Adult Social Care

Baroness Butler-Sloss Excerpts

Monday 16th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

In general terms, of course, the independent commission into adult social care will be part of our critical first steps towards delivering a national care service. The commission, as the right reverend Prelate is well aware, will be chaired by the noble Baroness, Lady Casey. I agree with the right reverend Prelate that there are particular demands in certain local areas, and the strategy will take account of that, including the fact that, based on the growth of the population aged 65 and above, the sector may need 540,000 extra new posts by 2040. That is a big challenge, but by setting up the professionalisation, the training, the skilling and the fair pay for people, it is one that we will be in a much better place, across the country, to be able to deliver on.

[Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)]

In supporting the noble Lord, Lord Laming, I ask the Minister whether anything can be done officially to raise the status of care workers. Status is often very important for people wondering what sort of job to have.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The noble and learned Baroness is absolutely right about status, which assists retention as well as recruitment. Clearly, the first ever fair pay agreements will make that possible. The need to work with various partners across the sector was raised in an earlier question. The way in which those negotiating bodies will work will absolutely bring together all the partners in the sector to get to the right place. That will certainly include fairer pay, which we will see through the Employment Rights Bill, but also training and skills and the care workforce pathway, the care certificate and having a skills record. These represent a comprehensive package to raise the status in the way that the noble and learned Baroness asks for.