Baroness Louise Casey Expresses Frustration Over Slow Social Care Reforms

Baroness Louise Casey has told the Local Government Chronicle she is "frustrated" with the government's pace in implementing social care recommendations. The independent reviewer, who submitted initial proposals in March, has identified slow progress on three critical areas: appointing a national dementia lead, expediting Care Act assessments for motor neurone disease patients, and strengthening adult safeguarding systems. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is simultaneously launching cross-party talks aimed at establishing a national care service with enhanced carer compensation and professional development.

The Unmet Recommendations

Baroness Casey's March commission outlined three immediate priorities for government action. She urged the Department of Health and Social Care to establish dedicated dementia leadership, introduce a fast-track Care Act assessment passport for people with motor neurone disease, and reinforce national oversight of adult safeguarding. In correspondence with then health secretary Wes Streeting, she stressed the urgency of these measures.

Since the government's response last month, progress has proven uneven. Ministers confirmed the establishment of a National Adult Safeguarding Board, which will provide stronger national oversight across councils and partner agencies—a significant structural development for local authorities. The government also committed to appointing a national dementia lead and funding additional dementia research and trials. However, work with local authorities to improve timeliness of support for motor neurone disease patients remains ongoing, and the dementia leadership position has not yet been filled.

Burnham's Cross-Party Care Initiative

Prime Minister Burnham is advancing social care reform through multi-party dialogue. The Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats have confirmed participation in talks, while Reform UK and the Greens were not included in initial discussions. According to government sources, this represents the first of many planned negotiations across weeks and months, with leaders Ed Davey and Kemi Badenoch approaching Burnham to collaborate on systemic reform.

Burnham has previously stated his commitment to social care, declaring he would invest "whatever political capital" he possesses to fix what he describes as a broken system. His current proposals include raising social care worker salaries and expanding professional training opportunities as foundations for a modernised national care service framework.