Contact’s statement on the National Care Service review
3 mins read
Friday 7 August 2026
This advice applies in England only.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has recently announced plans for a National Care service. At the same time, publication of a review of social care being carried out Baroness Casey has been brought forward to next summer. Burnham has pledged to work with the Lib Dem and Conservative parties to put plans into action.
Disabled children’s social care needs reform
Speaking about the announcement, Contact’s CEO Anna Bird says:
“The families we support welcome the government’s focus on adult social care, looking at ways to build a National Care Service. Many of today’s children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities will use the service as they reach adulthood. Families welcome the opportunity to create a better system.
“During these important cross-party discussions, we implore the government to not forget disabled children’s social care. This needs reform with equal urgency. It too is fragmented, outdated, unfair and not fit for purpose. More children are living with complex needs and disabilities than ever before, but support hasn’t kept pace.
“The systemic issues – such as failing to assess needs, cuts to support provided, delays and shortages of suitable staff and local services – leads to increased needs and more expense for adult social care. Parent carers, like carers of older people, are exhausted. They are being pushed into crisis because help in the home, short breaks and direct payments are often not at hand. Some families feel blamed simply asking for support, at times subjected to unnecessary and unwarranted safeguarding investigations.
“Contact’s By Your Side team, works in the country’s biggest children’s hospitals. They see day in and day out the consequences of this broken system. There are thousands of children stuck in hospital waiting for a package of care to allow them to be safely discharged home. Last year they supported 2,220 families whose disabled children need hospital care. Some of those have been in hospital for months or even years.
We urge the government to adopt Law Commission recommendations
“That’s why it’s imperative to consider children as part of this care conversation too. The Government has a real opportunity to create a fairer, simpler social care system for disabled children to enable them to thrive. There is a blueprint on the table in the form of the Law Commission’s recommendations to improve the system. We urge the government to adopt these proposals in full when it responds on 16 September.
In addition, as a short-term measure, we’d like to see the Working Together Guidance include a distinct support-led assessment. This would ensure families asking for help are supported rather than met with suspicion. These actions would ensure that a new National Care Service for adults is not hampered by a system failing children before they reach it.”
Take action
We need your help to raise awareness of the importance of a good social care system for disabled children.
You can do this by emailing your MP about your experience – good and bad – of getting help from social services.
If you would be willing to share your story in the media, get in touch. Email [email protected] or telephone 07599 930 090.