Residence disputes hamper independence, says VODG

Hundreds of disabled people living in residential care are being prevented from moving to independent settings because of disputes over who should pay for their care, according to the No Place Like Home report published yesterday.

People who live in homes outside their home borough and who want to move into the community are finding the local authority in the area they want to
live in will not pay for their placement, says the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group’s (VODG) report.

Up to 500 people are caught up in these “ordinary residence” disputes at any time, costing £3m in legal and administrative costs, it says.

Vice chair of the VODG Graham Faulkner said: “These bureaucratic bun fights waste huge amounts of money in keeping people in facilities where their care
often costs more than if they were living more independently, as well as legal fees and administrative costs.”

The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group’s report says the government needs to update guidance for social services and primary care trusts so that
the issue of ordinary residence can no longer be used as a basis for refusing to provide care and support.

There are around 20,000 adults in England in out of area placements, the VODG says.