Reablement charges: social workers should blow the whistle

Social workers and other frontline practitioners should blow the whistle on their councils’ charges for reablement services, professional bodies have said.

Ruth Cartwright, the British Association of Social Workers’ joint manager for England, said that social workers employed by the 22% of councils illegally charging for reablement care should protest.

“I would call upon social workers who are aware of this to raise it with their bosses, she said. “I hope that social workers in those authorities will raise it on behalf of their service users.”

The College of Occupational Therapists advised its members to raise any charging policies with management if they felt they might be misinterpreting the law. A spokesperson said: “Everyone should feel able to question what their employer is doing if they don’t feel comfortable with it.”

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy said that it would take appropriate action if any of its members reported that their clients were being charged for reablement services, given that they should be provided for free.

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