5th July 2017

Dear Prime Minister

The Rt Hon Theresa May MP

10 Downing Street

London

SW1A 2AA

29th June 2017

Dear Prime Minister,

Open Letter from the Care Provider Alliance

The recent election campaign made it very clear that Social Care is an issue of central importance, affecting a wide cross sector of the electorate and must be high on Government's agenda.

The regulatory body, Care Quality Commission identified in its Annual State of Care report in October, 2016, that sector was at a "tipping point" and the situation has continued to deteriorate.

It is now widely recognised that social care is seriously weakened by years of underfunding and cuts in services. This, in turn, has led to an increasing number of people's needs not being met and will inevitably mean extra demand and expense to the NHS.

This country urgently needs a cross party long term solution to the challenges caused by underfunding and accentuated by the well-established demographics. Needs will increase as people live longer with more long term conditions and unless a sustainable solution is found soon, many vulnerable people will suffer unnecessarily and the NHS will be brought to its knees.

Inadequate funding also reduces the opportunities to improve and innovate; both essential for the future health of the sector and wellbeing of people needing support.

The Care provider Alliance brings together the professional associations and trade bodies of independent and voluntary providers from the full range of adult social care. Over 90% of state sponsored care is now delivered through this sector and the Alliance represents the corporate knowledge of the sector. In addition to supporting 1.9million people, there are 1.55 million jobs in the sector, over 1.2 million of which are in the independent and voluntary sector and the Social Care sector as a whole is estimated to be worth over £12.6 billion.

We urge you to ensure that Social Care remains high up your priority list for the new government. We are ready to help any initiatives which will deliver solutions quickly and effectively. Such solutions will be good for people and their families, good for the NHS, good for care workers, good for the economy, good for employment and good for society. The sustainability of the sector is of primary importance to anyone who needs - or might in future need - support for their wellbeing.

Yours sincerely

Bridget Warr, CBE, Chair, Care Provider Alliance & Chief Executive, United Kingdom Homecare Association

Nadra Ahmed, OBE, Executive Chairman, National Care Association

Vic Rayner, Executive Director, National Care Forum

Alex Fox, OBE, CEO, Shared Lives Plus

Frank Ursell, MBE, CEO Registered Nursing Home Association

Lisa Lenton, England Director, Association for Real Change

Martin Green, Chief Executive, Care England

Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive, Voluntary Organisations

Michael Voges, Executive Director, ARCO

Copies to:

Rt Hon Damian Green MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office