A new service for older people similar to the Care Direct initiative already under pilot is being developed at the department for work and pensions, Community Care has learned, writes Katie Leason.

The aim of the service, rumoured to be known as 'Third Age', is to provide an integrated service offering information on health, social care, benefits, housing and the voluntary sector.

However, there is concern that the new service will overlap with the Care Direct service developed by the department of health in 2001, and that the introduction of a new service could mean the demise of Care Direct.

“It’s not clear what the difference is between the current Care Direct service and the Third Age service envisaged,” said one social services source.

Care Direct has six pilot sites – Bournemouth, Bristol, Devon, Gloucestershire, Plymouth and Somerset - and offers local and national information on health, housing, social care and benefits. The department of health was overseeing the pilot sites, and the department for work and pensions took over responsibility at the beginning of April.

There is confusion as to whether the new service would be managed by local authorities, or commissioned out, perhaps to the voluntary sector. There is also uncertainty as to whether the Care Direct name and marketing push behind establishing it go to waste or somehow be incorporated into the new tag.

Margaret Sheather, social services director at Gloucestershire, said that the Care Direct pilot sites were “really proud” of the service and that she was pleased they were seen as likely flagships of the Third Age service. However she added that the lack of clarity was worrying.

“We need to know more and soon about what that service will look like and to get strong links established with the DWP to achieve a smooth transition,” she said.

The DWP said that the government had given it the task of leading “the development of a service focused on the needs of older people in line with their 2001 manifesto commitment”.

It added that the service would promote independent living and positive ageing, and provide “better value services by co-ordinating provision”. It would also provide an increased role for the voluntary sector in the delivery of public services.

It claimed that work was ongoing with various agencies including the Audit Commission, Local Government Association and Age Concern to look at ways of improving government services to older people.