Social services

2. Social services Children+adults –separate areas of activity

3. Children’s Social Services

8. Social services: who for? Elderly Disabled Children esp. those at risk Mentally ill Long-term ill Anyone “vulnerable” – asylum seekers

9. Children’s social care

10. Social services: who provides? Social care – “multi agency approach” – often more than one provider involved. Central government sets framework of duties/responsibilities/standards Providers are: Local authorities (social services providers are counties; unitaries; London boroughs) The NHS – Primary Care Trusts The Police (children at risk/abuse issues) Charitable groups eg NSPCC/Barnados

11. Children’s Services Arrangements changed fundamentally by Children’s Act 2004 (post-Lord Laming inquiry into death of Victoria Climbie) Policy of “Every Child Matters” introduced Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards Act also established Children’s Services Departments for local councils – bringing education and social care for children together

12. Baby P – Lord Laming report 2009 Failure of agencies to share information Social workers over-stretched Red-tape+form filling hampering front-line staff “Over-complicated, lengthy and tick-box assessment+recording system.” Child protection seen as ‘Cinderella Service’ Too many authorities failed to adopt his reforms following Victoria Climbie report in 2000

13. Care of children Role of social services (the council): Protection (safeguarding) Promote general welfare of children Encourage children to be brought up in family setting Work with parents in child’s best interests Provide accommodation for children where necessary (Tracy Beaker, fostering)

14. Local Children’s Safeguarding Boards Set out how different agencies will collaborate to deliver services/monitor effectiveness

15. Children at risk - Child Protection Plans Plans are drawn up by professionals following initial child protection conference Social services – (the council) - co-ordinate action to safeguard children through “inter-agency” plan Plans set out how child is to be protected Children may be taken out of home

16. Children taken into care – why? Underlying principle: Where children are at significant risk of harm and there is on-going risk Types of harm: Neglect Physical Abuse Sexual abuse Emotional abuse Children can be registered under more than one category

17. Care Orders Only for children under 17 Applications for such orders go to Family Court Orders are applied by councils where: Child is at risk of significant harm and care is below reasonable parental standard KCC – 261 care orders sought in 2013-14 at average cost of £5,000

18. Care Orders Social services assume parental responsibility but parents must have reasonable access Interim care orders: where council is seeking full care order. Last max. eight weeks, unless court grants renewal Supervision orders: where child is not taken into care but monitored by social services

19. Serious Case Reviews Purpose of SCRs: Are there lessons to be learned from the case about how professionals and agencies worked? Identify clearly what those lessons are, how they will be acted on, and what is expected to change as a result Improve inter-agency working

24. Care Homes Councils must provide Community Homes for children in care Private homes must be registered by the Commission for Social Care Inspection Homes may be run by charities, eg Barnados Usually mixed (boys and girls)

25. Fostering Can be short or long term Seen as preferable to care home environment Foster parents: no legal custody or full parental rights (but may choose to adopt later) Must be approved by social services Are paid+have allowances for clothing/holidays etc

26. Fostering ii Prospective foster parents vetted by social services to assess if appropriate Social services retain right to make regular spot checks – can remove children if necessary Required to undergo statutory training

28. Adoption Eligible children must be < 18 And be a child for whom returning home is not possible Adoption orders sever all legal ties with natural birth family Confers parental rights and responsibilities on new adopting family

29. Adoption ii Adoptive parents must be > 21 Be able to provide stable + permanent home Need not be married; can be single; same sex couples can adopt No upper age limit No bar against those who are disabled adopting Adoption must be through an approved Adoption Agency or Voluntary Adoption Society approved by Secy. Of State

31. Adoption scorecards Government publishes “scorecards” for council adoption rate (2012) Figures from 2012: 72 failed to meet target to place children in adoptive families within 21 months overall and within seven months of being cleared for adoption by the courts But improvements since then – eg Kent (KCC) has seen adoptions of under-twos treble since 2012

33. Adult social services

34. Growing pressure We are an ageing society – people now living much longer than they were More people over65 than under16 for the first time 10m people are over 65 – by 2050, forecast is 19m In 1900, 1% of popn. was > 65; 2000 it was 7%; by 2050, it will be 20% Number of people working beyond retirement age (65) has doubled in 10 years to 900,000

35. Growing pressures… Fastest growing sector of the population is the over-80s Currently, 3m are over age of 85 Forecast is that will double to 6m by 2030 Of govt spending on benefits – 65% of DWP budget goes on older people (£100bn in 2010-11) NHS spending on retired households: £5,200 NHS spending on non-retired: £2,800

39. Who should pay?

40. Dilnot Commission – fair funding Government set up inquiry because of concerns about affordability of care – sustainability+fairness Driven by concern that anyone with £23,000 assets faces unlimited care costs Reported in June 2011

41. Dilnot Commission - recommendations Each person’s contributions to care costs should be capped. After cap reached, state support kicks in Cap should be between £25,000-£50,000. £35,000 National eligibility criteria about who qualifies for care – currently set locally Cost to UK – approx £1.7bn

42. Govt. response to Dilnot Accepts principle of a cap Treasury said cap will be £75k not 35k £35k cap would cost govt. £1.7bn Issues… Would insurance companies come in at that level? Public not interested in planning for their care

43. Adult social services - Community Care NHS and Community Care Act 1990: shifted responsibility from NHS to local govt. Aim: to move away from institutional living to independent living Care is provided for problems associated with: Ageing Mental illness Learning difficulties Physical/sensory impairments NHS+Social services required to make Partnership Arrangements for care of individuals

44. Community Care: How it works Anyone with disability or any other social care need is entitled to a needsassessment: Old age/physical weakness Physical difficulties Sensory difficulties Learning disabilities Mental health problems

45. Community care: how? Assessments gauge what kind of help might be needed and can be provided in accordance with “eligibility criteria.” Councils usually have a system that grades level of need: for example, critical, substantial, moderate or low People most at risk given priority Individuals are given a care plan setting out what will be provided and by who Care may be secured through system of “direct payments”

46. Care plans Services to be provided Who will provide them Contact for issues or problems How reviews can be asked for if circumstances change

47. Community care – what kind of care? Domiciliary care services: such as – Meals on wheels Help with personal bathing or shopping Respite care (for carers too) Special equipment added to home – ramps; adapted furniture; stair rails Services often contracted out to private sector/voluntary sector. Charges can be made; often free

48. Community care – other help Support for deaf and blind Day care services – organise activities for people Recuperative and intermediate care services: short-term (few weeks) and intensive help to help recovery after illness; fall or other crisis. May be at a care home Respite care for carers, who may themselves need help (such as a break or holiday) Residential care in home – often bought in by council but how much is paid subject to means-testing

49. Who regulates – the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Independent regulator Regulates all health and adult social care services in England provided by NHS, local authorities, private companies or voluntary organisations Protects the rights of people detained under the Mental Health Act.

50. Care Quality Commission Care homes Domiciliary care providers Hospitals In all cases to “ensure compliance with required standards of care and welfare”