Key Points:
- Residents in Merton are being encouraged by the council to take part in The Big Conversation on Care Survey.
- It is part of the wider national Casey Commission on Adult Social Care, which is said to be one of the biggest reviews of its kind in a generation.
- The consultation period has run for six weeks with various proposals identified for public opinion.
- Residents have up to 23rd September to cast their vote on the changes proposed in the social care system.
- Results from the discussion panel will influence national adult social care policy and practice.
Merton (South London News) September 17, 2026 – Merton Council has issued a call to action for local residents, unpaid carers, and recipients of care services to contribute to the Big Conversation on Care, a major national engagement survey designed to reform the adult social care framework. As part of the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, the consultation asks the public to address how support should be structured for older citizens, individuals with disabilities, and those managing serious illnesses. The findings from this public engagement drive will inform future national policy and service delivery models.
How can Merton residents participate in the Big Conversation on Care?
The local authority is seeking input from anyone with direct experience of the social care system or an interest in its structural evolution. Participants are invited to complete an online engagement survey and join a national voting panel. This process gives service users, family members with caring responsibilities, and local residents a direct platform to evaluate various policy proposals before the public consultation closes on 23 September.
Councillor Peter McCabe, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, outlined the scope of the initiative:
“The Casey Commission’s Big Conversation on Care is the biggest review in a generation. The consultation process has been running for six weeks and the Commission has identified a number of options and proposals. We would like everyone to make their contribution by voting for their preferences that will help shape the future of social care.”
Why is the Casey Commission conducting this public consultation?
The Casey Commission’s Independent Review on Adult Social Care aims to create a consensus on structural reforms, funding models, and community support systems across the country. Over the six-week consultation period, the independent body has collated data and proposed multiple pathways to reform how support is delivered to vulnerable adults.
By collecting public votes on these specific options, the Commission intends to identify which options command widespread public backing. The results of the voting panel will be evaluated following the 23 September deadline to guide national implementation strategies.
Background of the development
Adult social care in England faces ongoing structural pressures driven by an ageing population, increased demand for complex care services, and persistent funding challenges across local government. The Casey Commission was established as an independent body to re-examine the operational framework of adult social care and propose long-term solutions. Merton Council’s local drive aligns with broader regional and national efforts to engage local communities directly in policymaking, ensuring that lived experience informs local government strategy and statutory care provision.
Prediction: How will this development affect social care recipients and carers?
The outcomes of this national engagement process are expected to directly influence future statutory guidance, funding allocations, and local service provision for social care recipients and carers in Merton and across the United Kingdom.
If the Commission’s eventual recommendations lead to legislative reform, service users may experience shifts in how community care, residential support, and personal budgets are delivered. For unpaid carers, the policy outcomes could result in altered support frameworks, increased respite care availability, or revised funding mechanisms. In the short term, the direct feedback collected prior to the 23 September deadline will determine which policy models are prioritized by the Independent Commission when presenting final reform plans to central and local government bodies.
