Adult Social Care Information Sharing Call - Updated for 2026/27
Autumn Budget Reflections
Discussion focused on the limited amount of new social care detail contained in the Budget announcement.
Points raised included:
Interest in the new prevention funding commitments, with a desire for greater clarity on how funding will operate in practice.
Expectations that further detail may emerge through future spending review processes rather than through the Budget itself.
Recognition that measures relating to unpaid carers, fuel costs and mileage have implications for providers and workforce planning.
Concerns that some announcements could create financial pressures if accompanying funding arrangements are not provided.
Carer’s Allowance Change announcement (see below)
Several participants noted that much of the sector is still waiting for further policy detail before reaching firm conclusions.
Carer’s Allowance Changes
The changes to Carer’s Allowance generated significant discussion.
Views included:
General welcome for the removal of the previous earnings cliff edge.
Concern that further reform is still required, particularly for carers who are unable to undertake paid work because of the intensity of their caring responsibilities.
Questions about how the new arrangements will operate in practice and the extent of future eligibility criteria.
Recognition that the implementation timescale provides opportunities for further campaigning around the taper.
There was also discussion about wider energy affordability issues for carers and people with high energy needs, alongside concerns about how mitigation measures might be delivered locally.
Carers Trust response to budget here: https://carers.org/news-and-media/news/post/660-our-response-to-the-autumn-budget. Blog here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ramzi-suleiman-5110823b_a-few-months-ago-to-mark-its-50th-birthday-share-7523369580636033024-pOc-/
Settlement Policy for Care Workers
Participants reflected on the recent government announcement regarding settlement arrangements for care workers.
Key themes included:
Broad welcome for the change in direction compared with earlier proposals.
Recognition that coordinated campaigning across the sector appears to have influenced the policy shift, although this was nuanced by the view that perhaps they always intended this concession to enable the rest of the policy to happen in the face of the threat from Reform.
Ongoing concerns about salary thresholds and how future eligibility decisions will operate in practice.
Interest in understanding the detail behind the announcement before drawing final conclusions.
Several contributors felt that important questions remain unanswered and will need monitoring as implementation plans are developed.
NCF response here: https://www.nationalcareforum.org.uk/ncf-press-releases/ncf-welcomes-home-secretary-shabana-mahmoods-announcement-on-earned-settlement-for-care-workers/
Engagement with Government Officials
The group considered whether sufficient opportunities exist to influence policy details and engage with ministers/civil servants before announcements are made.
Points discussed included:
Mixed experiences across departments regarding openness and engagement.
Challenges engaging directly with some areas of government, particularly around immigration policy - Home Office singled out as a hard department to engage with.
Examples of officials being more willing to engage on implementation issues than in previous years.
The importance of approaching officials constructively and presenting practical solutions.
Some attendees felt there are signs of greater openness in parts of government, while others noted continued barriers in specific departments.
Local Government Developments
An update was provided on progress relating to local government reorganisation proposals.
It was noted that government is continuing to move forward with changes in several areas. Participants are seeking further detail on what this means for locations not yet covered by announcements and will share intelligence as information becomes available.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/local-government-reorganisation-moves-forward-in-five-counties
Fair Pay Agreement Negotiating Body
An update was provided on recruitment activity for the employer reference group associated with the forthcoming negotiating body.
Key points included:
Ongoing efforts to recruit a diverse range of provider representatives from across the adult social care sector.
The role of the reference group in both supporting and participating in negotiations.
Work undertaken to ensure representation reflects different provider sizes, models and specialisms.
Confirmation that financial support will be available for participants’ time and involvement.
Attendees were encouraged to promote the opportunity widely across their networks: https://www.careprovideralliance.org.uk/employer-representation-group/
Casey Commission Intelligence
Participants briefly discussed recent references to cross‑party engagement linked to the Casey Commission in one of their newsletters.
There was interest in gathering intelligence from providers where Casey might have visited (anyone have intel?) about the plans for cross-party talks.