Lincolnshire Adult Social Care Consultation: A Proposal for Change

2. Aims • To give an overview of the challenges facing LCC • To outline the proposal to raise eligibility threshold • To introduce the public consultation exercise • To provide an opportunity to discuss implications

3. The Challenges • financial pressures - 28% reduction in Adult Social Care funding over the next 4 years • Changing population - the population of older people is growing in Lincolnshire at a faster rate than the national average • The Big Society - government believes that individuals, families and communities should play a bigger part in supporting people to live independently • Personalisation – people want more choice and control. All new customers are now given a personal budget for maintenance care • Keeping people independent – We need to invest in preventative and rehabilitation services to help reduce the demands on maintenance services

4. The proposal being consulted on To raise the Adult Social Care eligibility criteria threshold to provide services for people with Substantial and Critical levels of need To cease providing support to people with Moderate levels of need

5. Eligibility Criteria Introduced in 2003 as FACS – Fair Access to Care Services Guidance updated in 2010 – • http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Download/16876

6. Further rationale • At least 73% of other authorities support people with substantial and above needs • Resources need to be released to invest in developing alternative ways of supporting people with moderate needs • We need to ensure sufficient resources available to meet the needs of those with substantial and critical needs

7. Implications if progressed • Currently around 3200 people have moderate and around 100 have low eligibility levels • Reassessments would take place - many brought forward. Potentially commencing late Summer 2011 • Where reassessment affirms moderate needs, People would be supported to access alternative forms of support • As part of reassessment any scope for using preventative services / equipment / Telecare / would be explored

8. 12 week Public Consultation Runs from 28th February – 22nd May 2011 Full Consultation Document http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Download/16878 Sets out the challenges, details the proposed response, implications. Outlines how people can respond Easy Read Consultation Document http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Download/16898

9. Consultation – key materials Initial Equality Impact Assessment http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Download/16888 Contains information about the groups of people potentially affected Consultation Questionnaire http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Download/16879

10. What will the consultation influence? • Whether change should happen at all • Whether change should apply to new or all customers • How we manage any withdrawal of services • How we manage existing equipment services • Which services we should keep out of scope as prevention / reablement • How we develop alternative support for people with moderate needs

11. Equipment Approx 1700 people’s only service is equipment where we have an ongoing maintenance responsibility Some of this is powered bathing equipment, Telecare equipment, some higher value equipment We need to determine most prudent approach - Do we remove equipment or transfer ownership and responsibility to individuals?

12. We need to hear from any one with an interest • Consultation document outlines all methods of responding • Preferred method to present relevant information and to submit a response is through the web site: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/supportingindependence Any assistance required to respond or to request paper copies: Telephone (01522) 782338

13. Public Meetings