In her recent article for LabourList, Access Social Care CEO Kari Gerstheimer argues that the debate around immigration and social care cannot ignore the reality of the workforce crisis facing the sector.

A member organisation contacted Access Social Care for general guidance regarding a person they support, who had been hospitalised following a significant deterioration in their wellbeing.

"Until we stop measuring success by how many people we can exclude, we'll never build the system people deserve."

Our CEO and Founder, Kari Gerstheimer has written a piece for Politics.co.uk in response to Andy Burnham’s recent comments on social care funding.

Carers Week 08-14 June

Join Sally as she shares what it’s like to work as an Administration Assistant at Access Social Care. Balancing work alongside caring responsibilities for both her mam and her son, Sally reflects on her journey as a working carer and how flexible working has enabled her to continue doing meaningful work while supporting her family.

From managing the busy day-to-day demands of the Business Support Team to helping systems and processes run smoothly across the organisation, Sally explains why variety, teamwork and flexibility are such important parts of her role.

The UK Supreme Court’s decision to abolish the 'acid test' marks a profound shift in how deprivation of liberty is determined. By replacing a clear, non-subjective standard with a multi-factorial approach based on 'relative normality' and subjective expressions of contentment, this ruling introduces significant ambiguity into the social care sector.

Our client, a disabled person with significant longstanding care and support needs, faced an urgent reduction in his care package from 24 hour support to just 4 hours per day.

Our long-running legal and policy campaign for Government Transparency in adult social care funding continues, and while progress can sometimes feel slow, it we are gaining momentum. Alongside the legal work, there is a growing effort to bring these issues into the public conversation, including through engagement with the media who are showing interest in this important case.

Join Chelsey as she shares what it’s like to work as a People Advisor at Access Social Care. From supporting managers and employees to handling recruitment, onboarding and employee relations, she reflects on her journey into HR and what inspired her to pursue a career in mission-driven organisations. Drawing from her own personal experience of the social care system, Chelsey explains why Access Social Care’s mission resonates so strongly with her and how being able to make a positive difference to people’s everyday working lives is the most rewarding part of her role.

Join us for a practical information session designed to give you the essential knowledge you need to better understand and navigate the adult social care system.

This session is intended for individuals who draw on social care services, or who support a friend or family member who does. It is not suitable for professionals working in the sector.

Over the course of State of the Nation: Global Perspectives, we have travelled across countries, systems, and ideas to explore one central question: how can we build a social care system that works for the world we live in today?

Join Marlene as she shares what it’s like to begin her legal career as a Paralegal at Access Social Care. From drafting letters and conducting legal research to supporting casework and client communication, she reflects on her journey into community care law, what inspired her to pursue this path, and how even the smallest tasks can make a meaningful difference in people’s everyday lives.

In the final episode of State of the Nation: Global Perspectives, Kari Gerstheimer is joined by Adelina Comas-Herrera, a leading expert in international long-term care systems, to reflect on the lessons emerging from across the series.

In Episode 8 of State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives, Kari Gerstheimer is joined by Dr Sam Bennett, Disability Programme Director at the Grattan Institute and former senior leader at the National Disability Insurance Agency. With experience spanning both the UK and Australia, Sam brings a rare combination of policy insight and frontline understanding.

We’re incredibly excited to share some fantastic news. Our AccessAva campaign, delivered in partnership with STAND, has been shortlisted for Best Not-for-Profit Campaign at this year’s UK Digital Excellence Awards! 

In Episode 7 of State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives, Kari Gerstheimer is joined by Andy McCabe to discuss the recent findings of the Casey Commission on social care, exploring societal changes, government responsibilities, and the future of social care reform in England. Featuring insights from Baroness Casey's speech at the Nuffield Conference, the discussion emphasises the importance of informed public engagement, transparency, and systemic change.

In Episode 6 of State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives, Kari Gerstheimer is joined by Brendan Martin to discuss his journey into social care and how small self managed neighbourhood teams in the Netherlands are delivering more relational, person centred care. The conversation explores why the model has been influential internationally and what has been learned from attempts to introduce similar approaches in the UK.

In Episode 5 of State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives, Kari Gerstheimer is joined by Marcus Riley. The conversation explores the structure of Australia’s social care system, including aged care, health and disability services delivered through the National Disability Insurance Scheme. While universal safety nets exist, the system remains fragmented, with tensions between federal and state responsibilities.

Our Community Hubs exist to make social care law and rights real for communities, especially for people who face the biggest barriers to getting support. Through outreach, training, casework, and partnership working, the Croydon Hub supports residents, carers and frontline professionals, and uses what we learn to influence better practice across the system. 

Join Nel as she shares what it’s like to start a legal career as a Paralegal Apprentice at Access Social Care. From researching the Care Act and attending Mental Health Act training, to learning on the job and supporting real clients, Nel reflects on her journey into community care law, the skills she’s developing, and what it means to be part of a mission-led team making a difference every day.

In Episode 4 of State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives, Kari Gerstheimer is joined by Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive of Scottish Care, for a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation about the state of social care in Scotland and what it reveals about the challenges facing care systems more broadly.