Policy

Debate on the future of care

A major public debate on the future of care and support concluded in November 2008. This will lead to a Green Paper early in 2009‚ outlining options on how care and support are delivered and paid for. Age Concern contributed to this debate through:

• a report of the 47 listening events we held around the country‚ asking older people their views about care; and
• responding to the Government consultation A Case for Change (see Response Papers below). 

We have produced a series of papers looking in depth at some of the issues and will publish further research reports in the New Year.

Transforming adult social care

The government has also launched a major initiative to transform care and support services‚ in particular to personalise services through self-directed support and personal budgets (see Putting People First document‚ December 2007 and related Department of Health guidance).

Reviewing eligibility for care

The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) has reviewed the eligibility criteria used by local authorities‚ in response to concerns that social care was increasingly focusing on people with the highest needs‚ rather than preventing needs from developing. There were also concerns about how well Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) fits with the ‘resource allocation systems’ being developed; these will help determine the ‘personal budgets’ that people can use to arrange the care and support of their choice. 

CSCI’s report on the review recommends a national framework of eligibility criteria but with local discretion on its application. Resource allocation systems should be retained but should be based on an individualised assessment of need rather than the standardised questionnaire currently being piloted. 

Direct payments

The new Health and Social Care Act includes provisions to extend the availability of direct cash payments which people can choose to receive instead of care services from April 2009. Direct payments will be payable to people compelled to receive services under mental health legislation‚ and to agents acting on behalf of people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves. The Act also repeals the ‘liable relative’ rule‚ whereby spouses were asked to contribute to a resident’s care costs. This was an issue on which Age Concern campaigned.


Our response papers

Download our responses to recent government consultations below:

 

Contact us

Email: Policy

Our Social Care Policy Experts are:

Pauline Thompson
Stephen Lowe