Our team of leading experts provide regular commentary on a wide range of local government issues. For all press enquires, please contact Jen Pufky on 020 7554 2800 or 07825 617 927 or by email on jen.pufky@lgiu.org.uk.
Self-funders make up a huge proportion of the social care system, yet little attention is paid to making sure they get the access they are entitled to. Everyone, including local government, stands to lose
Directors of adult social services are well aware of the additional pressures facing their budgets by an increasing number of people who, having funded their own care for many years, are increasingly turning to social services departments for help. The situation was raised in an LGIU report published today.
A survey of 23 local authorities by insurer Partnership and thinktank LGIU revealed that 53 per cent did not refer individuals for advice after an assessment, with only 17 per cent referring individuals for advice before an assesment.
The Local Government Information Unit today launched its ‘Independent Ageing 2013’ Report which suggests that without effective support for the 57% of older people who fund all or part of their own care the entire structure of social care is at risk.
Authorities must provide access to earlier financial advice for self-funders to prevent hardship for them and reduce risks of them falling back on local authority funding, says think-tank report.
The Local Government Information Unit today launched its ‘Independent Ageing 2013’ Report which suggests that without effective support for the 57% of older people who fund all or part of their own care (‘self funders’) the entire structure of social care is at risk.
Laura Wilkes from the Local Government Information Unit said this was “great news” for local government. She said: “We have seen real results from the pilots and now is the time for councils to get on and push forward with this way of working to support communities to take more local control.”
Laura Wilkes, policy manager for the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU), has said today’s announcement of a £4.3m funding boost for bottom-up, grassroots community initiatives could fail unless councils gain greater freedoms to innovate and reinvest savings in preventative services. (£ subscriber access only)
Jonathan Carr-West argues that long term changes to our society, economy and environment require us to think radically about what local services look like.
Cllr West, who lives just off Hornsey Lane, Highgate, and was voted the best council leader in the country by the Local Government Information Unit earlier this year, has thrown down the gauntlet and wasted no time in criticising her rival.
