The government recognises and has responded to the impact of the pandemic on the social care sector. The Prime Minister’s announcement of the ‘Build Back Better’ plan for health and social care in September 20213 set out a clear programme of reform as well as proposals for a sustainable funding model and to bring the social care and health sectors closer together which will strengthen the provision of adult social care services. The plan also made a commitment to close working with the devolved governments, laying the foundations for a programme of joint working for the UK to build back better from the pandemic.