Tory candidates have so far neglected to mention our deepening social care crisis

Edel Harris, chief executive of learning disabilities charity Mencap, explains why the Mirror's Fair Care for All campaign is so important, with 165 000 job vacancies in March this year
The worsening social care crisis is not getting the attention it deserves in this contest (file image) (
Image: shared content block)

Tomorrow night, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss will face off again in their battle to lead our country.

Members of the Conservative Party have the welfare of millions in their hands, but while the debate has so far focused on tax cuts and Brexit, they have neglected to mention the worsening social services crisis.

While Boris' government has made strides in the right direction, including introducing a tax on health care and social services to tackle underfunding, warm words and promises are not enough.< /p>
Only 14% of that funding went to welfare, and as CEO of Mencap, I understand why our new Prime Minister needs to prioritize what matters most and fix the broken system.

Statistics show that the number of vacancies in adult welfare increased by 52% last year, with 165,000 vacancies in March 2022.

There are around 1.5million people with learning disabilities in the UK who depend on social care to live full and independent lives, but seven in 10 adult social care directors say that care contracts have been rendered because providers cannot make them work.

The next prime minister must urgently address broken promises (
Picture:
PENNSYLVANIA)
Behind these statistics are real people struggling without the care they need and deserve to survive and thrive.

What happened to dignity or quality of life?

My colleagues and others working in the social sector put their lives on the line during the Covid-19 crisis.

They deserve better and should be paid a salary that reflects the skilled and rewarding work they do.

We know that love and loyalty don't pay the bills.

At Mencap we have just increased our minimum hourly rate to £10.33, but given that we are paying...

Politics Aug 4, 2022 0 167 Add to Reading List

Tory candidates have so far neglected to mention our deepening social care crisis

Edel Harris, chief executive of learning disabilities charity Mencap, explains why the Mirror's Fair Care for All campaign is so important, with 165 000 job vacancies in March this year

The worsening social care crisis isn't getting the attention it deserves merit in this competition (file image)

The worsening social care crisis is not getting the attention it deserves in this contest (file image) (

Image: shared content block)

Tomorrow night, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss will face off again in their battle to lead our country.

Members of the Conservative Party have the welfare of millions in their hands, but while the debate has so far focused on tax cuts and Brexit, they have neglected to mention the worsening social services crisis.

While Boris' government has made strides in the right direction, including introducing a tax on health care and social services to tackle underfunding, warm words and promises are not enough.< /p>

Only 14% of that funding went to welfare, and as CEO of Mencap, I understand why our new Prime Minister needs to prioritize what matters most and fix the broken system.

Statistics show that the number of vacancies in adult welfare increased by 52% last year, with 165,000 vacancies in March 2022.

There are around 1.5million people with learning disabilities in the UK who depend on social care to live full and independent lives, but seven in 10 adult social care directors say that care contracts have been rendered because providers cannot make them work.