Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made against his Department’s commitment, as set out in the 2018 Loneliness Strategy, to improve knowledge sharing among social workers through the Chief Social Worker for Adults to develop social workers’ (a) ability to recognise people who may be experiencing loneliness and (b) their knowledge and services or support to refer people on to.

The Government’s Loneliness Strategy ‘A connected society: A Strategy for tackling loneliness – laying the foundations for change,’ acknowledged that tackling loneliness is complex and a long-term challenge, requiring action across many fronts and working with local government, public services, the voluntary and community sector and businesses to identify opportunities to tackle loneliness and build more integrated communities.

The Government has commissioned an evidence review to support the Chief Social Worker for Adults’ commitment in the Loneliness Strategy, to improve knowledge sharing among social workers and recognition and support for people who may be experiencing loneliness.

The review summarises the evidence into key messages and recommendations for social workers, other social care practitioners and employers. The Department will publish the review in the summer – this will inform specific guidance for social workers to ensure that they include loneliness in their assessment and care planning and that they also contribute to community development and other projects that can help tackle loneliness.