Care is a Societal Challenge

Purpose Before Process

Author: Bob Rhodes

In this Compass Policy Paper, Citizen Network Fellow, Bob Rhodes summarises the central policy challenge for our care systems. The paper is based on decades of experience and the knowledge that the policy of building care markets that began in the 1980s has utterly failed. It is time for a complete reset of attitude, approach and policy.

The paper makes several clear proposals:

1. Recognise that care is about human relationships and must be rooted in functioning communities.
2. Policy leadership should lie with Social Services, based in local government.
3. Central government should get out of the way and devolve real authority to local government.
4. Local government should control all non-medical resources with a major transfer of resources from the NHS.
5. Central government should a clear statement of purpose for Social Services rooted in the principles of genuine social work.
6. Social Services must start working in a spirit of partnership with disabled people, carers and communities.

This paper connects the past history of care, its successes and failures, with the best practice of today. It is a challenging reminder that care is a fundamental part of our humanity—not a professional service to be commodified, regulated and purchased.

Read and download the free pdf in your browser, link below.

The publisher is Compass. Care is a Societal Challenge © Bob Rhodes 2026.