Introduction
In this edition of Bridgehead Social Care's monthly news round-up we examine the adult social care sector's political and media coverage over the past month.
Between 1 and 28 February, references to 'adult social care' were made in 42 separate events across the Houses of Parliament and devolved assemblies, ranging from written answers and ministerial statements to debates in the chamber. This figure is around 33 per cent lower than January's coverage statistics.
For context, the chart below plots mentions of adult social care on a month-by-month basis over the past 12 months.
In the media, there was a sharp increase in coverage concerning social care.
Between 1 and 28 February, references to 'adult social care' appeared in 805 unique media articles across the UK, a figure seven per cent higher than December's coverage statistics, which stood at 750 articles.
For context, the chart below plots mentions of adult social care on a month-by-month basis over the past 12 months.
To go into detail regarding the attention the sector has received in the Houses of Parliament, devolved assemblies and in the media, here are our political and media roundups followed by our top five stories of the month.
Political Roundup
Following the January announcement of the independent Casey Commission to reform adult social care, political debate has intensified in February as concerns over the timeline and immediate sector challenges persist.
Cross-party talks postponed
The first round of cross-party talks on social care reform in England, scheduled for the end of February, were unexpectedly postponed.
Government sources cited the logistical difficulties of coordinating representatives from five different parties. The delay has fuelled criticism that the government’s efforts to build cross-party consensus are moving too slowly.
Despite this setback, Health Secretary Wes Streeting reaffirmed Labour’s commitment to setting up a "National Care Service," insisting that meaningful discussions would take place soon. Baroness Louise Casey, who will lead the independent commission, is expected to begin her work in April, with the commission’s first report due in mid-2026. However, concerns persist over the long timeline, with full recommendations not expected until 2028.
Protests over funding and pressures
While policymakers debate reforms, those within the social care sector are voicing urgent concerns. Hundreds of care workers and sector leaders marched in Westminster under the banner of the "Providers Unite" demonstration, demanding immediate financial support to prevent care providers from collapsing.
Geoff Butcher, CEO of Blackadder Care Homes, warned that the sector is “very, very close to collapse”, blaming increasing costs and a lack of government funding. The demonstration was triggered by recent budget changes, including a 1.2 percentage point rise in employer National Insurance contributions and a lower threshold at which the levy kicks in, measures that the Nuffield Trust think tank estimates will cost independent care providers an additional £2.8 billion in 2025-26.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) defended its position, pointing to a £3.7 billion funding boost and increases in support for disabled individuals and carers. But for campaigners, these financial pressures remain too large, with Butcher saying, “They can’t keep kicking this can down the road.”
Workforce challenges and calls for better pay
The sector’s financial crisis is compounded by staffing shortages and recruitment struggles. Labour MP and former NHS mental health nurse Sojan Joseph has called for urgent improvements to social care nursing conditions. Joseph, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on adult social care, highlighted poor pay, limited career progression, and high stress levels as key factors deterring workers from the profession.
“Without fixing social care, we cannot fix the NHS,” Joseph warned, urging the government to ensure its upcoming NHS workforce plan includes measures to strengthen social care nursing. The plan, expected later this year, may focus on boosting school nursing and health visiting, but sector leaders stress that adult social care must also be prioritised.
Will Labour act faster?
Despite growing frustration, the government insists it is taking action, with Streeting promising to “grasp the nettle” on social care reform. However, critics argue that the commission’s timeline lacks urgency, and key figures, including Andrew Dilnot, who led the 2011 Dilnot Commission, continue to push for interim recommendations by the end of 2025 rather than waiting until 2028.
With postponed cross-party talks yet to be rescheduled and protests escalating, February has reinforced the sector’s growing frustration. The key question remains: will the government accelerate reforms to prevent a deepening crisis, or will social care providers be left to struggle for survival?
Parliament
There were several discussions in Parliament addressing the ongoing social care workforce crisis, with key contributions highlighting workforce conditions, funding challenges, and ethical recruitment practices.
In a recent parliamentary session, Care Minister Stephen Kinnock acknowledged the unacceptable rise in unethical practices and exploitation in the adult social care sector, stating, “£16 million has been provided to regional partnerships this financial year to support them to prevent and respond to unethical practices”.
On the impact of past funding cuts to social care, contributions included:
Anna Dixon, Labour MP, argued that reductions in local government funding under previous administrations had "hit disabled and older people particularly hard", asking the government to address these "critical cuts that have affected ... social care”.
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage also acknowledged the significant pressures on councils but added that this was "why we announced in the provisional settlement a further £200 million for adult and children’s social care, bringing the total additional funding to £3.7 billion”.
However, Lord Fuller highlighted that the pressure on councils from SEND, children's and adult social care were immense and not compensated for by central government. He warned that, “these are just the canaries in the mine" and that "by 2026-27, these cumulative pressures will have [left] councils facing an annual funding gap of £6.2 billion”.
Media Roundup
Key themes of February’s coverage focused on the impact of the Government’s NICs increase, concerns over social care funding, and key policy developments.
Care Home Professional reports that ADASS President Melanie Williams warned that the NICs increase will put “insurmountable” financial pressure on adult social care, forcing councils to ration care and pushing some providers to close.
While the Government announced a £600m funding boost, ADASS estimates the sector’s additional costs could reach £1.8bn. Williams is calling for social care providers to be exempt from the NICs increase or for councils to receive compensation, as 81 per cent of councils already overspent on adult social care last year.
Meanwhile, The Guardian highlights unpaid carer Andrea Tucker’s legal victory against the DWP, overturning a demand to repay £4,600 in benefit overpayments. Carers UK warns that over 137,000 unpaid carers are repaying £251m due to similar overpayment claims.
