Council elections delay care guides

Next week’s local government elections across England have led to a delay in some important social care policy developments.

Proposed guidance on the role of the director of adult social services and the consultation on the national continuing care framework have been delayed until next month as a result of the local elections.

Both were due to be published in April, along with details on the new social services complaints system and proposals for a national direct payments campaign, which have also been put back to May.

The evaluation of section nine of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004, the policy that can lead to the children of failed asylum seekers being taken into care, is also taking longer than expected.

The Home Office has denied rumours that its publication has been delayed by the local elections. Elections are taking place on 4 May in more than 170 district, unitary, metropolitan and London councils.

London residents are voting on all councillor posts in their boroughs, while most of the other councils are holding elections for one-third of their seats.