The eligibility criteria, which governs all older and disabled people's right to receive care services, is to be fundamentally reviewed.
Details: The eligibility criteria, which governs all older and disabled people's right to receive care services, is to be fundamentally reviewed.
Care Services Minister, Ivan Lewis, has asked the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to undertake the review and report back to him with recommendations in the Autumn.
The review will focus on national definitions of need and their application at a local level by councils.
Ivan Lewis, Care Services Minister, stated:
"This year the Government will consult extensively on a new long term funding system for social care, begin a radical programme of change through personal care budgets and announce a new deal for carers.
"However, today's state of social care report highlights major inconsistencies in the way that eligibility criteria is being applied within and between local authorities; as well as a growing failure to support self-funders to make difficult choices about care for themselves or a family member.
"I want to see an end to the 'no help here' culture, which is now creeping into parts of the care system.
"There will always be a need for a national social care framework, but the existing system is leaving too many families on their own and runs the risk of damaging our commitment to support older and disabled people to live independently."
Dame Denise Platt, Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, said:
"Our State of Social Care report paints a stark picture of a sharp divide between people who do and do not qualify for social care from their local council. We are undertaking this review at the request of the Government as a contribution to the longer-term review of the funding of the care system. Our report will be published later this year and we will involve all interested parties, particularly the people who use care services. Our aim is to make the care they rely on more responsive to their needs."
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