1. Housing and the Care Bill
Patrick Murray – Policy Officer
February 2014

2. Background
Major reform of the social care system
The Dilnot Cap on
lifetime care costs
Rights for carers
National eligibility criteria

3. Background
Seeks to redefine social care around the principle of well-being
Aims to develop preventative, integrated system
Strong focus on asset-based approach to social care
Significant new duties for local authorities including prevention, information & advice, market-shaping, integration

4. However… where’s the money?!

5. Federation lobbying
Federation is part of the Care & Support Alliance, a group of 70 charities representing stakeholders in the care system
Successfully lobbied on definition of well-being, integration, information & advice, prevention, market-shaping
Currently working with the CSA on the development of the statutory guidance to local authorities

6. Clause 1 – the definition of well-being
Basis of the whole system – principle from which it flows
Replaces existing acts, such as National Assistance Act 1948
Future court judgements on social care will have to consider “suitability of living accommodation”
Potential opportunities to join up more services – adaptations, specialist housing?

7. Prevention duty
Three strands of prevention:
Prevent needs from developing
Delay the onset of social care needs
Reduce social care needs
Local authorities will need to consider what services are available, identify who might need them

8. Prevent needs from developing
Relates to promotion of well-being in the general population
Link across to information and advice services, but not just info and advice
Good prevention should go beyond tradition public health interventions
Essentially about building community resilience
Partnership working with voluntary and community sector crucial to promote well-being

9. Delay onset of needs
Identifying those with unmet social care needs, lower level needs, or in danger of developing needs important
Early intervention to prevent escalation
Examples could include support to carers to build skills and knowledge, adaptations, & good quality advice to help people maintain independence

10. Reduce needs
Services to aid rehabilitation or help people manage conditions
Dementia cafes, or re-ablement services to help people return home from hospital are examples
Maximising independence, promoting well-being, building resilience

11. Information & advice Local authorities must provide
comprehensive information
and advice service
Important as key principle of
Bill is creating system where
people make informed choices
about services they access to improve their well-being.
Must provide independent financial advice
Also what types of care and support are available

12. Information & advice – potential gaps and opportunities
Could fall down in two tier areas especially as districts have duty to provide housing options advice
Federation lobbying to ensure housing related services included in care advice
Opportunity:
LAs do not have to provide service themselves so possibility for providers to consider what services they could offer to use info and advice to improve well-being
Also given scale of changes, important to consider how you can help tenants understand the new system

13. Market-shaping
Local authorities will need to develop “market position statement”
Sets out local needs and what services LA will buy in
Need to promote choice and well-being
LAs will need to identify existing services across broad range of care and support services, including housing related services
LAs will need to talk to providers
Chance to have conversation about type and shape of services in local areas

14. Integration
Duty to integrate where LA consider integration will promote wellbeing, prevent or delay needs or improve quality of care
Housing is specifically identified as “health related provision”
Useful lever for providers in local discussions with LAs to encourage integration of services which promote well-being

15. Asset-based approach Focus on strengths, not just need
Emphasising support networks
Develops community resilience
Challenge to existing models?
Or strategic opportunity for
community investment?

16. Contact information
Patrick Murray Policy Officer (Care & Support)