By Mike Padgham
As I sit in my office reflecting on recent events, I find myself torn between frustration and pride – frustration at the ongoing challenges facing the social care sector, but pride in the extraordinary work being done by our providers, staff, and organisations every single day.
In the space of just a few weeks, we’ve faced a series of setbacks. The recent HMRC ruling preventing care providers from reclaiming VAT is yet another financial blow to a sector already under immense pressure.
Add to that new restrictions on overseas recruitment – despite a critical workforce shortage – and the continued burden of employer National Insurance contributions, and it’s hard not to feel like we’re being pushed to the brink.
Meanwhile, other public services are being awarded above-inflation pay rises, sending a clear signal about which parts of our system are seen as essential and which are not.
You begin to wonder, where exactly are we heading?
And yet, amid all this, we must not forget what an incredible sector we are part of. Social care is a deeply rewarding vocation. It makes a real difference in people’s lives, day in and day out. Across the country, thousands of people work with compassion, dignity, and resilience to care for those who need us most. That deserves to be celebrated.
It’s always difficult to get everyone in any sector to agree on every approach, especially in a system as diverse as ours. But what is crystal clear is this: we must do more to make sure the public and our politicians understand how vital social care is – not just for the people we serve, but for the very fabric of our communities.
That’s why I’m so encouraged by the work of organisations like Providers Unite and all the local and national care associations who are standing up, speaking out, and keeping social care in the spotlight. Their work is tremendous and deserves our thanks.
We at the Independent Care Group will soon be holding local meetings to listen to our members and shape our next steps. We’re looking at how we can build on recent local demonstrations and align our voices with national efforts to demand change. But we must do so in a way that is calm, collective, and positive – proud of who we are and what we contribute.
We need to sing from the rooftops about the good we do, and we need to be clear and firm in demanding recognition and proper support. Social care can no longer be the silent partner to the NHS. We must stand up for ourselves, not in anger, but with unity, purpose, and pride.
And looking ahead, I believe our strength lies in coming together. If we truly want to be heard by government, then perhaps the time has come for one national organisation to represent all care providers – so that our voice is louder, our message clearer, and our cause impossible to ignore.
Social care is not broken. It’s brilliant. It just needs to be seen – and valued – for what it really is.
Mike Padgham is the chair of the Independent Care Group.