Annex 1
Minutes:
ANNEX 1
Shaping the Future of Social Care Together
Response of Oxfordshire County Council to the Green Paper
1. This paper sets out the response of Oxfordshire County Council to the Green Paper “Shaping the Future of Social Care Together”. It reflects informal discussions with Cabinet colleagues and discussions at our Adult Services Scrutiny Committee on 15th October 2009. However, ultimate responsibility for this response rests with us as the Cabinet Member for Adult Services and the Leader of the Council (with responsibility for Finance). This response was agreed under our delegated powers on 4th November 2009.
2. Oxfordshire County Council believes that there is a need to change the current arrangements but that any changes must build on good practice currently in place. We give examples of good practice already in place here in Oxfordshire in paragraph 8 below. We recognize that there are serious financial pressures on the adult social care system and that those pressures will get worse over the medium and longer term. Oxfordshire County Council has made a very significant investment to respond to the demographic pressures that we face (investing £35m extra annually by the end of the current medium term service and resource plan ending in 2013/14). This investment has been made despite the absence of any additional resources from central government. However, it is difficult to see how the County Council can make a similar investment over the next five year period unless extra resources are contributed from other sources.
3. We believe that there are some serious shortcomings with the Green Paper. In particular we would highlight the following:
· The Green Paper has been several years in gestation. As a result it does not reflect the very serious financial pressures now facing the public sector.
· Any changes will require reform of primary legislation such as the National Assistance Act 1948. We would support changes to bring this legislation up to date. However, there is no mention in the Green Paper of how this legislation should be amended.
· There is no mention of eligibility criteria and the review of Fair Access to Care Services (FACS). It is completely unclear how the proposals will impact at a local level where eligibility criteria vary currently.
· We do not believe that the Green Paper is especially helpful in taking forward the agenda set out in Putting People First (see paragraph 7 below).
· It is unfortunate that the Green Paper places so much emphasis on the costs of residential care when Putting People First rightly places so much focus on community based services, prevention and early intervention.
· It is also unfortunate that the Green Paper focuses so much on the issues facing older people at the expense of younger adults who will receive or already receive social care.
· There is no consideration of the impact on providers of social care whether domiciliary care or residential care.
· Overall, there is a significant lack of detail which makes it very difficult to come up with definitive ... view the full minutes text for item 33