The Care Act Implications for Bolton 7 th April 2015 Rachel Tanner - Assistant Director Children’s & Adult Services

Care and support law into a single statute for the first time. Main focus: Clearer information for people to improve choice and control, (including individuals, carers and self funders). An emphasis on prevention and independence rather than crisis care. Radical reform of the way care is paid for. Main duties come into force April 2015 with the complex financial duties in April 2016 Care Act 2014

Aims to reform the care and support system into one that; Focuses on people’s well-being and support to help them remain independent for as long as possible. Introduces greater national consistency in access to care and support. Provides better information to help people make choices about their care. Gives people more control over their care. Improves support for carers. Improves the quality of care and support. Improves the integration of different services. Care Act 2014

Changes from April 2015 A duty to provide prevention, information and advice services A national minimum Eligibility for service users and carers Entitlement to assessment and to have eligible needs met for Carers Support to self funders – advice, financial planning and commissioning A universal system for deferred payments for residential care A duty for market shaping, and provider failure Extends the duty for independent advocacy Safeguarding duties – for a board, Safeguarding Adult reviews and to make enquiries. An emphasis to integrate health and social care services

Changes from April 2016 – Paying for Care A Cap on care costs that people have to pay to meet eligible social care needs A ‘Care Account’ to record how much a person pays towards their care, and receive an annual statement on progress towards the cap. Extending the financial support provided by the LA by raising the means test threshold for people with eligible needs.

First Contact Information and Advice Preventio n Services Needs Assessm ents & Eligibility Personal Budget unmet eligible needs Direct Payment or a Managed Account Care Account for Self funders Support Plan of all needs Service user & Carer Intermediate Tier Staying Well Equipment Annual Review Strengths based Approach / Mental Capacity / Participation & Advocacy / Impact on Carers or family / Safeguarding / Proportionate assessment Fairer charging assessment

Care Act Bolton’s response Strengthening information offer directly and via partners Remodelling customer pathways for Service users and Carers, incl. integration developments. Reviewing the Carers Strategy and local offer for carers New assessments tools and a revised resource allocation system for personal budgets. Commissioning improved Direct Payment brokerage and support service – Sept 2015 Workforce Development – culture change program Procurement of a new Adult Social Care System, and exploration of digital solutions; e-market place, on line records Reviewed the charging and deferred payment policies 1 st April Safeguarding duties overseen by the Safeguarding Adults Board.

Funding and Activity Activity – increase of approx. 3,150 people in 2015/6 New Eligibility – increased no. people eligibility estimating 5% increase. (450) Support to self funders – approx. 1,200 in Bolton. Carers assessments – estimated increase of 1,500 up to 4,000 Areas unable to predict impact of increased duties; Advocacy and direct payments. Funding Better Care Fund £950k on increased no. of care packages service users and carers, advocacy. New Burdens £1.3m implementation costs for additional capacity, systems. and deferred payments. 2016/7 funding reforms and resources still unknown, significant concern and risks set against backdrop of austerity and increasing demographics.