NHS 10 Year Plan: The impacts for social care

The new 10 year NHS plan outlines three key ambitions: bringing care closer to home, leading with digital innovation, and shifting the focus from treatment to prevention. These are significant goals that could fundamentally transform the way we think about health and wellbeing. However, as someone who has worked around the social care sector for over 15 years, I see a glaring issue in this strategy—the lack of social care.

The social care sector is, quite simply, indispensable. And so, it will be a critical partner in achieving this plan. Yet, without clear investment, strategic inclusion, and recognition of its value, these ambitions risk falling flat.

Opportunities in the NHS Plan

The plan's core concept of delivering care closer to home is truly exciting. The emphasis on Neighbourhood Health Services could well change how we think about community care by combining diagnostics, mental health support, rehabilitation, and prevention efforts.

And the focus towards prevention rather than intervention could be life-changing for countless people, whilst also easing some of the strain on our hospitals, which are often splitting at the seams.

In the words of our SVP of Health & Care, Ric Thompson, “The NHS stands on the cusp of significant transformation. I believe that with the right tools and support, the next decade can bring about incredible advancements”

The NHS 10 Plan: The impacts for social care

Despite its promise and these opportunities, the plan overlooks the indispensable role of social care. The NHS simply cannot build a community-first model or personalised approach without the infrastructure, workforce, and insights social care has built.

Social care providers are already delivering what much of this plan aspires to achieve. Care planning for those with complex needs, person-centered support, and community-centred approaches are at the heart of their work. Yet, they are doing so with limited recognition, resources, or integration into broader health strategies.

Care England has pointed to figures that reveal the daunting challenges ahead; 95% of individuals with complex needs are expected to have tailored care plans by 2027, a monumental leap from the current 20%.

The Care Workers’ Charity has also rightly emphasised the chronic undervaluation of social care professionals. Care workers frequently take on roles traditionally managed by nurses without equivalent training, pay, or pathways for career progression.

Technology and workforce development

One standout aspect of the NHS Plan for me was its commitment to digital innovation. Moving to a "truly digital health service", as well as its key focus on AI, the aspirations for improved communication and efficiency are ambitious yet extremely exciting.

But of course, there are exciting opportunities for AI in social care too. From reducing admin burdens so care workers can dedicate more time to individuals, to supporting better decision-making by predicting needs and analysing complex data, AI could be set to transform how care is delivered in every service, not just the NHS.

A missing piece in the vision

The NHS 10 Year Plan paints an inspiring picture. But as someone who has seen firsthand the struggles, resilience, and value of the social care sector, I cannot ignore the vital element that’s missing.

The absence of social care speaks volumes about its historical undervaluation. And only when social care is treated as an equal partner can the NHS truly achieve its mission of integrated care.

To me, this is the missing ingredient. Social care must not only support the NHS’s efforts but stand alongside it as a co-leader in designing and delivering care, and that’s why we should have seen social care in the NHS 10 Year Plan.

So, it’s time to think bigger. By elevating social care to its rightful place alongside the NHS, by empowering its workforce, and by investing in its capabilities, we can create a truly joined-up system of care. One that not only meets the ambitions of the 10 Year Plan but delivers tangible, life-improving outcomes for individuals and communities.

At OneAdvanced, we are ready to play our part in crafting this future because we know that innovative, purpose-built software is key to driving the integration, recognition, and investment the sector truly deserves.

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Discover how our solutions are helping to transform social care—and how they can support your organisation in making a lasting impact—here.