The government has launched a public consultation to inform a comprehensive review of England’s adult social care system, which has long been described as fragmented and inadequate. Baroness Louise Casey, who is heading the commission tasked with evaluating the system, emphasized the need for a broad and honest national conversation to determine who should receive social care, the financial responsibilities of individuals and families, and the role the state should play in providing support.

Speaking at the Local Government Association conference in Bournemouth, Casey highlighted that social care reforms have been attempted 22 times since 1997 without resolving the system’s fundamental issues. She criticized past efforts for either focusing on limited improvements without addressing systemic problems or aiming for large-scale reforms that lacked public backing. “Without public consent, each time we get close, the debate narrows and becomes caricatured,” she said, urging for a more substantive dialogue with the public to confront difficult choices.

Casey’s interim report, expected later this year, is anticipated to propose significant changes. Although the final report is due in 2028, she indicated that much of the work may be concluded sooner. She has also engaged with political figures including Andy Burnham, who has advocated for a care levy as a potential funding mechanism. The Labour Party, currently in government since 2024, previously faced criticism for abandoning plans to introduce an £86,000 lifetime cap on personal care spending, citing concerns over the feasibility of implementing the cap within the planned timeframe.

The consultation process will involve gauging the perspectives of hundreds of thousands of people, particularly older adults, whom Casey described as frequently overlooked, as well as younger generations who increasingly doubt they will receive adequate state support despite their contributions through taxes and national insurance. Respondents will be asked to weigh in on who should qualify for social care assistance, the expectations placed on families, the scope of state provision, and the nature of individual financial contributions.

Casey underscored the hardship faced by many who, despite paying into the system throughout their lives, find themselves ineligible for state support when they most need it. The commission’s work is aimed at addressing these shortcomings to create a more consistent and sustainable social care framework moving forward.