National covenant needed on adult social care in face of ‘urgent need’ for reform – General Synod

Proposals for a landmark national covenant on adult social care were backed today by the General Synod, after members heard of the urgent need for reform.

 

Members of the Synod, meeting in London, voted to call on the Government to focus on a new national care covenant, as it delivers on its manifesto commitment for a National Care Service.

 

The Covenant would set out the roles and responsibilities of all involved in adult social care including families, communities and local and national government.

 

The vote at General Synod comes after the Archbishops’ Commission on social care put forward proposals for a national care covenant in a 2023 report, to be drawn up after a ‘major and sustained’ programme of public dialogue and engagement.

 

Introducing the debate at the General Synod, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, said 10 million people are involved in adult social care in England at any time, either drawing on care and support, or providing paid or unpaid care. 

 

“Care delivered well can be transformative and enables us to live lives to the full,” she said. “However too many struggle to access the care that they need.”

 

She highlighted the two million people over the age of 65 and 1.5 million people of working age who are not getting the care that they need - and the pressure on local authorities. As a result of these pressures, more is falling to unpaid carers, she said.

 

“I want to recognise the hard work that unpaid carers give day after day,” Archbishop Sarah said.

 

Under the terms of the proposed covenant, there would be a new deal for unpaid carers to ensure they have the practical, financial and emotional support to be able to provide care and support while living a full life themselves.

 

There would also be a ‘stronger role’ for the state at national level in guaranteeing universal access to care and support, providing security against the costs of care, and defining entitlements and upholding rights.

 

Churches would play their part, building on work already under way, such as Church Urban Fund’s network of Places of Welcome, where venues across the country, including hundreds of churches, open for community welcome and support.

 

Archbishop Sarah said: “The Commission called for a covenant because that concept includes more than just impersonal transactions.

“It represents a relationship and an obligation between people. A covenant is a statement of solidarity with others, it is a pledge to work together with one another, towards a common goal, even when that work becomes hard and complex.”

 

She added: "Synod, our care system is not working- in large part because our society has forgotten that living in community requires all to contribute and to receive.

 

“The Commission reminded us that there is inherent dignity in every human being.

 

“All are made in the image of God - and that dignity is not eroded by disability, illness or the need for care.

 

“It may be ignored by how we as a society decide to offer and receive care.

 

“Whenever that does occur the Church is called to say again that people are not economic units for productivity but people, people worthy of access to care and support which each one of us will require in our lives at some point.”