Time running out to enter CUK Awards Campaigners lobby Labour to save care

CAMPAIGNING providers have called on Labour politicians to adopt their five-point plan to save social care.

The Independent Care Group has sent a copy of its Five Pillars for Social Care Reform to Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Shadow Social Care Minister Liz Kendall.

They have already sent the document to Health Secretary Steve Barclay and Social Care Minister Helen Whately.

The document sets out how the ICG believes the care of older and vulnerable adults can be rescued from its current crisis.

The five pillars are: n Ring fence a percentage of GDP to be spent on providing social care to those who already receive it and the 1.6m who can’t get it. n Create a unified National Care Service, incorporating health and social care. n Set a National Minimum Wage per hour for care staff on a par with NHS. n Set up an urgent social care task force to oversee reform. n Fix ‘fair price for care’ tariffs for things like care beds and homecare visits.

ICG chair Mike Padgham said:

“We are reaching a pivotal moment for social care in this country and we need politicians to sit up and take notice of the situation that is unfolding before us.

“Following a very positive and constructive meeting I held with the shadow Labour team back in March, we have set out what we believe are the priorities any new government would need to do to sort out social care.

“We have sent our Five Pillars document and a support document to the Labour politicians in the hope of informing their policy in the coming months.

“We are coming up to political party conference season and we have a General Election possibly next year – we have to start shaping the dialogue on social care and coming up with some plans for a fresh start.

“We have set out our Five Pillars document as a talking point to get the ball rolling and to stimulate conversations with politicians who need to come up with a proper, sustainable, costed plan to reform social care.

“For the next General Election, we need to see how the main political parties are going to get care to the 1.6 million people who currently can’t get it; tackle the 165,000 vacancies in the sector; properly recognise and reward our excellent workforce with better pay and conditions and find the extra 445,000 care staff we will need to cope with rising demand, by 2035.”

Weather presenter, event host and voiceover artist Emma Jesson will host this year’s Caring UK Awards on Thursday December 7, Caring UK is delighted to reveal. Frequently recognised for her sunny “Bye Bye” sign-off, Emma is a popular face of ITV Weather, one of the longest serving weather presenters and one of the friendliest personalities on TV. Emma produces and presents news features and is particularly at home in her wellies presenting countryside programmes for the network. She regularly hosts racedays, ‘empowering ladies’ gatherings and a number of community events, as well as various charitable events and light-hearted ladies’ nights. Nominations for this year’s event open on Monday, August 28th. For more information visit https://www.caringukawards.co.uk

EXCITEMENT is building for the industry’s biggest end-of-year party, with plans in place to make this year’s Caring UK Awards the best one yet.

Nominations for the 2023 event close at noon on Monday, August 28. The awards evening will celebrate excellence throughout the industry, with trophies in 20 categories up for grabs at the glittering ceremony taking place on the night of Thursday, December 7.

Organised by Script Media in partnership with Caring UK and headline sponsor Virgin Money, this annual celebration of success will culminate in a glittering ceremony – taking place at the Athena in Leicester – where host Emma Jesson will reveal the lucky winners.

Awards include Regional Care Home of the Year, Care Employee of the Year and Activities Team of the Year. Other categories include Best Innovation in Care, Best Outdoor Environment and Care Employer of the Year.

Previous winners have reported an increase in profile and positive media coverage.

Event director Dominic Musgrave said: “Once again we were overwhelmed with the standard of entries we have received so far from homes up and down the country.

“If you’ve not entered your care business yet then I would urge you to do so sooner rather than later.”

To enter visit www.caringuk awards.co.uk/nominations