Governments 'asleep at the wheel' over social care, says head of review

And she said the failings identified by the recent Covid inquiry report into social care were testament to that.

Last month the inquiry published a report which said the care sector appeared to be "something of an afterthought" in the early stages of the pandemic, allowing Covid to spread like "wildfire".

Baroness Casey, who will address a conference of social care leaders later on Wednesday, said the findings were "so awful" and "a national shame".

"Successive governments have been asleep at the wheel. We've got our heads in the sand."

Her final recommendations for services for older people and adults with disabilities will be published next summer.

It comes as her commission publishes research showing England is an international outlier for having no "clear system of stewardship" for social care, unlike countries such as France and Germany.

She said the market was dominated by private providers and said the regulator – the Care Quality Commission – as being a "spectator at the site of a car crash".

The research found:

• Two people with the same condition having different experiences depending on where they live – different assement processes, waits and levels of support

• Those who paid for their own care – social care is means-tested – are charged on average 40% more than the councils pay for care they arrange

When Andy Burnham became prime minister, he said social care was one of his key priorities although the Casey commission was set up by the Starmer government.

"Together, we can build a new settlement for care," Baroness Casey said.

"One based on values I still believe this country shares – decency, contribution and a duty to care for our neighbours, our loved ones and ourselves."