Speaking from a care home in Golders Green at the end of July, Prime Minister Andy Burnham set out his government’s commitment to reforming adult social care and backed it with specific, actionable steps. For anyone working in social care, a few of these commitments are worth knowing about directly.
A dedicated team, working to a clear timeline
Burnham announced a new cross-government ministerial task force, including the Chancellor and the Housing Secretary, to coordinate reform. Alongside it, Baroness Louise Casey’s Independent Commission has had its reporting timeline brought forward, from 2028 to summer 2027.
The Prime Minister was clear that reform of this kind needs “fresh thinking and cross-party collaboration,” and has opened discussions with Liberal Democrat and Conservative leaders on that basis.
Pay that moves closer to NHS standards
One of the task force’s priorities is expanding the existing Fair Pay Agreement, with the goal of bringing social care workforce pay closer in line with NHS standards. For a sector that has long competed with the NHS for the same staff, this is a meaningful commitment – and it echoes something we’ve highlighted before: that staff who feel genuinely invested in, are the staff who stay.
One of the task force’s priorities is expanding the existing Fair Pay Agreement, aiming to bring social care workforce pay closer in line with NHS standards. For a sector that has long competed with the NHS for the same staff, this is a meaningful commitment.
Pay alone doesn’t always win retention – but pay combined with the offer of genuine progression, like in-house training and pathways to qualifications, will be better placed to benefit when pay structures shift, rather than finding themselves competing on salary alone.
Named support for dementia and motor neurone disease
The task force’s remit specifically includes improving support for people with dementia and motor neurone disease – two conditions where the quality of day-to-day care makes an enormous difference to the person receiving it. It’s a welcomed commitment, and one that sits well alongside the training care teams already invest in around dementia-informed and person-centred practice.
It’s worth checking that your person-centred training is current and embedded in practice, so that if expectations do sharpen, you’re already there.
Strengthened adult safeguarding
Safeguarding was also named as a priority for the task force. In practice, a national push on safeguarding tends to be followed by closer inspection, not just updated guidance.
It’s worth asking your team: would your staff’s safeguarding knowledge hold up under closer scrutiny – not just knowing the policy exists, but knowing confidently how to recognise early signs of risk or distress and de-escalate them appropriately?
A chance to be heard
Alongside all of this, Baroness Casey has launched the Big Conversation on Care, a public consultation open until April 2027, inviting input from the people who use and deliver social care.
This isn’t just a box-ticking exercise – it’s the Commission actively looking for the practical, frontline knowledge that shapes good policy, directly from the people doing the work. If you or your team want that experience to be part of what informs reform, you can take part at caseycommission.co.uk/bigconversation.
Where Timian can help
Commitments like these take time to become policy, and policy takes time to reach the frontline. In the meantime, you don’t have to wait to invest in your teams.
Our BILD Act certified Positive Behaviour Management training gives care staff the confidence and skills to understand the people they support, respond to distress safely, and deliver the kind of person-centred care this reform is aiming for – across dementia care, supported living, and the wider health and social care settings we work with every day.
If you’d like to talk about training for your team, get in touch with us here.
