Issue - meetings

The Strategic Director, Neighbourhoods and Adult Services, submitted the draft response to the national consultation exercise, launched on 15^th September, 2011, on the Future of Adult Social Care – Caring for the Future – an engagement with people who used Care and Support Services, local councils, care providers and the voluntary sector about the priorities for improving care and support.

Caring for Our future was an opportunity to bring together the recommendations from the Law Commission and the Commission on Funding of Care and Support with the Government’s Vision for Adult Social Care and to discuss with stakeholders what the priorities for reform should be.

Last November the Government published its Vision for Adult Social Care setting out the principles for a modern system of care and support.  They wanted to see a care and support system where care was personalised, people had choice in how their needs and ambitions were met and carers were supported.  Active strong community should help people maintain their independence and high quality care should be delivered by a diverse range of providers and a skilled workforce that could provide care and support with compassion and imagination.  People must be confident that they were protected against poor standards and abuse.

The Commission on the Funding of Care and Support, led by Andrew Dilnot, recommended that the amount that people had to spend on care over their lifetimes should be capped although people in care homes should continue to pay a contribution towards their living costs, sometimes known as ‘hotel’ costs such as food and building based costs.  The Commission also recommended that the current system of means tested support should be extended so that more people could get additional help in paying for care.

The Government would publish a White Paper in Spring 2012 alongside a progress report on funding reform.  The White Paper would set out the approach to reform to start the process of transforming the care and support system.  It was important that the Council responded to this engagement process which was broken down into the following discussion areas:-

-        Improving quality and developing the workforce

-        Increased personalisation and choice

-        Ensuring services were better integrated around people’s needs

-        Supporting greater prevention and early intervention

-        Creating a more diverse and responsive care market

-        The role of the financial services sector in supporting users, carers and their families

It was noted that the consultation had been considered by both the Health and Improving Lives Select Commissions.

In order to comply with the deadline, the Cabinet Member had agreed the response earlier.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the background to the national consultation exercise be noted.

(2)  That the Council’s response be endorsed.