The Social Care White Paper and Draft Social Care Bill – The Race Equality Foundation Responds

Posted on Thu 12 Jul 2012

The Race Equality Foundation welcome the publication of the Social Care White Paper Caring for our future: reforming care and support.

We do welcome the recognition of the voluntary sector, and its importance in making the vision a reality.   The recognition of the vital of role of carers in taking forward our social care system is also welcomed, as is the need for well- resourced community action plans, and vital, wider reaching information systems to allow access and clarity of information.

We are though, disappointed to note the lack of focus on race equality and health inequalities.  The government states that it “will place people’s needs at the centre of how care and support will work in the future, and will ensure that local authorities work for the wellbeing of everyone in their area”, however the White Paper does not explain how this will take place, preferring to place responsibility on local authorities.   Evidence suggests that there are significant unmet social care needs in Black and minority ethnic communities (www.better-health.org.uk).  It is important that the reforms that do take place, demonstrate how improvements will impact on all.

Ratna Dutt, CEO of the Race Equality Foundation:
“Evidence on inequality suggests a major transformation is required.   If the Social Care White Paper:  “Caring for our future:  reforming care and support” contributes to that, we will welcome it.  However we are concerned about the lack of detail in the white paper, and the cursory focus on equality.  Therefore we call on the government to ensure that the forthcoming bill gives direction on these issues”.

The Foundation will be working with our sister organisations to ensure race equality is addressed in the transformation of social care.

Please contact Farah Islam-Barrett on farah@racefound.org.uk or phone 0207 428 1889, for further information.