Care England, the leading representative body for independent adult social care providers in England, today welcomes the publication of Dr Penny Dash’s Review of Patient Safety Across the Health and Care Landscape. Commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the review offers a wide-ranging assessment of how organisations contribute to the quality and safety of care, with significant implications for the adult social care sector.
While the review primarily focused on healthcare settings, Care England is pleased to see recognition of the need for a comprehensive national strategy for quality in adult social care, underpinned by robust data, meaningful metrics, and shared best practices. This aligns with Care England’s longstanding call for parity of esteem between health and social care, and a greater national focus on outcomes for people receiving care and support.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:
“This report marks a pivotal moment. It rightly identifies that safety and quality in care cannot be improved by endless fragmentation, duplication, or reactive oversight alone. What’s needed is a unified vision and a commitment to improving outcomes in both health and social care. We strongly support the call for a national strategy for adult social care quality, and stand ready to work with the government to develop it.”
The review found that social care remains underrepresented in national discussions on safety and quality, even though millions of adults rely daily on care and support. Care England welcomes the recommendation that more attention be paid to metrics that truly reflect quality in care homes and domiciliary care, particularly person-centred outcomes, equity of access, and the lived experiences of people who draw on care. Care England also welcomes the review showcasing Care England’s work on ‘decaf by default’ as an example of the sector working together to prevent falls.
Professor Green added:
“We must now move from words to action. The lack of nationally agreed quality metrics for adult social care must be addressed urgently. The opportunity is clear: a system that empowers providers supports innovation, and ensures that every individual receives safe, effective and compassionate care.”
Care England also supports the review’s wider emphasis on streamlining the quality landscape, enhancing accountability, and better utilising data and technology to drive improvement. The commitment to reinforcing the role of providers, including small and medium-sized enterprises in social care, in delivering and assuring quality is especially welcome.
Care England will continue engaging closely with the Department of Health and Social Care as it considers the next steps in implementing the review’s recommendations.
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