Join us in ‘Speaking Up for Care’ in the next general election
Emh care & support has today joined other National Care Forum members in Speaking Up for Care ahead of the general election on 4 July.
Emh care & support is part of emh group, which provides more than 21,790 affordable homes and related care and support services to communities across 45 local authority areas in the East Midlands.
Ruth Jennings, Executive Director of Care at emh, said: “We’ve joined the Speak Up for Care campaign to show we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other not-for-profit care providers, our colleagues, and service users in ensuring that social care is a top priority for the next government.
“The adult social care sector represents 50 per cent of the electorate who can vote in this election, that’s around 23 million people. Together, we have a strong, united voice that speaks up for those working in care and those accessing care and we need everyone in parliament and in each constituency to hear what we have to say.”
We need the next government to address the key areas that will enable people to get care when they need it, where they need it and how they need it. To do this the next government needs to:
- Improve the pay, terms and conditions of the workforce with a workforce plan and dedicated funding
- Help the public improve its understanding of the value of social care so it has the same status as the NHS in the public imagination
- Create a National Care Covenant that guarantees the rights and choice of people in their own care, allows them to be a fundamental part of designing a new system as well as ensuring people have access to care when, where and how they need it irrespective of where they live
- Encourage more care providers to adopt a not-for-profit business model and work with regulators and commissioners to prioritise ethical and transparent not-for-profit care
- Create an economic growth strategy for adult social care which recognises that social care is a large employer contributing £55.7bn to the English economy, making it an essential part of the national infrastructure
- The most important of the above is that the next government improves the pay, terms and conditions of the people delivering care. Coupled with this, care workers must receive professional recognition and esteem and parity of opportunity with the NHS.
Vicky Vale (32) has Asperger’s Syndrome and works as Inclusion and Engagement Facilitator at emh. She said: “I was diagnosed with Asperger’s very young in the nineties and was lucky enough to grow up during a drive on education. As a fundamental consequence of this, I got all the communications and support to be able to get a job.
“I started working for emh on 4 February 2013, as an apprentice and I’m planning on being here until my retirement. I now work in self-advocacy and supporting our service users to be involved and engage with us in an active and meaningful way.
“Social care is a great part of people's lives and livelihoods and generates a culture of kindness. It is also something that any of us could potentially need at some point in our lives. That is why I think the government should put the time, money and resources needed for staff and the people they support to feel like they have a rightful place on the list of priorities.”
You can get involved and support this campaign in various ways:
- Write to your local MP and/or prospective parliamentary candidate and raise the issues affecting the care sector in your constituency. Use this link to access template letters from the perspective of a care worker, care manager and someone receiving care: 'Speak Up For Care' General Election Campaigning Member Toolkit - National Care Forum
- Share your story (via email: CentralHub@emh.co.uk) about the fantastic care you or a loved one has received to highlight our wonderful carers. You can also post this on social media using the hashtag #speakupforcare
- Follow us and the hashtag #speakupforcare on social media and share and comment on and like our posts.
Make sure you vote in this crucial general election and encourage family and friends who are eligible to vote to do the same. If you’re not yet registered to vote you can do this here. You’ll also need to ensure that you have suitable voter ID. For more information the following websites are helpful:
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/resources/democratic-engagement-resources/voter-id-resources
My Vote, My Voice has specific guidance for people with a learning disability and autistic people: https://www.myvotemyvoice.org.uk/voting/
https://www.myvotemyvoice.org.uk/resource/engaging-disabled-voters/
You can visit this website to view a list of UK Prospective Parliamentary Candidates: