Levelling Up and Social Care: What’s Happening — and What’s Not
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Levelling Up and Social Care: What’s Happening — and What’s Not
The government’s Levelling Up agenda promised to tackle regional inequalities and improve access to public services, including social care. But for many providers, the practical impact so far feels limited — especially against the backdrop of workforce shortages and funding pressures.
📍 What Was Promised?
Levelling Up aimed to ensure that no area of the country was “left behind.” In social care, this was supposed to mean:
- Improved access to care in under-served areas
- Investment in workforce training and development
- Integration of health and care through ICSs
- Targeted funding to reduce postcode lotteries
Some funding has been released through specific initiatives, but the reality on the ground often falls short of the rhetoric.
🚨 The Reality for Providers
Social care remains under intense pressure, with local authorities struggling to meet demand and workforce gaps widening. Levelling Up hasn’t fixed core issues like:
- Underfunding in local authority budgets
- Workforce pay and conditions disparities
- Inconsistent commissioning approaches
For providers, this means continued competition for contracts, regional variation in expectations, and little consistency in how commissioning aligns with national goals.
🔑 How to Stay Prepared
- Monitor your local authority’s strategic plans — they’ll often reflect government priorities before funding reaches you.
- Review ICS developments in your area to anticipate changes in commissioning approaches.
- Keep your bid library up to date with method statements aligned to government goals like integration, inclusion, and workforce development.
📥 Support Available
Impact Guru Ltd offers bid strategy, training, and ready-made method statements designed to help providers succeed in a changing commissioning environment. Stay ahead of the curve with resources aligned to current and future policy expectations.
👉 Explore Bid Strategy & Training Support
Written by Mike Harrison, Founder of Impact Guru Ltd — specialists in bid writing and strategy for social care providers.
Visit impact-guru.co.uk to browse strategies, method statements, or get in touch about tender support.