Shaping the Future of Care Together

The long awaited green paper on the future of social care was finally released on the 14th July 2009 and received less then enthusiastic reception from many organisations of Disabled People. Many commentators felt the Green Paper focussed too heavily on the funding of long term support for older people and ignored the needs of younger Disabled People.

The Green Paper sets out the government’s vision for a ‘National Care Service’.

The National Care Service will create a level playing field and end the postcode lottery of care services. Everyone in England will be guaranteed:

• Prevention services – the right support to stay independent and well for as long as possible and to delay your support needs increasing. 

• National assessment – Your support needs will be assessed and paid for in the same way across the country.

• Joined-up services – all the services will work together smoothly.

• Information and advice – the system will be easy to understand and navigate.

• Personalised care and support – services will be based on personal circumstances and need.

• Fair funding – money will be spent wisely and everyone will get some help meeting the high cost of support needs.

All very worthy aims however there is less detail on how they can achieve these aims.

Although the government appears to now acknowledge that funding for long term support is in crisis, and that there are inequalities in different areas in England, over criteria and means testing, the government has not brought forward one particular strategy to combat this.

When it comes to the thorny issue of funding for older people’s support, there seems to be 3 possible options which have been proposed:

1) A partnership model

The state would pay for a proportion of the care costs of any individual – for example, a quarter or a third – ensuring that everyone gets some support free. People would have to pay towards the rest of the cost dependent on means. 

 2) An insurance model

The state would pay for a proportion of the care costs of any individual – for example, a quarter or a third – ensuring that everyone gets some support free, just as in the Partnership model. In addition people could choose to pay into a private insurance or state insurance scheme that would cover the rest of the costs. This could be paid in instalments, as a lump sum on retirement or after death if preferred.

3) A comprehensive model

Everyone over retirement age would be required to pay into an insurance scheme depending on means and care would all be free once this requirement is met. The insurance could be paid during their working life, during their retirement or after they died.

There now follows a consultation period that lasts until the 13th November 2009 which is called rather brashly ‘The Big Care Debate’. There are no ‘official’ Government consultation events being held in Southampton however SCIL is considering holding a consultation event sometime in the Autumn.

More info is at http://www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk/

Or you can order a copy to be mailed to you by phoning 0300 123 1002 or minicom number is 0300 123 1003

Quote the reference, 295936 ‘Shaping the Future of Care Together’ for the full Green Paper and, for the shorter version, 295936/ER ‘Shaping the Future of Care Together – Easy Read.’

 

If You Employ A PA, This is for You!

SCIL are holding an exciting workshop on Tuesday 14th July between 10am and 1pm which would benefit you with understanding PA employment and it is free to all SCIL Members and Disabled People on the ILSS register.

The workshop morning is an exciting way to open your mind to various employment issues and to raise the issues that Disabled People encounter everyday and enabling you to reach your maximum potential as a Personal Assistant employer.  You will also have the chance to meet various support workers at SCIL.

On the same day, Personal Assistants on the ILSS register have been invited to a Disability Equality Training session. Personal Assistants have been strongly advised to attend DET Training as part of their development as a Personal Assistant. 

If you employ a Personal Assistant from the ILSS register, you should be aware that your Personal Assistant may also be attending on the same date as yourself.  It is worth noting that the Personal Assistants will be in a separate room.

As this is a fantastic opportunity not to be missed, so complete the booking form below:

PA Employers Workshop

Or contact Michael on 023 8020 2636 or email Michael@southamptoncil.co.uk

Consultation on the Right to Control

The Office of Disability Issues has just launched a consultation to ask Disabled People how to make choice and control a reality in their lives.

The consultation, launched on 11 June, invites stakeholders to give their views on the best way to deliver the Right to Control.

The ODI encourages responses from Disabled People, their organisations, public bodies, commissioners and service providers.

The consultation runs from 11 June – 30 September 2009.

• Consultation on Right to Control (PDF, 78 pages, 3.71 MB)

• Consultation on Right to Control – Easy Read (PDF, 92 pages, 2.12 MB)

To request a copy of the consultation in Braille, audio CD or BSL DVD email right.control@dwp.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 020 7449 5093.

What is the right to control?

The Right to Control is about shifting the balance of power from the state to the individual and recognising that disabled people are the experts in their own lives.

Why is the right needed?

At the moment, many Disabled People do not have the sort of choice and control over their lives that Non-Disabled people take for granted. The Government is therefore committed to providing greater choice and control over the support they receive from the State.

How will the right be introduced?

From 2010, we will test how the Right to Control will work. We will do this by trying out the Right to Control for Disabled Adults in a number of local authority areas in England. These will be called trailblazer sites.

How does the right fit with the Welfare Reform Bill?

The Welfare Reform Bill currently before Parliament enables the Secretary of State to make regulations to give Disabled People greater choice and control over support provided by the state. The Right to Control is part 2 of the Bill.

The Bill has completed its passage through the House of Commons. There was strong support across the House, with members on both sides warmly welcoming the increased choice and control this policy will deliver. As of June 2009, the Bill is before the House of Lords.

