In her first public speech on social care, delivered at the Nuffield Trust Summit on 5 March 2026, Baroness Louise Casey argued that England urgently needs a national conversation about social care, comparable in scale and significance to the Beveridge moment that led to the creation of the NHS. Her speech sets out a clear vision for a future where social care is understood, valued, and placed at the centre of national life.
She suggests that England now faces a “sixth giant” alongside Beveridge’s original five: how will we support people with care and support needs, including older and disabled people, in a society where family care cannot fill the gaps it once did. As a country, she argues, “we haven’t looked this in the face” and have avoided an honest reckoning about what social care is for, who it is for, and how it should be funded and organised.
What we can therefore now expect is a national conversation on:
- The role of social care in modern Britain, and its relationship with the NHS, families, and communities
- Who is responsible and accountable for social care at national and local level
- What care and support people can reasonably expect, particularly in later life or when living with disability
- How social care is valued
Valuing social care
We should value social care not as a safety net for the few, but a shared foundation for a caring society. Social care is what enables people to live ordinary, meaningful lives – to stay connected, to belong, to contribute, and to be supported with dignity when life changes. As several notable commentators have recently highlighted, when we talk about social care as a “broken system” to be fixed, we shrink our ambition and limit lives defined by risk and minimum standards. When we value the real impact of social care, we recognise social care as a collective investment in people living good lives, in relationships, neighbourhoods, and realising human potential – and as something any of us may one day rely on to live the life we have reason to value.
Inspiration, impact and the road ahead
Every day at Brandon Trust, I have the privilege of witnessing the extraordinary potential of people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Their achievements, ambitions, and courage energise our work across the whole organisation. Our newly published Impact Report is more than a document – it is a testament to what becomes possible when inclusion is a practice lived out in supporting people to live their life well. As I reflect on both the past year and look ahead to a national conversation on social care, I want to shed light on the difference that good social care and support can make and why social care should be something that we all value in a caring and civil society.
A year that proves what’s possible
This year’s Impact Report brings together rich insight from across our charity – enhancing quality through digital care records, building on lived-experience insight, and utilising social value tools and data, all pointing in the same direction: our Whole-Life Approach to delivering care and support is delivering meaningful, measurable change.
We’ve seen:
- A £3 social return for every £1 spent at our enterprise farm – a powerful example of what happens when social care and social enterprise work hand in hand
- 174 people gaining vocational training, building skills, confidence, and pathways to employment
- 105 new homes delivered through strong partnership housing models, expanding opportunities for independence
- Greater opportunities for us to deliver our whole-life approach in local communities, meaning more people now experience joined‑up, personalised support as they transition through life stages
And at the heart of all this?
Co-production
This year, Brandon’s group of experts by experience, The Adventurers, continue to receive new invitations to collaborate from external partners and organisations, with a portfolio of co-production work now spanning: training, research, conference presentations, quality improvement and development. Alongside this strong external focus, it continues to be important for us to extend how people with lived experience further shape our leadership and governance internally. This includes our Social Impact Board. Their leadership ensures that what we measure and prioritise genuinely reflects what matters: choice, control, respect, and good support.
Who cares about social care?
Simon Bottery (Senior Fellow, Social Care, The King’s Fund) has recently advocated that those of us championing social care reform must share more human stories that connect social care to people’s own futures and families. Simon argues that reform could continue to stall – not because people or the public oppose it, but because they don’t truly understand it or see it as relevant to them.
The real impact
From volunteer to paid employee, Nikki’s journey at our Elm Tree Farm shop in Bristol, shows exactly what’s possible with the right support and a workplace that believes in potential.
Nikki first joined the farm ten years ago and immediately pictured herself working in the shop. Five years on, she’s not only achieved that goal but she’s thriving. With support on hand when she needs it, Nikki has mastered everything from stock input and temperature checks, to money handling and back-of-house systems. Her confidence has grown, and she is now instrumental in training new staff members.
For Nikki, the best part is simple: meeting customers, learning new things, and being part of a team that sees her talent. Brandon’s supported employment has helped unlock that opportunity and Nikki has done the rest.
Having a paid job means independence, pride, and the freedom to rely less on others.
Nikki said: “It means a lot because they trust that I do a good job and I feel really proud of myself that I can actually do it.”
Looking ahead
Our mission is – and always has been – to enable people to live freely, confidently, and with purpose. We look forward to a national conversation that becomes a watershed moment for making this possible for all who already draw on social care, and for those people whose circumstances change and who may require support to continue to live well in the future
At Brandon, we will continue to champion the voices of the people we support. Their voice must be at the centre of any national conversation. We continue to believe firmly in the potential of every individual. Together, we are not just imagining a better future for social care, we are ready to play our part in building it.
Helen England
Chief Executive, Brandon Trust
