The Living at Home team, led by Joanne Abraham, is cautiously optimistic about the government’s reforms of adult social care, which were revealed in parliament on December 1st, 2021.
The introduction of the Adult Social Care Reform White Paper marks the beginning of the government’s 10-year strategy to support and reform adult social care.
The concept is based on three key objectives:
- People have the freedom, power, and assistance they need to live independently.
- People have access to high-quality, individually tailored care and assistance.
- Adult social care is seen as fair and accessible by the general population.
The Health Secretary Sajid Javid – ‘investment and innovation’
The inclusion of a foreword by Health Secretary Sajid Javid, calls for ‘investment and innovation right across the sector to shift away from a dependency on residential care and offer individuals meaningful options for drawing on care at home.’
‘At long last, we have the recognition that we cannot rely on residential care and the reforms in adult social care is very welcome,’ Joanne added.
Not only is there a shortage of bricks and mortar to satisfy the needs of the growing aged population, but the vast majority of people want to remain in their own homes.
‘With outstanding home care, we can support people’s wishes and allow them to maintain their well-being while living independently.’
The foundation of Living at Home, which responds to the needs and wants of individual customers and their loved ones, is person-centred care.
We’ve been advocates for this type of care since the beginning, so we’re happy that it’s included in the new vision of the reforms of adult social care.
The creation of a skilled workforce will help to professionalise the care sector
Another area of care that we are passionate about is the creation of a skilled workforce, which is given specific attention and investment in the recent announcement of the reforms in adult social care.
For us, it’s important to be a preferred employer and to be a leader in the fight to make care jobs more professional in southwest Wales.
We feel that Social Care Wales and the Care Inspectorate for Wales are doing an excellent job, but the fight for full professionalism in the care sector workforce must continue.
There is a discussion about incorporating home care into current health and care policies but that will come after the release of an integration white paper in the coming months.
“What we need to do now is to test these ideas with the public and importantly, with families – disabled and older people and the people caring for them. They need to tell us what they think will work.”
Imelda Redmond CBE, chief executive of charity Carers UK
Living at Home believes in a technologically advanced approach to home care.
As a company, we’re also dedicated to creating a high-tech, high-touch approach to home care, in which technology is used to support the best care and enable a safe, independent life at home while keeping loved ones informed and comforted.
Certainly, a significant investment, but the government still has a long way to go
The white paper also promises to spend at least £150 million on a digital transformation project.
The strategy demonstrates how technology can improve the quality of care while also increasing personnel efficiency.
‘In the past, our sector has made numerous promises that haven’t been kept,’ Joanne added.
‘December 2021’s statement feels like a true step change, with home care finally being given its proper place in society and an awareness that our profession has an important role to play moving ahead.’