Care and support

For millions today and many millions more in the future, only effective care and support has the power to translate that right from an aspiration into an everyday reality.

Effective social care is central to the Commission's vision of delivering equality and human rights. We believe that the Government must consider modernising the basic approach to care and support to achieve three key aims:

1. promote the capabilities and autonomy of each individual regardless of means
2. encourage co-production to create a sustainable infrastructure of care and support, and
3. identify and communicate the cost-benefits of reform to society as a whole.

Care and support has the potential to become a springboard, not simply a safety net, focused on helping people to maximise control over their own lives, to make social and economic contributions and to stay safe and well. The benefits of this approach will accrue to society as a whole.

From safety net to springboard

The Commission published a report addressing these issues, entitled From safety net to springboard: A new approach to care and support for all based on equality and human rights. This report concerns the future of care and support and the role it can play in promoting human rights, equality and good relations. It has been published in order to influence thinking on the future of care and support in England and it sets out the actions the Commission itself will take to help make its vision for care and support a reality.

Access to advocacy and personalisation

Our work following that report has included examination of key related issues for both providers and users of social care; access to Personalisation and access to Advocacy. We have carried out extensive research and survey work in these areas and produced the reports listed below along with a short 'key Messages' paper linking their themes and drawing conclusions about Personalisation generally.

CQC review

Download our response (Word 74kb) to the Care Quality Commission reviews in 2009/10 Consultation, March 2009

Commissioning for equality and inclusion

Read the presentation to Guardian/ADASS National Commissioning Conference, Birmingham, 22-23 June 2009, given by Gerry Zarb, the Commission's Head of Health and Social Care.

Guidance on human rights

Human rights are based on core principles like dignity, fairness, equality, respect and autonomy. They help you to flourish and fulfil your potential through:

• being safe and protected from harm
• being treated fairly and with dignity
• living the life you choose
• taking an active part in your community and wider society.

Human rights toolkit for advocates

Action for Advocacy, the independent advocacy organisation has developed a toolkit based on an initial series of Commission-funded training days to advocates across England and Wales. The toolkit is a resource to promote further thinking and better use of resources that can support advocates to use human rights in their advocacy work. The training and supporting material was developed with thanks to and support from a range of advocacy organisations and key contacts; British Institute of Human Rights, Older People's Advocacy Alliance, British Institute of Learning Disabilities and Mind.

Guidance on the equality duties

The equality duty section provides details of the duties and responsibilities of public authorities in Britain. It covers the specifics of statutory equality duties and the implications of the Human Rights Act 1998 for all public sector organisations.