Overview

• The independent commission on adult social care in England, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, has formally begun its work with initial meetings and published terms of reference.
• The commission’s first phase will report in 2026, focusing on plans for a National Care Service, a key Labour manifesto commitment.
• Full implementation of the commission’s recommendations may not occur until 2036, aligning with the government’s ten-year NHS plan.
• Stakeholders, including Age UK and the Government Association, have criticized the extended timeline, emphasizing the urgent need for reform to address unmet care needs.
• Baroness Casey is balancing this role with her ongoing audit of grooming gangs, but Downing Street insists the responsibilities do not conflict.