Reading will NOT charge carers for services despite government policy & lconsultation on the Care Act #rdg #rdguk

Care Act Consultation Launched

13/11/2014
Reading Borough Council Press Release

READING Borough Council is asking residents for their views on social care ahead of changes being brought in by the Care Act.

The Care Act represents the biggest change to adult social care in over 60 years and – starting from April 2015 – will reform the law relating to the care and support of adults and their carers.

Adult Social Care incorporates free services – such as information and advice – and other services that may be charged for. Reading Borough Council will, however, only ask a client to contribute towards their care if they can afford to do so.

The new legislation increases the emphasis on preventative approaches to help ensure that people are supported to stay well in their own homes for longer. A 12 week Council consultation – starting on 17th November – will ask residents for their views on proposed changes in response to the Act.

The Care Act allows Local Authorities to exercise their discretionary power to charge for care and support. The Council is proposing that carers should not be charged for care and support services provided directly to them.

The 12 week consultation will also ask residents their views on:

• Changes to support for carers
• Changes to support for people who fund their own care
• Changes to how the Council charges for respite services
• Changes to the Council’s Deferred Payments Scheme – used when a resident pays for their own residential care but who may not want to sell their property immediately to pay for care home fees
• Changes to the Council’s Choice Policy – what rights people have when choosing care and support
• The Council’s draft Prevention Framework – ensuring that people with support needs and people who provide informal or unpaid care can access services to prevent their needs from becoming more serious
• The Council’s draft Social Care Information and Advice Plan
• The Council’s plans for developing the local market of care services – ensuring that there is a range of high quality services and support available locally for people with care and support needs.

Lead Member for Adult Social Care, Cllr Rachel Eden said:

“The Care Act is a major change to adult social care but Reading Borough Council is committed to ensuring that Reading’s residents continue to receive high quality support in living fulfilling lives and care when they need it.

“I believe a detailed consultation is extremely important to ensure that we can do this in the best way especially as the Government’s guidance has changed so many times.

“Although the Government has given councils the power to do so, Reading Borough Council does not propose to charge carers for services as I believe this is not in the best interest of residents, and it is important to support carers in the important role they play.

“I would encourage people to provide their feedback through the consultation. Results will be used to shape how the Care Act legislation is delivered at a local level and ensure we can make Reading a better place.”

The consultation is available online at www.reading.gov.uk/careact, along with information about events where people can find out more and share their views. For more information, to arrange a small group discussion or for any questions about the consultation, please contact tel.0118 9372382, careact.consultation@reading.gov.uk

The consultation closes on Monday 16th February 2015.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Media Contact: Anna Fowler
Tel: 0118 937 3957