Correspondence to Minister Kinnock- Social Care

Key findings

• Committee disputes the rationale for removing mandatory local authority representatives from integrated care boards, citing Baroness Casey's concern that this leaves local authorities as 'bit parts that get the crumbs that fall from the table' rather than equal partners.
• Proposed immigration and visa reforms are seen as undermining government's own parity-of-esteem commitment to the social care workforce compared to NHS staff; Committee recommends exploring a single national care visa in collaboration with Home Office.
• Modern Service Frameworks for dementia and frailty lack specific measures, accountability mechanisms, and performance targets; Committee seeks clarity on the Dementia Tsar's enforcement powers and provider support structures.
• Committee notes inconsistency in Health Bill provisions around mayoral involvement in integration, given variable mayoral powers and coverage across areas.

Recommendations

• Department to set out clearly why local authorities should be removed from ICB membership and what integration mechanisms will replace direct representation.
• Department to provide more detail on how NHS–local authority integration is already occurring, including funding cycle alignment.
• Department and Home Office to explore jointly the potential for a single national care visa and report back on findings.
• Department to provide modelling of visa rule changes' impact on the social care sector.
• Minister to clarify the Dementia Tsar's powers to hold delivery partners accountable and drive implementation.
• Department to set out accountability mechanisms within Modern Service Frameworks, including performance targets and support for non-compliant providers.

Key actors

Stephen Kinnock MP, Baroness Casey, Health and Social Care Committee, Layla Moran