Lack of cash blamed for failure to support carers

The widespread failure of local authorities to fulfil their
obligations to provide new services for careers has been blamed on
a shortage of funds, writes David
Brown.

Less than a fifth of councils found new resources last year to
implement the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000.

A survey published today by the Association of Directors of
Social Services found that just a further 5 per cent expect to find
additional resources this year.

Andrew Cozens, ADSS junior vice-president, said: “The act is in
danger of missing the mark because, as we feared, councils do not
have the headroom in their budgets to develop new service for
careers.”

The survey reveals that 101 out of 110 directors of social
services believe the lack of resources inhibited the implementation
of the act by their authority.

The ADSS plans to use the results to campaign the government to
fulfil its manifesto pledge to fund the act, estimated at about
£40 million in England alone.

The carers grant has led to an increase in the number of short,
respire breaks for carers, and the survey found that most directors
supported a more flexible use of the grant to provide additional
funding for their departments.