Coverage Care Services welcomed senior local leaders, councillors and MPs to its New Fairholme care home in Oswestry on Friday 13 March for a high-level discussion on the future of adult social care and the opportunities presented by the Government’s national reform programme.
The visit brought together representatives from Coverage Care Services, Shropshire Partners in Care, Shropshire Council, the Casey Commission, alongside councillors Ruth Houghton, Shropshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Heather Kidd, Leader of Shropshire Council, and Helen Morgan MP.
The meeting followed the Prime Minister’s announcement that Baroness Casey of Blackstock will chair an Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, tasked with examining the current system and making recommendations to secure long-term sustainability, improved access, and better outcomes for those who rely on care and support.
As part of the visit, attendees toured the state-of-the-art facilities at New Fairholme, met residents, and held constructive discussions on the challenges facing the sector — including workforce pressures, funding models, and the increasing complexity of care needs. The group also explored how local providers and councils can contribute evidence and insight to the national Commission.
Coverage Care, as a not-for-profit provider and an active partner within Shropshire Partners in Care, emphasised the importance of ensuring that the realities of delivering care in rural counties like Shropshire are fully understood at national level.
Debbie Price, Chief Executive of Coverage Care Services and Chair of Partners in Care’s Board of Directors, said: “Hosting the event provided Shropshire with an important platform to demonstrate the level of frailty and complexity of the people who rely on our services. Ensuring that these realities are understood at a national level is essential, and having a voice within the Casey Commission is a vital step in shaping the future of adult social care.
“For Shropshire, meaningful reform must recognise the unique challenges of delivering care in a rural county with a growing older population. We need sustained investment in social care – not only financially, but through a long-term, strategic plan that acknowledges the pressures faced by our teams and the increasing complexity of need. By contributing directly to the Commission’s work, we hope to ensure that the experiences of our communities, providers, and workforce influence a fair and sustainable model for the future.”
Debbie added that Coverage Care’s partnership with Shropshire Partners in Care strengthens the county’s collective voice at a crucial moment for the sector.
“As a not-for-profit provider rooted in our communities, we see every day the pressures facing the sector as well as the incredible dedication of our workforce. The establishment of an Independent Commission is a vital opportunity to shape a system that is sustainable, fair, and focused on the wellbeing of the people who rely on it. We are committed to contributing our experience and insight to help drive meaningful, long-term reform.”
