Thread by @IDickson258

1. I watched the Scottish care review & knew we needed one in England. Care experienced people sharing their truths to gain reform. Breathtaking to observe. We held #CareExpConf that reinforced the readiness of care experienced folk to engage, contribute & work for change>

2. We met Jeremy Corbyn in Glasgow. He committed the Labour party to including a care review in its manifesto for the approaching general election. These were the heady days when an inclusive care review, Scottish style, looked possible in England>

3. To my surprise, the Tories also included a commitment to a care review in their Manifesto. Obviously, that could only be a good thing, although I was curious about how they might deliver>

4. Now we know. The Tories altered their pledge & offered a "social care review" that sought to transform the image of social welfare with children & families. Although referred to as a "care review" it never was. The care system remains in need of review.>

5. Instead of the transparent inclusive care review, we got a review with a politically appointed chair with no qualification, training or experience of social work, part of a controversial govt approved & funded social work programme, in tow to DfE & lacking independence>

6. The Social Care Review failed to engage the care experienced population, appointing its EbE by an opaque process that included interview with appointed insiders, excluded most applicants & was not seen as fair or impartial.>

7. Months onwards, it is safe to say that the MacAlister social care review was stage managed & in reality engaged directly with very few care experienced people, care providers or social workers. So much "consultation" was carefully managed by approved charities & agencies>

8. Still Mr MacAlister has failed to meet & debate with his critics & his lead advisor Duncan Dunlop has openly shared his contraversial view that other than a small percentage, residential care should be totally phased out in favour of community & family alternatives.>

9. Duncan Dunlop is entitled to his views, but his views have now led to a robust debate (which Josh MacAlister has characteristically avoided,) about the role of residential care - about care. This was part of the discussion about care we never got during the care review.>

10. The MacAlister Social Care Review has completed. We are told his team will now move on. The role of residential care is only being discussed now the review is over. Only now is the partiality of key review team players being shared & people waking up to what just happened.>

11. This was the not the care review we were promised. There has been no debate, consultation or engagement about care, what it is, who should deliver it & how. The discussion is no good after the review is over. So much money wasted - we still need an independent care review.