Value for Money

Reforming adult social care in England

Published 10 November 2023 6 recommendations Department of Health and Social Care Health and social careLocal service deliveryLocal services and housingSocial care nao.org.uk
Our report looks at how DHSC is responding to the challenges facing adult social care in England, and its progress delivering reforms.

Recommendations (6)

Source: NAO Recommendations Tracker · PAC follow-up below
4
Accepted
2
Rejected
4
Implemented
6
NAO Confirmed
Department of Health and Social Care
Rec 1 Accepted Implemented
DHSC should, in the near term, assess the impact of its current and planned reform interventions on local authorities, and other stakeholders to ensure that the cumulative impact of its policies are manageable;
Page 13, 18 Q3 2023/24 Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government
Department of Health and Social Care
Rec 2 Accepted Implemented
DHSC should, in the near term, review its portfolio reporting to ensure that it provides the management information needed to give assurance around overall progress and management of risks to delivery
Page 13, 18 Q2 2024/25 Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government
Department of Health and Social Care
Rec 3 Accepted Implemented
As it turns its attention to charging reform alongside system reform, DHSC should ensure it has the resources it will require within the Department, in terms of both capacity and capability to deliver the next stage of reform
Page 13, 18 Q2 2024/25 Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government
Department of Health and Social Care
Rec 4 Rejected No Longer Relevant
DHSC should, in the near term, set out a costed plan to the sector for implementing charging reform from October 2025, incorporating lessons learnt so far
Page 13, 18 Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government
Department of Health and Social Care
Rec 5 Rejected No Longer Relevant
As it turns its attention to charging reform alongside system reform, DHSC should publish a long-term plan mapping its reform activity and the funding it will need to achieve its planned outcomes
Page 13, 18 Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government
Department of Health and Social Care
Rec 6 Accepted Implemented
As it turns its attention to charging reform alongside system reform, DHSC should review its arrangements for delivering and overseeing its reform activity, incorporating external challenge, and to conclude whether a more integrated approach is required going forward.
Page 13, 18 Q2 2024/25 Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government

Parliamentary Committee Follow-Up

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.

Twenty-Second Report - Reforming adult social care in England
Public Accounts Committee · 20 March 2024 · 11 recommendations
View PAC report & government responses parliament.uk
6th Report - Adult social care in England
Public Accounts Committee · 10 July 2014
View PAC report & government responses parliament.uk