Countdown To National Care Reform Begins

February 20, 2015 by Joanna Harrison

Countdown to national care reform begins

Friday 20th February 2015

Southend-On-Sea Borough Council is urging people to find out how new care reforms will affect them when the most significant reform in social care for over 60 years comes into effect from 1st April.

The key changes, which will affect the estimated 1.5 million people who receive care and support, and several million unpaid carers in England, are:

Carers will have expanded rights to assessment and to council support. This change puts carers on the same footing as those they care for, allowing them to get the support they need for themselves. This could be practical support like being able to take a break from caring responsibilities or they may be entitled to a direct payment to spend on things that will make it easier to carry on caring.

The changes will introduce a new national eligibility threshold, providing peace of mind that wherever you live in the country, or plan to move to within England, if your needs meet the threshold, you will be eligible for support.

A Universal Deferred payment scheme will come into effect across the country meaning that people should not have to sell their home in their lifetime to fund their care costs. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council already operates a Deferred Payment Scheme, but this will change in line with the new national scheme

Cllr David Norman, Executive Councillor for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing says: “We are committed to supporting local people with their needs for care and support and have already supported, but most importantly I would urge people to find out more about how the changes will impact on them. Millions of people in England provide unpaid care or support to an adult family member or friend, either in their own home or somewhere else and they will now be entitled to an asessmen of theor own needs which could result in practical support.

“This is the biggest national shake up of care in over 60 years and we will be working hard to make sure that more people get the help they need, whether that’s a carer who needs a break from caring or someone who may be able to move to a care home without having to undergo the stress of selling their home.”

A Department of Health spokesperson says: “Care and support is something that nearly everyone in this country will experience at some point in their lives. These changes – the most significant in over 60 years – will make the system fairer by putting the needs, wishes and goals of people, and their carers, at the heart of every care decision.”

Information and advice to local residents, including how to access care and support, independent advocacy and independent financial advice to plan for their future care needs is available online at www.southendinfopoint.org or by calling 01702 215000