Andrew Cozens

Newly elected members are learning about the sobering reality of the largest budget area many of their councils have, writes Andrew Cozens, an independent social care and health expert. The dust has settled from the 2026 local elections and a campaign that seemed more like a spot referendum on the government than the setting the direction of local services for the next four years. Where has it left adult social care, its users, carers and staff?

Adult social care was firmly uncoupled from the priority status given to the NHS, writes an independent social care and health specialist. Andrew Cozens, independent social care and health specialist Should we judge 2025 as the year when nothing really happened for adult social care in England? There is a strong case for arguing, from both policy and political standpoints, that the ships sailed on by and dogs did not bark.

The director general for adult social care is well placed to understand the issues at stake, writes Andrew Cozens, an independent social care and health specialist. Nobody knows the meandering journey of care reform better than Sally Warren, the newly confirmed director general for adult social care in the Department for Health & Social Care. She has helped plot the journey and shared the driving for decades in various roles inside and outside the civil service.