Home and social care is often provided by profit-making agencies. We do not think the quality and conditions of service, training and oversight are fit for purpose in private care.

We think standards of practice and conditions of service could be improved by bringing all home and social care to the state sector under the management of local authorities. We think this could bring about a more integrated approach which should improve hospital discharges and care receivers' rehabilitation. Carers could all be trained to nationally agreed standards and there could be a move away from minimum wage and zero hours contracts. We think this could improve recruitment and retention and provide a more cost-effective way of meeting service.