27 January 2009

Many missing out on social care, says CSCI

The Commission for Social Care Inspection has again called for an urgent review of the social care system.

‘The state of social care in England 2007-08', published today, is the fourth and final annual report on social care in England from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

The report highlights the divide between those receiving social care and those outside the system: ‘For people who are entitled to receive services, the care they receive is, in general, better than it has ever been. However, the number of people who have to find and fund their own care is growing.'

It also draws on CSCI's review of the current system of eligibility criteria, published in October 2008. The report repeats CSCI's call for an urgent review of the role and funding of care and support services. An adult social care green paper is due this spring.

"CSCI's final report shows a social care system that is failing to keep pace with the government's vision for people with a learning disability set out in ‘Valuing People Now' just last week," said David Congdon, Mencap's head of campaigns and policy.

"The long-awaited adult social care green paper must deliver the funding needed to meet the needs and rights of people with a learning disability, otherwise we will continue to fail some of our most vulnerable citizens."

The report also highlights a ‘significant gap' between the aspiration of individualised support and reality. In particular, it considers whether people with multiple and complex needs are benefiting from the personalisation agenda, concluding that ‘the situation is mixed and messy... much remains to be done to make personalised support a reality for people with the most complex needs.'

Read ‘The state of social care in England 2007-08' on the CSCI website

The Learning Disability Coalition fights for more money for adult social care. Ask your MP to sign an Early Day Motion asking the government to provide better funding for learning disability services

Have your say on the government's learning disability plans set out in ‘Valuing People Now'