The Hansard page on the Welfare Reform Bill can be found on the Parliament website and includes the full text of the Bill, explanatory notes and reports from the debates.

 

Direct Newsletters for 2009

At the end of 2008, HCIL asked SCIL whether we would be happy to put the ‘Direct’ newsletters on the blog following Hampshire County Council’s decision to no longer host it on their website.

Unfortunately due to time constraints, we fell behind with uploading them so finally below you will find the 2009 editions for you to download and peruse at your leisure.

Direct 179 Jnuary 2009

Direct 180 March 2009

Direct 181 April 2009

Direct 182 May 2009

Direct 183 June 2009

Annual Questionairre Summary 2009

Direct Newsletter Dec 2008 now online

SCIL is pleased to announce that you can now download the latest Direct Newsletter produced by HCIL straight from the blog.

Full of articles of interest to Direct Payments users and  employers of personal assistants, this monthly newsletter is packed full of useful information.

Click on the link below for December’s issue.

direct-178-december-20082

Mixed Feedback to HCC Personalisation Commission

Ian Loynes and Robert Droy from SCIL recently attended the first session of the Hampshire Personalisation Commission. Throughout the day, we discussed with members of the audience how they felt about the Commission and their observations of the first session.

 

Firstly without wishing to be overly negative, the format and acoustics of the venue was not particularly accessible for many of the participants. There was no sign language interpreter at the session but we presume this would have been provided if an participant had requested it. We were also disappointed with the lack of diversity amongst both the commissioners, witnesses, and the audience in general. ‘White, middle aged, and middle class’ was one comment we heard.

 

Despite the session being entitled ‘People and Carers’, out of the 7 people who gave evidence, 3 people were actually ‘professionals’ who gave lengthy presentations which were followed up by questions. Their evidence, whilst useful, may have been better suited to a later session.

 

In contrast, the ‘people’ and ‘carers’ were asked to give very brief presentations with no opportunity for the commissioners to question them further. We feel this was a missed opportunity to really capture from the ‘users’ themselves why personalisation was so important. This part of the evidence was summed up by the Commission Chair as ‘moving’ and ‘uplifting’. Whilst these comments were well meaning, they were construed by many as slightly patronising and not viewing the evidence on an equal level as the evidence given by the other witnesses.

 

The round table discussions in the afternoon were found to be much more successful but unfortunately were only open to a ‘select’ group of invited guests. Some of the common themes have however been summarised in a document on the Hampshire Personalisation Commission website, along with much of the other evidence and presentations at each session.

 

The next session is on June 12 and you can apply for tickets for that session until May 20 by visiting the website or by calling 01962 833 040. Leave your name, telephone number and address and they will post an application form to you

 

Challenging Charges For Social Care Services

Thanks to NCIL for passing on this information.

 

The Coalition on Charging is a group of organisations chaired by the National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL). The coalition was established to campaign against the current system of charging for community care services.

 

The Coalition members include: NCIL, Age Concern, Scope, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Disability Alliance, Alzheimer’s Society, People First, Mind, Radar, the Alliance for Inclusive Education, Counsel and Care, United Kingdom Disabled Peoples Council (UKDPC), Action for Blind People, Royal National Institute for the Deaf, Arthritis Care, British Polio Fellowship, Carers UK, Equalities, Help the Aged, the Parkinson’s Disease Society, Mencap.

 

The Coalition is writing an up to date report, highlighting the current situation with charging for care, to ensure that the issue is on the government’s agenda when looking at the future of social care.

 

Our survey:

 

As part of the report we want to include feedback from people who are affected by charging. We have developed a survey that will be used to help the Coalition on Charging produce good information.

 

The report is aimed at the Department of Health and Government. A Government consultation (‘green’) paper on reform is due out sometime in 2008.  The Government has said that it ‘believes that there are real opportunities for reform within a system that shares the cost between the individual and the state’.

 

However, in our view, it is very important that they look at the effects on people of the current charging system and hear the views of people who are currently being charged for their support.

 

In order that we can include your views please can you respond to this survey by May 1 2008.

 

Please fill in the question on personal details. It is important for us to know your age as adult services are often provided for ‘adults’ and ‘older people’. We will not pass on any personal information and will make all responses anonymous in the report.

 

The Coalition has one set of survey questions for individual people who need support and their carers. There is a separate set of survey questions for organisations representing people who need support and representing carers. Please fill in the right survey.

 

You can download them here:

 

charging-survey-for-individuals

 

charging-survey-for-organisations

 

If you are involved in a forum or network, if you were able to discuss this issue that would be very useful.

 

The survey is for all adults in England who use (or have used) local authority social services for support in their own home. This includes people who use (or have used) direct payments. It does not include people who use residential care services.

 

This survey is aimed at all disabled and older people who use community care services.

 

We apologise for the short amount of time given to return the survey but we hope you will be able to give us your views.

