A Vision for Adult Social Care

The government’s vision for adult social care services is due to be outlined in a White Paper to be published at the end of next year.

The White Paper, called “A Vision for Adult Social Care: Capable Communities and Active Citizens” is set to describe how the provision of social care services will be increasingly removed from local authorities and given to those actually receiving care.

This forms part of the Government’s ‘Big Society’ agenda and will set the challenge for local authorities to provide those who are eligible with a personal budget for care services by April 2013.

This personal budget will preferably be a direct payment.

Whilst the personalisation of care budgets is likely to be welcomed, it could create problems with elderly people having to manage their own budgets and directly employing those providing care services.

If this is the case, the role of the specialist care fees planner will become even more important, helping those receiving care (and their representatives) to manage financial resources and get best value for money.

Photo credit: Flickr.com Jim Linwood