Money Carer^sm Articles

Independent advocates for people lacking mental capacity to make decisions for themselves will be able to receive direct benefit payments on their behalf under new legislation.

October 2007’s government spending review is unlikely to provide sufficient funding to meet the pressures facing councils in the learning disabilities field, according to speakers at the Local Government Association conference this week.

There is cause for concern amongst the 1,500 UK Homecare Association members that unless there is a step change in the way independent care services are funded by local authorities the industry may face collapse.  UKHCA claims that it is the way in which many councils “abuse their dominant purchasing power to drive down” contract rates and squeeze independent companies to provide their services. This means that many organisations are left funding a significant gap to meet the full cost of homecare.

According to a recent announcement by the Department of Health a key requirement of carers is accessible and reliable information that enables them to access services and support, helping them to properly meet the needs of themselves and the person they care for.  Such information, is however, often scattered across a wide variety of sources, and in many cases carers are not even aware that the information, and the associated opportunities or support solutions, even exist.

Support brokerage for care services originated in the US and is seen as a crucial part of the move towards individual budgets and self directed support through the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) and In Control pilot projects in England and Scotland.

The government have announced a new standing commission to look into the long-term issues faced by the country’s six million carers.

Stephen Burke, Chief Executive of Counsel and Care reports on the results of a recent survey asking people about their views on paying more income tax to fund improved and more equitable care services for older people.