that can help in forming healthy partnerships.

Angela Fell, Director of Northern Heart and Soul in Wigan, outlines why we should move beyond person-centred services to a community-centred approach in order to transform people's health and wellbeing.

Evidence from around the world shows that a cap on costs is only one of several measures that will determine whether England moves towards a better social care system, writes Simon Bottery.

Rumours of government agreement on how to fund social care abound. Sally Warren explores what the public would expect to see in return for a tax rise to pay for social care.

Sally Warren delves into the history of political calculations in social care… and calls on the current government to be tough enough to make hard choices.

Data, funding and workforce – if the government wants its proposed reforms to the MHA to create change these system-wide enablers are as important as individual changes to legislation. Helen Gilburt consider the issues.

As we reach the one-year anniversary of the start of lockdown in the United Kingdom, Richard Murray outlines how a whole-system response will best support staff and patients and help to tackle inequalities.

There are endemic failures in the adult social care market. In this joint blog with colleagues from the Health Foundation, we explain why reform is needed and identify a set of questions we think need to be explored.

With funding settlements and short-term boosts already provided, what will the upcoming Budget mean for health and care? Sally Warren considers how the system can support local economies while improving population health as the country responds to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Where does good leadership in social care exist? Richard Humphries reflects on the search he and Nicholas Timmins undertook to find an answer.

Helen Gilburt shares her research into how mental health and social care professionals make decisions around whether to detain people with mental disorders under the Mental Health Act or the Mental Capacity Act – Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Her research uncovered a range of understandings and misunderstandings which impact on practice.

In this first blog of the new year, Richard Murray outlines the key challenges and opportunities facing the health and care system in 2021.

How reliable is the data collected about detentions under the Mental Health Act? Veena Raleigh looks at the data quality issues and their implications.

With the publication of the government’s Green Paper on child and adolescent mental health, Jill Roberts looks at how it tackles the issues around inequalities.

Simon Bottery looks at the context behind the latest row on the Better Care Fund and delayed transfers of care.

Can we reduce late-life dependency or plan for it better? David Oliver reflects on the findings of a recent Lancet paper and asks what we can do to tackle the challenges it highlights.