The Care ActReforming care and support

Older People’s Residential and Nursing Provider Forum

8 January 2015

Vicky Smith, Head of Policy and Strategic Development

Changes from April 2015

• Eligibility and assessment

• Information and Advice, including how to access independent financial advice

• Safeguarding

• Deferred Payments

Other changes in April 2015:• Legal duty to ensure smooth transition from children’s to

adults social care services

• A duty to ensure a wide range of good quality care and support services are available

• New protections to ensure that no one goes without care if their provider fails

• New legal right to a personal budget and direct payment

• New responsibilities for provision of care and support in prisons

• Extension of ordinary residence to extra care and supported living

Changes from April 2016:Funding reform

Charging for support• A new legal basis for charging

• A consistent approach to calculating someone’s contribution towards living costs in residential care (not included in the cap)

• The charging threshold for people who get care in their own home increases from £23,250 to £27,000

• The charging threshold for people who get residential care increases from £23,250 to £118,000

The cap on care costs• The Care Act says there should be a maximum

amount anyone should pay towards their care.• The amounts have not been confirmed, however it

is likely that in 2016 there will be:– a cap on care costs of £72,000 for people of pension

age and above

– a lower cap for adults of working age

– no contribution for young people entering adulthood with an eligible care and support need

• The cap won’t count living costs, or any additional payments people choose to make.

How the cap will work• In late January, the Government will be consulting on the

details about how the cap will work, including what will count as a care cost.

• ‘Care accounts’ for people who want their care costs tracked towards the cap

• To apply, people will need to have an assessment to see if they meet the national eligibility threshold

• People who qualify will be given an independent personal budget of the care costs will ‘count’ towards the cap.

• Guidance asks LAs to work with providers to identify self funders from October 2015

Independent Care Group discussion• New Task and Finish Group with providers

• Meet during 2015

• Key actions:– Understand guidance and regulations– Understand impacts on the local care market– Communications and engagement with self

funders– Tackle concerns jointly

Next steps

• Nominations process

• Email interest to:

CareAct@eastsussex.gov.uk

• Funding Reform Task and Finish Group as Subject title)

• First meeting to be set up in March (?)

More information• Slideset for providers on the Care Act

2014

• Designed for use by care home managers or anyone in a similar position who wishes to make a presentation on the Care Act or share information with staff and colleagues

• http://www.local.gov.uk/care-support-reform/-/journal_content/56/10180/6527719/ARTICLE

More information• Local, regional and national publicity

• Department of Health factsheets on the Care Act: gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-2014-part-1-factsheets

• National care and support reform implementation programme: local.gov.uk/care-support-reform

• The Care Act in full: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/care.html

• The Care Act in East Sussex: eastsussex.gov.uk/careact careact@eastsussex.gov.uk