Presentation Transcript

1. The Care Act and its impact on the adult social care workforce

   East Midlands Regional event – Monday 2nd June
2. Background A piece of reforming legislation – opportunity to develop and promote a change in culture and practice However, much of the Act consolidates good practice in statute New roles and responsibilities will require an increase in workforce capacity and/or new roles and ways of working Timely, focused training and development will be critical to successful implementation
3. Principles and general duties Largely reflects existing policy and good practice - Principle of Well Being - Prevention – reducing and delaying care need - Access for everyone to good information and advice – independent financial advice - Ensuring a range of good local care and support services - Protecting people if services fail Overall impact will depend on local practice and policies
4. Staff training and development Basic understanding / awareness of the overarching principles of the Care Act – wider workforce High level legal training – senior managers and social workers, social care lawyers Implications for social work practice – senior managers and social workers
5. Wider role and new responsibilities Duty to assess whenever it appears there are care and support needs Carers get same rights as the person they care for – assessment, support plan, direct payment, services meet the eligibility threshold New national eligibility threshold Requirement to arrange independent advocacy
6. Workforce capacity and skills Significant increase in demand for assessments, particularly from Carers, expected – is current capacity sufficient? Outcome focused, national eligibility threshold - managers, assessors and social workers will need to a thorough understanding of new eligibility threshold – best practice assessment
7. Charging and financial assessment 2015/16 - universal deferred payments Councils will need to expand DPA function and train key staff 2016/17 Cap on Care Costs, new charging thresholds, introduction of Care Accounts Arrangements need to be in place to manage care accounts and track accrued care costs Training for financial assessment staff
8. Person Centred Care and Support Planning Consolidates existing policy and good practice Legal responsibility to ensure the support plan meets needs and outcomes Includes principles for calculating a personal budget Strongly promotes direct payments – a right in law Councils with low numbers of direct payments may need to expand capacity and back office functions
9. Partnerships and dependencies Closer planning, collaboration and integration with health, housing – councils will need to assess current practice, identify gaps Training in best practice / models for health and social care integration Responsible for social care needs of prisoners- significant impact for councils with one or more prisons within their boundaries – staff capacity and specialist training
10. Safeguarding New legal duty to protect adults with care and support needs from abuse and neglect New legal framework and statutory duty Lead role for councils to coordinate safeguarding activity Councils will need to review current practice and ensure senior managers, external partners understand their legal responsibilities