The UK's social care sector is in crisis, with costs spiraling and local councils dedicating vast portions of their budgets to it. Meanwhile, families see savings vanish into nursing home fees, and an ageing population promises to worsen the situation.
In his second week as prime minister, Andy Burnham pledged to fix Britain's social care system, a challenge that has defeated many predecessors. Yet, as parliament returns, the administration remains unclear on how it will achieve this, especially with pledges not to raise income tax, VAT, or national insurance.
A Proposal Inspired by History
The government needs big, innovative ideas, drawing on history while learning from past mistakes. National service in the military is not the answer, as compulsory recruits in the postwar period were often unmotivated and incompetent.
Instead, inspiration can come from Austria, where young men opting out of military service can work in health or social care for nine months instead of six. In Norway, until 2012, conscientious objectors performed civilian national service in schools or nursing homes, earning points towards university entry.
The 'Care First' Scheme
The proposal: recent school leavers get 50% off university fees if they spend a year volunteering in social care. Two years could offer 100% off, with back pay and bonuses for staying in the profession.
This addresses not only social care but also the university funding crisis. Universities are panicking as enrolment fees fail to keep them solvent, while students face heavy loan bills and high interest rates. The government must fix the system anyway, so why not do so innovatively?
The maths could work: high uptake would provide the state with enormous short-term free labour, offsetting lost loan revenue. For young people, it means leaving university with significantly less debt.
Beyond Money: Recruitment and Dignity
The scheme could also open a new recruitment pool of eager young people, reducing reliance on low-paid migrant labour. Participants would undergo proper training and receive the discount only upon certified completion.
Some would discover that care work is deeply rewarding, challenging the stigma attached to such employment. The author, who relies on 24-hour live-in care since a 2023 accident, has seen how dignified and rewarding care work can be. His care workers take pride in helping him live normally, gaining life satisfaction from their work.
A care worker he met, an Irish dietitian with a master's from King's College London, found the job deeply rewarding. Incentivising UK students to try social care before university could lead many to rejoin after graduation, reducing stigma around care work as a last resort.
The author admits he is not a policy expert, and the numbers might not work. But from his perspective, it has the potential to be a win-win defining the Burnham administration. The scheme's name is obvious: 'Care First'.
