The Board to receive a presentation on the Care Act.

Kate Jones, Project Manager provided the Board with an update on the Care Act.  It was reported that –

(a)           from 1 April 2015, Part 1 of the Care Act would come in force and the local authority would be Care Act compliant from that day.  The act has a greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention and making sure people are independent as possible;

(b)          duty to offer a carers assessment, support plan and personal budget if they have eligible needs;

(c)           personal budgets another change and from April 2016 have a duty to offer direct payment to those into residential or nursing care that have eligible needs;

(d)          Part 2 comes into effect from 1 April 2016 and based on the Dilnot Report commissioned and written in 2011.  Looking at how to ensure the system no longer fit for purpose is more fair and equitable and people coming into care with eligible needs not facing catastrophic costs.  Department of Health recommending a cap on care set at £72k;

(e)          Part 2 more was more complicated and unsure of the cost to the local authority.  A number of people would not reach the cap for a number of years and one of the main challenges ensuring we get our communications right with regard to Part 2 and how we explain this to the workforce was important and helping people understand.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that –

            (f)         the challenge was how we get out to all the groups and the communities and there has been a lot of media attention about funding.  They were planning to have in place by October a process for care accounts to commence in April 2016.  How we explain to people now and how we evolve communication was key;

            (g)        this act challenges us to think about social care in a different way and in terms of prevention see this fitting in the Health and Wellbeing, Children and Young People and Commissioning Strategies;

            (h)        the Joint Needs Strategic Assessment (JSNA) was an on-going document considers social care and heavily drilled down and need to build on information to build into the JSNA data set and the JSNA Steering Group to take this forward;

            (i)         the Children and Young People’s Partnership has picked up the issue of young carers and in Plymouth there was a higher level of prevalence of young carers.  There were very young children seen by parts of the systems as being there to provide care which will damage the wellbeing of children and young people.  Discussions were taking place with children services and commissioners to take into consideration children with the household;

            (j)         the assessment tool they were currently using was comprehensive and data can be pulled on the needs of people going through the system on what they actually require.  Moving forward there was a need to refine that tool but was adequate to get us to the next stage;

            (k)        the local authority has a duty to promote and protect carers continuing their caring roles and have linked in with the Carers Strategic Partnership Board in shaping that policy.  With regard to finance we do not fully understand the impact and as we learn more will make sure it is communicated.

Agreed that -

1.         The Health and Wellbeing Board continues to monitor the implementation of the Care Act.

2.         Support is given to the Children and Young People’s Partnership in their work around young carers.

3.         Communications to the public on the implications of the Care Act.

4.         The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Steering Group to look at social needs assessment.