The National Care Service Bill was introduced to Parliament on 21 June. This briefing looks at what the proposals mean for local government. The key points are:
- The proposal spells the end of ‘in-house’ local authority run and provided social care and social work services.
- Up to 75,000 council staff are at risk of TUPE transfer.
- Councils may become providers in a market for social care and social work services.
- It means the end of publicly run and delivered democratically accountable social services for local communities. The future of publicly provided social work and care is at risk along with the security of jobs and pensions.
- The existence of councils as a tier of government is at risk if this attempt to remove local democratic control over social services succeeds.
- These changes will weaken accountability to the people who use services along with their carers and families.