The Government’s fair pay agreement plan for adult social care was covered by Nursing in Practice, which aims to improve wages and workforce retention under the Employment Rights Bill. MPs were told this could help attract staff but warned that without wider reforms, funding constraints could limit the impact. The Queen’s Nursing Institute and RCN support the initiative but stress that social care must be treated as a valued profession with proper investment.
AT Today reports that England’s largest councils face deeper cuts to social care due to Government funding shifts favoring urban areas. A County Councils Network (CCN) survey found that 80 per cent of county and rural councils are in a worse financial position following the Autumn Budget. A £600m Recovery Grant is largely allocated to urban councils, with just three per cent going to county areas. Over half of councils are more likely to reduce adult social care services, including home care and care home funding, while 61 per cent expect staff redundancies. The CCN is demanding transparency in the funding allocation process, warning that many councils may struggle to balance budgets in future years.
Finally, BBC News reveals that cross-party talks on social care reform have been postponed. The Government’s independent commission, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, will begin work in April.
Care Home Professional - Social care ‘endangered’ by ‘catastrophic’ national insurance increases, warns ADASS President
ADASS President Melanie Williams warns that the government’s decision to raise employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will have “catastrophic consequences” for millions relying on care, putting immense financial strain on providers and councils.
Councils may have to limit support to only the most critical cases, increasing delays for those awaiting care, while some providers may shut down or stop operating in certain areas due to unsustainable costs.
Although the government allocated £600 million for adult social care in the Budget, ADASS estimates that the sector faces an additional £1.8 billion in costs due to NICs and National Living Wage increases, far exceeding available funding.
ADASS urges the government to offset the impact of NICs increases on care providers by considering exemptions, delayed implementation, lower rates, or financial compensation for councils.
The National Children and Adult Services Conference in Liverpool will address these urgent issues, with Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock set to respond. Other key topics include transition challenges for young people in social care and reforms to improve outcomes for both children and adults.
Nursing in Practice - Fair pay in social care would support economic and workforce growth, MPs told
The UK government plans to introduce a legally binding fair pay agreement in the adult social care sector through the Employment Rights Bill, aiming to improve staff pay and workforce retention.
Experts, including Oonagh Smyth of Skills for Care, argue that better pay will enhance economic contributions and attract more workers to the sector, addressing staff shortages.
The bill proposes an Adult Social Care Negotiating Body comprising staff and employer representatives to determine wages and working conditions, with government oversight on pay agreements.
While welcomed by industry leaders, concerns remain over potential increased costs to councils and private care payers. Experts stress the need for broader reforms and better use of technology to sustain wage increases.
The Queen’s Nursing Institute and Royal College of Nursing support the initiative as a step towards fairer pay. The government promises engagement with stakeholders before finalising the bill.
The Guardian - Unpaid carer wins overpayment penalty case against DWP
Andrea Tucker, a part-time charity shop worker and former full-time carer for her elderly mother, won a tribunal case against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), overturning a demand to repay £4,600 in alleged benefit overpayments.
Thousands of unpaid carers have been forced to repay large sums due to rigid earnings limit rules, which fail to alert claimants when they unknowingly exceed thresholds. Over 137,000 carers owe a combined £251 million due to these strict regulations.
Tucker successfully argued that her earnings, when averaged retrospectively over a 12-month period, remained within the carer’s allowance limits. The judge ruled her approach was lawful, dismissing the overpayment demand.
Carers UK and other advocates highlight systemic issues, urging fairer application of earnings rules and timely alerts for carers to prevent unjust debts. The case has drawn comparisons to the Post Office scandal in exposing bureaucratic injustices.
While the DWP stated its commitment to supporting carers, it is reviewing the tribunal’s decision and has launched an independent review into carer’s allowance overpayments. The government has also raised the earnings threshold to help more carers stay in work.
AT Today - More than half of councils are likely to cut services in adult social care due to funding
England’s largest county and rural councils warn they will cut adult social care services and raise council tax by the maximum allowed due to UK Government funding focusing on urban areas, leaving rural councils in worse positions post-Autumn Budget.
The £600 million Recovery Grant primarily targets urban councils in the North and Midlands, with only three per cent allocated to county areas. Additionally, the removal of the £100 million Rural Services Delivery Grant exacerbates financial strains on rural councils.
Over 90 per cent of county councils plan to raise council tax by 4.99 per cent, but many still face service cuts, including adult social care, school transport, and libraries. One in three councils expect severe cuts, and over 60 per cent anticipate staff redundancies.
The County Councils Network (CCN) criticises the government’s lack of transparency in funding decisions, warning that the current approach could set a dangerous precedent for the upcoming Fair Funding review, potentially leading to long-term underfunding for rural areas.
While 75 per cent of councils expect to balance their 2025/26 budgets using cuts or reserves, confidence plummets for future years, with only one council confident of a balanced budget by 2029/30, highlighting fears of financial crises without changes to funding distribution.
BBC News - First cross-party talks on social care reform postponed
The first round of cross-party talks on social care in England has been postponed due to scheduling difficulties among five political parties. Participants criticised the short notice and unclear agenda.
Baroness Louise Casey will chair an independent commission, starting in April, to provide recommendations on rebuilding the adult social care system. The first phase will report in 2026, with broader reforms addressed by 2028.
Health experts, including The King's Fund, argue the government's timeline is too slow and call for more immediate reforms to address urgent issues within the social care sector.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting aims to establish a long-term "National Care Service" to support an ageing population, acknowledging that significant reforms will take time.
Campaigners protest upcoming national insurance changes, warning they could harm social care providers. While the government claims a £3.7 billion funding boost, critics argue providers may struggle due to increased employer contributions and lower thresholds.
