Today’s announcement from Prime Minister Andy Burnham marks a significant moment for everyone committed to creating a social care system that is built around people, relationships and human rights, rather than services alone. Burnham has committed to making social care a national priority, accelerating reform and launching work towards a National Care Service, supported by Baroness Louise Casey’s “Big Conversation on Care”.
This is an encouraging signal that the voices of people who draw on support, families, communities and those working alongside them will be central to shaping what comes next.
A particularly welcome message came from Baroness Casey, who spoke positively about seeing people who draw on social care in the room as these important conversations begin. That recognition matters. Real reform cannot be designed for people – it must be created with people. The Big Conversation offers an opportunity to reset the relationship between government, communities and citizens, ensuring lived experience sits at the heart of future change.
Representing us at the announcement were Anna Severwright and Andy McCabe, who were part of the audience as the Government set out its ambition for a different future. Their presence reflected a longstanding commitment to ensuring that people with lived experience influence national policy as well as local practice.
The direction set out today closely aligns with Be Human’s mission. For years, we have championed approaches that move beyond transactional services towards communities where people have choice, control, belonging and opportunities to live the lives they want. We know that lasting change comes when people are trusted as equal partners, when professionals work alongside communities, and when support is shaped around people’s strengths and aspirations.
The announcement also reinforces a growing national recognition that reform cannot simply focus on funding or structures. It must change the culture of social care, valuing relationships, investing in the workforce and creating systems that enable people to flourish.
As the Big Conversation begins, Be Human looks forward to playing its part in bringing together people with lived experience, practitioners, leaders and communities to ensure this moment leads to meaningful and lasting change.
This is an important opportunity. If the conversation genuinely listens to people and acts on what they say, it could become the foundation for a social care system that is truly human.
Julie Stansfield ~ In Control Partnerships