Global Executive Panel – National Care Services – Lessons, Risks and the Future of Adult Social Care Thu, 4 Jun

Adult social care reform is once again at the centre of the political agenda, with Baroness Louise Casey’s cross-party Social Care Commission tasked with exploring the future of social care in England and whether a National Care Service (NCS) model can offer a sustainable long-term solution.

But across the UK, different nations are already at different stages of their reform journeys. Scotland and Wales have pursued distinct approaches to national reform, while England continues to grapple with longstanding structural and financial pressures in the system.

This Global Executive Panel, delivered in partnership with CIPFA, will bring together senior voices and expert perspectives to explore what the idea of a National Care Service means in practice and what lessons policymakers and local government can learn from progress (and pitfalls) across the UK.

The discussion will focus on the strategic choices, governance questions and financial realities that will shape whether adult social care reform delivers meaningful change, or becomes another stalled chapter in a long history of reviews and unfinished reform.

Key areas for discussion will include

What can England learn from Scotland and Wales? – Exploring how different national approaches to adult social care reform have developed, what has worked, and what challenges remain unresolved.

What is a National Care Service actually for? – Examining the underlying purpose of reform: improving outcomes, ensuring equity, strengthening accountability, or reshaping the role of the state in care delivery.

Governance and delivery: who holds responsibility? – Understanding the implications of reform for local government, public bodies, providers, and the balance between national consistency and local flexibility.

The financial reality: how do we pay for reform? – A discussion grounded in sustainability, funding models, workforce pressures, and the growing impact of adult social care on council finances.

Workforce, demand and demographic pressure – Looking at the scale of demand growth and the workforce crisis, and whether structural reform alone can deliver resilience.

Risks, unintended consequences and reform fatigue – Considering the political and operational risks of reform, including disruption to delivery, shifting responsibilities, and the challenge of sustaining long-term change.
 

Speakers

Dr Jonathan Carr-West has been Chief Executive of LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) since February 2013 where he leads on all aspects of the think tank’s policy, membership and influencing work.

Jonathan is a leading national expert on local government transformation, local democracy and public services. Some of his particular interests are in participative democracy, the evolving nature of public services and devolution. With an extensive media profile and sector credibility, he has published on topics as diverse as localism and public service transformation, cognitive and behavioural science, and the politics of cultural memory.

About our partners

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) is a UK-based international accountancy membership and standard-setting body. We are the only such body globally dedicated to public financial management.

CIPFA believes that improving public services is the key to changing lives for the better and that good public financial management is central to achieving this ambition.

About Future Local Lab

LGIU’s Future Local Lab is a holistic programme of resources to help local government prepare for and respond to the emerging challenges facing the sector internationally. From embracing the opportunities of new technology to tackling the threats of climate change, join us for ideas and inspiration.