Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has called for a national care service built on the same principles as the NHS, putting social care reform firmly back on the political agenda after years of delayed promises.

Speaking at a regional care conference, he argued that fair pay, proper career pathways and recognised training for care workers have to sit at the heart of any reform. Without them, he said, the sector will keep losing experienced staff to retail and hospitality.

For care providers the message is familiar. Recruitment and retention remain the biggest pressures, and inspectors continue to look closely at how services induct, train and support their teams. Clear training records are no longer a nice extra, they are evidence of safe care.

Whatever shape reform eventually takes, the providers best placed to respond will be the ones who already invest in their people. Structured induction, regular refresher training and a simple way to show compliance all help, both on inspection day and in keeping good staff.

We will keep following the debate and share what it means for you and your teams as proposals become firmer.