‘Undercover carers’ save the taxpayer £40 billion a year : Express.

Without these unpaid carers the social care and health services would be in an exceedingly worse situation than the crisis situation that is currently affecting these services.

Carers do experience physical, emotional and financial strain while undertaking the unpaid caring roles and to such an extent that eventually their own health will suffer considerably, for while concentrating on the persons they are caring for they are unintentionally not recognising their own health deteriorating.

If everyone of these carers withdrew their services (strike), the true state of health and social care would be evident within seconds. However, because of their resolve, caring nature and concern and love for the persons to whom they are providing care they will never withdraw from their caring role while they have the strength to continue and then some.

Until you have an occasion to undertake this role you will not be able to understand the pressures they are and having to experience, for the systems themselves within social care are there to create these pressures. So you not only have the pressures from caring but also substantial pressure in fighting the system.

Care Act risks becoming ‘unrealistic wish list’ without funding boost | Community Care

Local Government Association report says an additional £1.3bn of additional funding is needed immediately to stabilise care market

Source: Care Act risks becoming ‘unrealistic wish list’ without funding boost | Community Care

How to use the Care Act to get the right support – Resources – Choice Forum

“Using the Care Act to get the right support” is a new short film made by the Family Carer Support Service (FCSS). Questions answered in the film are: Has the Care Act really changed anything? How do you use the Care Act to challenge decisions? How do carers benefit the most from the new Care Act? the Care Act and rights to Independent Advocacy. the Care Act, Personal Budgets and Direct Payments. Watch it here:

Source: How to use the Care Act to get the right support – Resources – Choice Forum

Carers UK warn that without social care investment the results are potentially devastating | Care Industry News

Carers UK warns that without urgent and significant investment in social care, the consequences for families, the NHS and the viability of care providers are potentially devastating.

The warning comes in response to the ADASS Budget Survey 2016 [1], which shows that social care funding is not matching the growing need for, and cost of, care for older and disabled people. Whilst additional funding for care has been made available through the locally raised precept and future initiatives including the new Better Care Fund, ADASS warns that this funding comes too little and too late.

 

Source: Carers UK warn that without social care investment the results are potentially devastating | Care Industry News

Councils ‘levelling down’ care packages after ILF closure | Community Care

Report reveals more than half of local authorities in London have cut care packages since the closure of the Independent Living Fund in June last year

Source: Councils ‘levelling down’ care packages after ILF closure | Community Care

Why the absence of advocacy could double workloads | Community Care

A recent judgement relating to advocacy duties under the Care Act shows social workers need to get up to speed quickly says Kate Mercer

Source: Why the absence of advocacy could double workloads | Community Care

Thank you for your responses to the Care Act

Earlier in the year I responded to the Carers Trust to comment on the Care Act, please see below a report on the responses received.

Report

Source: Thank you for your responses to the Care Act

No confidence that SCIE report will see Care Act turnaround in Norfolk | DisabledGo News and Blog

A report commissioned following concerns raised by disabled people that their local authority was breaching its duties under the Care Act will do little to help because it fails to address drastic cuts to social care funding, say campaigners. Norfolk County Council (NCC) had asked the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) to review its implementation of the 2014 Care Act after the disabled people’s organisation Equal Lives accused it of “reckless behaviour” that had left disabled people prisoners in their own homes. Equal Lives had accused the Conservative-majority council of a “systemic failure” to meet its legal duties under the act. But although the report by SCIE – an improvement support agency that was originally set up by the Labour government but later became a charity – makes 22 recommendations for improvements at the council, it says nothing about the need for greater funding for social care in Norfolk. SCIE said that the issue of funding and resources was “not

Source: No confidence that SCIE report will see Care Act turnaround in Norfolk | DisabledGo News and Blog

Cuts and reform – the Cameron legacy for adult social care | Community Care

The outgoing prime minister’s governments have pursued two strategies that have been in conflict with each other in adults’ services

Source: Cuts and reform – the Cameron legacy for adult social care | Community Care

Raising awareness of carers rights will improve support | Social care

As Carers Trust CEO, Gail Scott-Spicer was delighted to see the Care Act, and the Children and Families Act come into force in 2015. As our Carers Strategy call for evidence enters its final weeks, Ga

Source: Raising awareness of carers rights will improve support | Social care