I’m pretty sceptical of claims that Japan is far ahead of the UK when it comes to robotics in care homes. But gaming? Maybe. #socialcare

And it worked, up to a point. Overseas recruits are why vacancies have fallen. But the policy had a number of fatal flaws - not least that it was only supposed to be short-term while the underlying issue of underfunding was addressed (it never was).

As I was researching this blog, I was struck by how overseas recruitment was barely mentioned in the last government's 2021 #socialcare white paper in Dec 2021 yet three months later had become THE way of solving the recruitment crisis. 1/2

This is surprising but suggests that ⁦@reformparty_uk⁩ local leaders may take a pragmatic approach to issues in #socialcare

The more constructive response is to be pleased that the government plan for the NHS effectively acknowledges the need for a strong social care system. It’s not everything but it’s something.

Both of these are what #socialcare does, so it’s a little frustrating that there are only 17 mentions of it in the 168 page document. Surely there should be more about how the services will work together? But the health plan was always going to be an NHS plan so it’s no surprise.

And the second key challenge it identifies is this:

I’m struck that whole sections of the new 10 year health plan are about #socialcare, even if they don’t actually use the words ‘social care’. Here’s a paragraph about the first of four key challenges for the NHS…

The objectives are part of the government's response to the @CommonsHealth report on the cost of inaction in adult social care. The full response is here

Interesting to see in print the government's three 'core objectives' for adult #socialcare. They are sensible and coherent, even if they do skip over the key issue of eligibility. A surprise, though, to see them at all after a year when social care strategy was largely avoided.

This is terribly sad. David Lipsey was a key figure in the last royal commission on #socialcare and the uninhibited account of it in his autobiography is a terrific read, whether you ultimately agree with him or not.

Among the other findings: neither @mhclg nor @hmtreasury knows the impact of recent increases in employers’ national insurance contributions on the #socialcare market. @CommonsPAC says they should find out now and consider actions to tackle adverse impacts.

Central government has focused too much on monitoring relatively small grants and too little on working out what impact our overall spend on adult #socialcare has on the lives of people. That’s one key finding of MPs in a new report by @CommonsPAC today.

Despite the dramatic headline, it seems that Casey has simply decided to meet the parties separately at first and bring them together later. It should be quite hard to work up to a ‘fury’ about that. #socialcare

This is a terrific blog from my @TheKingsFund colleague, Julia Cream, and it includes one of the most startling opening lines you will ever read. #Carers

The full spending review documents are here Spending Review 2025 document -

Why the delay? Internal wrangling over the figures /which budget the money will come from? Desire to get max publicity for a good news story? Neither is a good enough excuse for the uncertainty, and it does nothing to improve the govt's credibility on #socialcare.

There is a promise of 'over £4bn' for social care in 2028/29 compared with 2025/26. But £4bn more than what? Existing grant funding? Local authority spending power? Is some of this paying for fair pay? We just don't know. Again, 'further details to be set out shortly'.

First the fair pay agreement. It is not mentioned by name in the SR documents, though the costs of it are apparently included and more news is promised soon. However the lack of information will only add to provider scepticism about the likely adequacy of funding.

If you want to know how today's spending review affects #socialcare, you are going to have to wait. There is no clear sum to fund a fair pay agreement and promises of 'over £4bn' for social care in 2028/29 are unclear. Puzzled, frustrated thread >.