The residential care sector is indebted to Dame Gillian Wagner who has died at the age of 98. She chaired, and gave her name, to the seminal report into residential care ‘A Positive Choice’ published in 1988. However, it was what she did next that is remarkable. She was determined that the residential care sector should be seen and valued as an integral part of community care. So it was she won widespread praise for her pragmatic and practical approach to the implementation of the report recommendations.

‘A Positive Choice’ was a unanimous report which was well received. All of the recommendations had an impact. The opening paragraph of the first chapter is as follows:

“People who move into a residential establishment should do so by positive choice and living there should be a positive experience. These are the two fundamental requirements for the proposer functioning of residential services.”

Considering these words today it would be easy to miss just how groundbreaking (and refreshing) this approach was in 1988. And, I believe, it has contributed to a shift in attitudes towards residential care services. 

I first met Lady Gillian Wagner (as she was then) in 1985 when, working as a care home manager, I was appointed to the Wagner Committee. It was a professional relationship that was to last for more than 30 years and I have tremendous admiration for the enduring commitment she made to residential care. She had many other public service commitments including being Chair of the children’s charity Barnardo’s and the Abbeyfield Society.

Determined that her report did not simply sit on a shelf she set ability the formation of the Wagner Development Group (WDG) bringing together people from across the social care sector to develop plans for the implementation of the repoint recommendations. The WDG (thanks to funding from three charitable foundations) met regularly and produced a news bulletin widely distributed across the sector. This work resulted in a three-year programme of development work established by the Department of Health under the title ‘The Caring in Homes Initiative’. I was fortunate to be appointed to lead one of the programmes of work, on behalf of the Social Care Practice Centre at the University of Warwick, on the theme of establishing community links for care homes alongside work on quality systems, information, training and complaints procedures. An evaluation of the Caring in Homes Initiative was undertaken by Brunel University ‘Raising Voices: Ensuring Quality in Residential Care’ published in 1993.

In 1994 the Residential Forum was established (eventually becoming a registered charity) with the aim of promoting high standards in residential care and to contribute to improving the quality of services and practice. A series of publications followed and in May 2006 the Residential Forum held the first of a series of workshops (Modernising Residential Care) which championed the value of residential care. Gillian attended every one of the workshops – around 30 in all, acting as chair and actively participating. In 2008 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Wagner Report the Residential Forum published (jointly with Care Management Matters) ‘Residential Care: A Positive Future’ looking back at what had been achieved. In the book my chapter on the factors that create quality of care reference is made to ‘My Home Life: Quality of Life in Care Homes’ (2006) edited by Tom Owen and the National Care Homes Research and Development Forum. An indication, for me, of the thread linking Wagner influences to My Home Life – and present day. Gillian’s chapter in the book ends:

“It is my fervent hope that residential care will come to be seen as a positive option, that the service at its best will be recognised for what it has to offer – independence, companionship, security and care to those who need it – and that it will take its rightful place alongside the hospice movement, sheltered housing, and care in the community, ass a service to be proud of.” What a wonderful legacy she has.

Des Kelly OBE, Chair, My Home Life Charity