Green paper on adult social care published

The long-awaited green paper on the future of adult social care
was today published by health secretary John Reid,
writes Clare Jerrom and Mithran
Samuel.

John Reid

Under the proposals, people using social care services would be
given individual budgets to allow them to buy the services they
need including respite care, carers of their choice and new
technology to enable them to live independently. Social workers
will take on the role of navigators of services.

“Individual budgets will put a stop to the revolving door
of care assistants because they will allow people to purchase the
care the want,” said Reid. “They will be able to choose
their own carer or instead of receiving institutional care opt to
go on a holiday that will benefit them, and their families, in
other ways.”

Other key recommendations in the green paper include:-

• new directors of adult social services to provide
leadership across all adults services

• engaging the whole of local government to make sure all
services are accessible for those with the greatest need and
encourage a shift towards preventive services

• new responsive models of care including extracare housing
and telecare

In an echo of the children’s green paper Every Child Matters, adult
services will be judged against a handful of outcomes with duties
on councils and health bodies to work together to deliver
them.

However, the government has committed no new money to deliver its
15-year vision and health minister Stephen Ladyman said the green
paper would require the transfer of NHS resources to fund social
care.

President of the Association of Directors of Social Services
Tony Hunter said: “ADSS believes that if the Green Paper is
translated into the outcomes envisaged this will enhance the
dignity and wellbeing of many thousands of people.”

Independence, Wellbeing and Choice: a vision for adult social
care from www.dh.gov.uk/socialcare