Social care leaders put equity at heart of reform debate at Labour conference
Leading social care organisations will bring together parliamentarians, researchers and sector experts at the 2026 Labour Party Conference to examine how evidence can help tackle inequalities in adult social care.
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and the Centre for Care will jointly host a panel discussion in Liverpool exploring why care equity should be a central part of plans for a National Care Service.
Taking place on Sunday 27 September, the session, ‘Placing care equity at the centre of adult social care reform’, will examine the inequalities that continue to shape people’s experiences of social care in England and consider how evidence can support fairer policy and practice.
Experiences of social care can vary significantly depending on where people live, with some receiving timely and personalised support while others face long waiting lists, high eligibility thresholds and unmet needs.
However, the organisations say geography is only one factor. Income, age, ethnicity, gender, disability, health conditions, digital access and the availability of informal support can all influence people’s ability to find, access and maintain suitable care.
The panel will consider where these inequalities exist, how they affect people who draw on care and support and unpaid carers, and what action could help reduce them.
The discussion will be chaired by Baroness Thornton, Chair of SCIE. Panellists will include Kate Hamblin, Professor of Social Policy at the University of Sheffield and Director of the Centre for Care; Phil Holmes, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS); Sojan Joseph MP; and Anna Dixon MP.
Alison McGovern MP, Minister for Care, has also been invited to take part.
The event comes as work continues towards the development of a National Care Service, with the panel expected to explore how greater consistency can be achieved while preserving personalised and locally responsive care.
It will also consider findings from recent SCIE-commissioned research suggesting that inequality in social care can extend beyond access to services.
The research found that some people face a substantial burden when trying to secure support, including repeatedly explaining their circumstances, chasing information, coordinating services, demonstrating their needs and challenging decisions.
Baroness Thornton said: “The evidence shows us that inequity is rarely caused by one thing. Different barriers interact and build over time, and too often the burden falls on people drawing on care and unpaid carers to chase, coordinate and fight for the support they need.
“As we reform the adult social care system, we have an opportunity to tackle these inequities. We will be tinkering at the edges unless there’s a clear focus on reducing unjustified variation and ensuring that everyone can access good quality care, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.
“I am delighted to be chairing this discussion with the Centre for Care and such an experienced panel. I look forward to exploring how we can put equity at the heart of reform and turn the evidence we already have into practical improvements in people’s lives.”
Kate Hamblin, Director of the Centre for Care, added: “Social care is essential civic infrastructure: it enables people to live the lives they value and sustains families and communities. Yet gaps, complexity and local variation too often shift costs and responsibility onto people who draw on care and unpaid carers, deepening existing inequalities.
“Centre for Care research consistently shows that inequity is built into the system – not only in who gets support, but in what people pay, who is expected to provide care and whether services reflect the lives people actually lead. These disadvantages intersect and accumulate over time.
“A National Care Service offers a vital opportunity to tackle these connected inequalities. That requires sustainable investment and greater national consistency, alongside personalised, locally responsive support shaped by robust evidence and the lived expertise of those who draw on and provide care.”
The panel will take place from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on Sunday 27 September 2026 at the Hilton Liverpool City Centre, Albert Suite 4.
The event is being held outside the Labour Party Conference secure zone, meaning a conference pass is not required.
The SCIE hosted its 11th annual Co-production Week at the end of June 2026.
