Welcome to the CIPFA Social Care Panel e-newsletter.
The Panel is committed to providing quality events, publications, services and invaluable insights into the challenges facing CIPFA members in Social Care Finance. This newsletter is a summary of current developments at CIPFA and in Social Care Finance and it is hoped that it will be of interest to all finance professionals working in the sector.
If you have any comments or suggestions regarding future editions please send them to us using the Panel feedback at:
http://www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/social_care/feedback.cfm
INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS – PILOT REPORT DUE OUT 21 OCTOBER
Department of Health (DH) expect the National evaluation of the Individual Budgets Pilot Projects to be published on the web on Tuesday 21 October, subject to Ministers’ recommendations.
Individual budgets are being piloted in 13 local authorities across England. The implementation is being supported by a team from the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP). The evaluation has five main dimensions:
- Experiences and outcomes for users and carers
- The cost-effectiveness of individual budgets in comparison with standard approaches
- Implications for social care and other agencies (such as health) and the impact on service providers
- How services purchased through individual budgets are commissioned, managed and coordinated
- The implications for social services and the social care workforce, including workload, training, legal and professional issues.
Links to the final report will be posted as soon as it is published on the following URL:
http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/research/summs/ibsen.php
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ELIGIBILITY REVIEW EXPECTED 22 OCTOBER
The fundamental review of eligibility criteria for adult care ordered in January by Care Services minister Ivan Lewis is expected to be published on Wednesday 22 October and will be available on the DH website. The review is expected to focus on national definitions of need and their application at a local level by councils.
Click here to access the DH website.
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DEVELOPMENTS IN ADULT SOCIAL CARE FINANCE – A ROUNDUP FROM THE DEPARMENT OF HEALTH (DH)
At CIPFA’s recent seminar on developments in adult social care finance, John Bolton, Director of Strategic Finance at the Department of Health, gave a roundup of the latest developments and their implications for the next Comprehensive Spending Review.
Referring to the circular, Transforming Social Care LAC (DH) 2008, John advises local authority finance professionals to read the circular carefully. The money has been given to secure the outcomes outlined within the circular and all authorities should be spending the money in this way.
Looking ahead, the next Comprehensive Spending Review is likely to take place at a time of continued economic challenges and of higher UK inflation. This is likely to make the overall settlement very tight.
Putting People First will be an important driver for social care policy over the next few years and there were also messages about Individual Budgets.
Read the full round up here.
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FINANCIAL CRISIS, CREDIT CRUNCH AND SOCIAL CARE
Events are moving quickly, often making daily newspapers out of date never mind the quarterly Social Care Panel e-newsletter. Nevertheless, one thing is clear (but no surprise); local authorities will be squeezed and Social Care will be no exception. Finance Professionals in the sector will need to think ahead – and act ahead - to meet these additional challenges.
Read more here.
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DIRECT PAYMENTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH
The government is reviewing the current exclusions to receiving direct payments for those people who are subject to various provisions of mental health legislation in light of the modernisation of mental health law brought about by the Mental Health Act 2007. It is now consulting on regulations.
The full Government document “Consultation on direct payments regulations” can be downloaded from the DH website at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_087108
The closing date is 11 November. Click here to check the main points on which the Government is seeking views.
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£96M PACKAGE ANNOUNCED FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis has announced that people with learning disabilities are to benefit from £96million in Government funding. The funding will help provide them with better healthcare, community support and employment prospects.
In 2007 £175m capital funding was made available to help people with a learning disability living in NHS accommodation move to housing in the community by 2010. The 'Our Health Our Care Our Say' White Paper said that all NHS campuses would close by 2010 and the campus capital helps to meet that commitment.
The new £96m of revenue funding, ring-fenced for three years from 2008/09 until 2010/11, will pay for costs incurred as a result of people with learning disabilities moving from campuses to housing in the community.
The £96m funding breaks down as follows: £14million in 2008/09, £31million in 2009/10 and £51million in 2010/11. Allocations to authorities are based on census returns at 10 April 2008 and allocations for 2009/10 and 2010/11 will reflect the new unitary authorities.
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CONFERENCES/SEMINARS 2008
CIPFA Adult Social Care Finance - 2009 Budget Issues, 10 December 2008, London
This one day course will include sessions on:
- Long-term funding
- The Local Authorities financial position for 2009/10
- What the Budget means for the Personalisation Agenda
- The Darzi Review
- The Charging Review
- Pooled Budgets.
For more details or to book a place, visit the CIPFA Shop.
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SEEKING YOUR INPUT ON INCOME COLLECTION AND RECOVERY!
CIPFA is hoping to provide a short bulletin or guide on issues relating to income collection and recovery which, it is hoped, will be of some help to authorities. The purpose of this survey is to provide a sound factual base for such a guide. Your input would be very welcome as part of that process.
You can access the short survey here and responses should be returned by 30 October and CIPFA would be very grateful if you would take a few minutes to complete the survey.
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THE PUBLIC MANAGEMENT AND POLICY ASSOCIATION (PMPA) - FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Monday 27 October 2008 (to be confirmed)
PMPA Roundtable Series on Public Services in a Mixed Economy
“Added Value: Concepts and Issues”
The first in a series of events delivered jointly with the Centre for Public Services Partnerships at the University of Birmingham, BT, NCVO and other partners to explore the challenges of delivering public services in a “mixed economy”.
Venue: CIPFA, 3 Robert Street, London WC2N 6RL.
2/3/4 November 2008 (to be confirmed)
PMPA/Department of Health “Tomorrow’s Health” Debate
The first in a series of debates on health and health services in the future, developed in partnership with the Department of Health.
Tuesday 25 November (to be confirmed)
PMPA/Department of Health “Tomorrow’s Health” Debate
The second in a series of debates on health and health services in the future, developed in partnership with the Department of Health.
Wednesday 26 November, Edinburgh (to be confirmed)
Scottish Public Management Network Dinner
An opportunity to join members of the Scottish Public Management Network for debate and discussion on the future of public services in Scotland.
More details are available on the above events by emailing Janet.Grauberg@cipfa.org or ringing Janet Grauberg, PMPA Development Director on 020 7543 5683.
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ABOUT THE SOCIAL CARE PANEL
CIPFA’s Social Care Panel meets four times a year and is responsible for all financial management and policy issues that affect Social Care finance. The Panel:
- develops Institute responses to Government, professional bodies' and other bodies' consultation/ discussion papers and exposure drafts
- develops, promotes and maintains best practice, standards and guidelines
- produces and disseminates relevant advice and material for members and employers in local authority education
- establishes positive and productive professional relationships with Government, government departments and agencies, the national audit bodies, professional regulators and other bodies falling within the Panel's defined areas of responsibility.
To find out more about the Panel and its work, visit the Panel website at:
http://www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/social_care
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