Welcome to our Care Act 2014 autumn update.
The need for care and support is something
that nearly everyone in Devon and across the country will experience at some
point in their lives. Even if we don’t need care for ourselves we will probably
know a family member or friend who receives care and support to help them in their day-to-day lives or to support them as a carer.
With an ageing population is it likely that
many more of us will need care in the future so it is important for us to have
a fair and modern system that can keep up with the demands. The Care Act is the
new national legislation that aims to deliver this.
The Care
Act represents the most significant reform of care and support in
more than 60 years, putting people and their carers in control of their care
and support. For the first time, the Act will put a limit on the amount anyone
will have to pay towards the costs of their care, this is called the ‘Care Cap’.
The Care Act brings in new entitlements for
carers to help them maintain their caring role and their life beyond their
caring role. All carers will be entitled to an assessment and if eligible for
support for particular needs, they will have a legal right to receive support
for those needs, just like the people they care for.
Over the summer, Devon County Council
submitted a response to the Care
Act consultation. The comments are being analysed by the Department
of Health and will be used to clarify and improve the Statutory Guidance and
Regulations that detail how local authorities must deliver the Care Act. Final
Statutory Guidance and Regulations are expected in October.
And once we have clarity from the Department
of Health, there will be opportunities for meaningful engagement.
In response to the Care Act, we are
continuing to develop plans that will deliver the new duties, and plans led
through our Care Act Implementation Board – with representation across the
organisation on a number of key work packages ahead of the Act being enforced
on 1st April 2015.
The cost of delivering the changes for
2015/16 have been agreed by our Corporate Leadership Team (CLT), and the work
packages that detail how we will meet our duties are going through final
fine-tuning to ensure all of the ‘must dos’, as set out in guidance, will be
achieved.
The second of three national stocktake exercises
took place this autumn, coordinated by the Local Government Association. This
helps the Government gauge the preparedness of local government for the
implementation of the Care Act and assess where support might be needed. Devon
County Council’s response to the stocktake exercise can be viewed here.
As the Care Act and its Statutory Guidance
and Regulations are developed by the Department of Health, we have maintained a
conversation with local bodies and the people of Devon. Opportunities have been
identified through our Care Act Implementation Board and we will continue to
review, progress and update on a regular basis. These opportunities have
included awareness-raising sessions at:
- Health
and Social Care Joint Engagement Board
- Healthwatch
Devon Operational Management Group
- Equality
Reference Group
-
The
annual Devon Care Training Conference for
social care providers.
Building on the national Impact Assessment, a
local over-arching Impact Assessment is being developed to highlight significant
changes, impact and mitigation.
Workshops with the Association of Directors
of Adult Social Services (ADASS), South West ADASS, as well as Public Health
England have been organised with our leads and selected stakeholders to help us work together and
share good practice.
Please refer to our
website The Care Act in Devon which is being kept
up-to-date as our plans develop. Here you can also find the national timeline programme schedule.
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