Tag: social care

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Bishop of London opposes legislation and calls for comprehensive funding of palliative care system

The Bishop of London spoke at the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, opposing the bill and outlining the need for fully funded palliative and social care services in the UK:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Kamall, has already pointed out, we in this Chamber share the same goal: for people to die with dignity and compassion. They are critical concerns for those who, like me, believe that the Bill is deeply flawed. Noble Lords will know that I am a former government Chief Nursing Officer, and I chaired the UK Commission on Bereavement. As a nurse, a priest, a daughter and a granddaughter, I have had the privilege to be with many people as they die. Most people die well although, as we have heard and will continue to hear, that is not always the case. I have known people to experience some of the most valuable days of their life as it comes to an end, including those with terminal illnesses.

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Bishop of London asks about fair pay in the social care sector

The Bishop of London asked a question on ensuring fair pay, hours, and pensions for social care workers on 18th June 2025:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, as we have heard, concerns around low pay and insecure contracts are long-standing in the social care sector. The Minister made mention of the fair pay agreement; can she explain how this will ensure that a living wage, living hours and living pensions will be paid to staff among the private social care providers?

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about support for children’s homes

The Bishop of Newcastle asked a question on support for children’s homes in the north of England on 28th October 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, at the last count in March 2023, 41% of children’s homes in England were located in the north of England. What steps are the Government taking to provide additional support to areas of the country where there is a disproportionately higher number of children in the care home and care system?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about support for children in local authority care

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 21st October 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to develop the Children’s Social Care National Framework and outcomes further to include the voice of children and young people.

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Bishop of Oxford urges government to tackle issues in social care

The Bishop of Oxford spoke in a debate on social care strategy on 10th October 2024, referencing the work of the Archbishops’ Commission on Reimagining Care and the need for a social care renewal:

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, I too welcome this debate. I particularly appreciated the initial appeal by the noble Baroness, Lady Tyler, for a reframing of a broader conversation. Like others across this House, I pay tribute to the many unpaid carers and those who work in social care, who invest their lives in the well-being of others. As has been said, in this debate we acknowledge together that our social care system is in urgent need of reform and that this is a key moment. I share the hope that the Government will take the first steps in that reform in the very near future. Social care impacts us all, in terms of our responsibilities and needs. It brings the most vulnerable in our society from the margins to the centre of our attention and our love.

Last year, the Archbishops’ Commission on Reimagining Care published its excellent report, Care and Support Reimagined. The commission was chaired by Dr Anna Dixon MBE and the right reverend James Newcombe, then Lord Bishop of Carlisle. The report commends the development of a national care covenant. The biblical notion of covenant is based not around commercial contract but around a wider societal promise and mutual expectation, and is focused on relationships, mutuality and partnership. It demands a shared vision across society and common values.

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King’s Speech Debate: Bishop of London calls for reform in the social care sector

The Bishop of London gave a speech during the debate on the King’s Speech on 19th July 2024, on the topic of health and social care, drawing attention to the need for reform in the social care sector:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, it is an honour to respond to the gracious Speech. I welcome the Minister as she joins us in this House at the Dispatch Box. I also thank the noble Baroness, Lady Jolly, for her contribution to the House, not just on health and social care; those of us who are female priests and bishops thank her for her support.

I welcome many of the Government’s healthcare announcements, especially the two public health legislative measures. I too am glad to see the tobacco and vapes Bill continue. Smoking continues to be one of the leading causes of preventable deaths following the lines of inequality, so bringing forward this Bill will be a significant step forward in our public health agenda. The announcement that the Government will legislate to restrict the advertising of junk food to children and the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks is also welcome. As we have heard, obesity is one of the major health challenges that we face and, again, its impacts are hugely unequal.

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about children’s services regulations and funding

The Bishop of Newcastle received the following written answer on 24th May 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase investment in children’s services and provide updated funding formulae to (1) direct resources according to deprivation-based need, and (2) account for changing levels of deprivation.

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Bishop of Newcastle highlights the importance of social care to the stability of the NHS

The Bishop of Newcastle spoke in a debate on the long-term sustainability of the NHS on 18th April 2024, emphasising the importance of social care and the work of the Archbishops’ Commission on Reimagining Care:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Patel, for securing this debate. It is a pleasure to follow my friend, the noble Baroness, Lady Tyler, and I commend the noble Baroness, Lady Ramsey, on her excellent maiden speech. I welcome this debate’s focus on health and social care and in this regard I pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady Warwick, for her speech. Too often, social care is considered in public debates primarily in the context of ensuring that the NHS is not overwhelmed.

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Bishop of London asks about risks to the social care sector under new immigration rules

The Bishop of London asked a question on the impact of losing overseas health & care workers under the government’s new immigration restrictions on 12th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, we are very familiar with the pressure on the social care workforce. As the Minister pointed out, we have seen vacancies fall within the social care sector, which is very welcome, but that is supported by the recruitment of 70,000 staff from overseas. I am glad that the health and care sector is exempt from the new visa charges, because we are clearly reliant on assistance from overseas. However, given that they are no longer able to bring dependents on their visa, have the Government considered the impact that this will have on recruiting workers from overseas into the social care sector?

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Bishop of Norwich asks about risks to the social care sector and clergy visas under new migration proposals

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question in response to a government statement on levels of migration to the UK on 5th December 2023, bringing up the potential risks to the social care sector under new migration proposals, and the issue of workers in faith communities facing new barriers to entering the UK:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I have three brief comments and questions. We know that there are 152,000 vacancies in social care in England, as reported by Skills for Care. This is of course a concern for the well-being of vulnerable people. The National Farmers’ Union reports a national shortage of 80,000 vacancies in the horticultural and agricultural sectors, but His Majesty’s Government estimate 40,000. This of course leads to a massive reduction in production and has an economic impact. As we know, this is further exacerbated in our rural communities. What conversations has the Minister had with these sectors about the risks inherent in their new policy?

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