The six largest councils in north west England have drawn up a
protocol clarifying who is responsible for supporting a carer when
they look after someone living in a different local
authority.
Services commissioned following a carers' assessment are often
delivered to the service user to provide the carer with a respite
break. Director of Lancashire social services Richard Jones said
this can cause problems when the person receiving care and their
carer live in different local authorities.
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"It can mean that two separate packages of care are being delivered
to the same individual based on two separate care plans, sometimes
by two different care providers," he added.
As a result, the local authorities have drawn up a new
cross-boundary carer's assessment protocol under which the local
authority where the service user lives will take responsibility for
the carer's assessment, review and the subsequent commissioning of
services or support. The service user's council can then get the
cost of providing the services reimbursed by the carer's local
authority.
