The archbishop of Canterbury has called for a new “covenant” on social care between the state and the people, similar to the provision of the NHS and education, which makes “absolute value and dignity” the top priority.
Justin Welby, the leader of the Church of England, said that focusing on managing the cost of social care, a priority in the latest government reforms, is “the wrong way round” because it fails to consider what people who need care want.
“You start with the value of the human being,” Welby said. “Then you say, ‘what is the consequence of that? [in terms of the care system]’. We did that for the health service. We haven’t done that for social care.”
Social care is a community obligation which says each person is valuable, loved and worthy of respect.
Praying for the #ReimaginingCare Commission as they imagine a vision for the future for care rooted in the dignity God wants for us. https://t.co/71e0bbYXvc
— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) January 7, 2022