 

Please send your completed survey by May 1 2008 to NCIL,  Fourth Floor, Hampton House, 20 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TJ or to policy@ncil.org.uk or fax to 0207 587 1663

 

 

Social Care As A Human Rights and Equality Issue

Baroness Jane Campbell has called for Personalisation and Social Care to been seen as a human rights and equality issue. In a powerful speech to the Institute for Public Policy Research, she says that funding for older people, support for carers, and promoting independent living needs to be one debate.

Echoing CSCI’s recent report on social care, Baroness Campbell questioned the tightening of eligibility criteria by local authorities – ‘If disabled people cannot access services unless they have the highest level of need, then all the empowering transformed delivery in the world, will not change the inequality experienced by people and families who require public service support to participate equally in society.’ 

She added ‘When we debate the future of adult social care, we are talking about people’s human rights and equality, not just for the person requiring the support, but for those with whom they share their lives.’

Here at SCIL, we believe Self Directed Support can only be fully utilised if people receive support and advocacy in order to make informed decisions.

Jane seems to agree. She said ‘As Demos have pointed out, the very advantages that personalisation and coproduction potentially offers also contain the seeds of building further inequality and disadvantage: “there will be huge scope for self-directed services and personal budgets. These pay-offs will particularly apply where people can mobilise their own knowledge and resources to make the service more effective”.  “For those who do not — the most excluded in our society, the people who need it the most, will lose out”.

We highly recommend blog visitors read the complete speech on the Equality and Human Rights Commission Website.

Hampshire Set Up Personalisation Commission

The Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councilor Ken Thornber has launched a commission of inquiry to help shape future services for people in need of support and care.

According to Hampshire County Council’s website: ‘Adult social care services must be transformed over the next three years. This transformation will include moving to a personalised adult social care system which emphasises the individual’s dignity, right to self-determination, choice, control and power over the support services they receive.

Personalisation means moving away from traditional social care where people are fitted into a limited set of available statutory services. It involves considering a person as an individual with aspirations, as well as needs, and a circle of family, friends and other resources and support mechanisms around them. It introduces the requirement for greater personal responsibility and for individuals to use their own resources, as well as those available through statutory and other services, to meet their needs in the best way possible. 

We need to take into account the challenges of demographic changes and resource constraints. We need to adopt a more collaborative approach between agencies, including the voluntary and independent sector.’

Hampshire are planning four evidence sessions over the next five months and are requesting evidence at least one month before each session. Hampshire will then select some people to give evidence in person if they wish to.

The four sessions are as follows:

April 28 – People and Carers – For this session we would like information on people’s experiences of personalisation or the lack of it in adult social care services. We would like people’s ideas on how personalisation can be achieved and how the system can be paid for. We want to hear from individuals, staff, families, carers and interested organisations.

June 12 – Partners and Funding – For this session we would like information on the implications personalisation will have for our partner organisations in Health services, Government departments, Adult Protection, the Third Sector and Voluntary Sector, and Employment. We will want to explore in depth the opportunities for new ways of funding. We also want to understand how risks may change for individuals and organisations.

July 18 – The Care Market – For this session we would like information on the effects personalisation will have on the market place. We would like to know what it will mean for all care providers running residential and nursing homes, home care, day activities and meals services. We would like information on what it means for the voluntary sector, the leisure market, health and other partners.

September 19 – The Local Authority – For this session we would like information on the implications personalisation will have for Local Authorities. We would like to hear from all aspects of Local Authority provision including housing, transport, leisure, and community safety. We want to explore the impact on culture, workforce and systems.

The Commission will be chaired by Councillor Ken Thornber with Councillor Felicity Hindson. Other notable commissioners include Peter Beresford, John Dixon from ADASS, Peter White and George Young, MP for North West Hampshire.

More information including a list of Commissioners, briefing papers, and how to submit evidence is available at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/adult-services/commission-personalisation

Reforming the Blue Badge Scheme

It seems like there’s nothing like the subject of Blue Badges to get people energised with many local papers regularly filling their pages with stories of either people abusing the Blue Badge scheme or Blue Badge holders being given parking tickets unfairly.

The Disabled Person’s Parking Badge Scheme (“the Blue Badge Scheme”) was introduced in 1971 to provide a national arrangement of on-street parking concessions for disabled people, allowing them to access goods and services more easily.  There are currently 2.3 million Blue Badge holders in the UK.

The Department of Transport have now decided to consult on changes to the Blue Badge scheme. The main changes being proposed relate to the eligibility criteria for the Scheme together with better ways of administering and enforcing the Scheme in order to cut down on levels of abuse. This may require altering the design of the badge to make it harder to forge.

A national database of Blue Badge holders is also being proposed. Another proposal is that different local authorities could vary the parking concessions granted to users of Blue Badges. This already happens in Central London, however the report also points out that this may add to uncertainty amongst Blue Badge holders about where they can park and for how long.

One idea being mooted is to try to lessen the financial worth of the Blue Badge to put people off stealing them. The idea would be that Blue Badge holders would no longer receive free parking but that Disabled People would be entitled to a ‘parking payment’ as part of their Individual Budget.

The final date for responses to be received by the Department for Transport is 17 April 2008. The full consultation document is available on http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/bluebadgereformstrategy