In our final blog exploring the three elements of an integrated care system, we examine Social Care. We discuss how it fits into Westcott's integrated care model and explain who provides and pays for it.
What is Social Care?
Social Care is support with activities of dailiy living. For example, people may need social care support when they are ill, disabled or as they get older. Contrary to Healthcare, which specifically supports medical needs, Social Care is focused on helping people lead a "normal" life and maintain a level of Well-being. Social Care might include help with getting up, going to bed, bathing, the preparation of meals and even companionship. It might be provided in your own home or other setting such as care home, day centre or extra care (assisted-living) accommodation.
Who funds my Social Care?
The short answer is: you do. However, the funding system is extremely complex and is currently being reformed through new legislation in the form of the Care Bill. Depending upon your circumstances, you might be entitled to some support from your Local Authority or even the NHS.
If you believe that you or someone you know (e.g. a family member) needs some support then you have the right to request a needs assessment from your Local Authority's Social Services department. This is typically carried out by a Social Worker or Care Manager and they will determine your "eligible needs". Currently, each Local Authority sets its own criteria as to what constitutes an "eligible need" within the context of Government's Fair Access to Care guidelines. If they identify an eligible need, the Local Authority has a duty to provide, or arrange the provision of, support to meet those needs. The majority of Social Care is actually provided by third-party organisations drawn from the private or voluntary sector; Local Authorities have very little of their own care provision. It is worth noting that most Local Authorities classify eligible needs as those where there is a critical or substantial risk that an individual will come to some harm unless those needs are met. There may be other needs or wishes which are less critical, but if they were to be met would help enhance quality of life. These are unlikely to be identified or met by the Local Authority.
Having identified an individual's eligible needs the Local Authority will carry out a means test to determine how much funding, if any, they will contribute towards the cost of care. As a rule-of-thumb, currently, if you have assets (including property) in excess of £23,250, the Local Authority will NOT contribute towards the cost of your Social Care. However, regardless of means, the Local Authority may make arrangements for temporary care provision, if they deem it necessary, until a more permanent solution can be found. Alternatively, if your needs are of a medical nature, you may be entitled to Continuing Care from the NHS. There is a separate assessment process for this. In all cases, Westcott can help you understand and apply for what you might be entitled to.
Once the Local Authority have identified your eligible needs, they will produce a care/support plan. If your means test has indicated that you qualify for financial assistance they will also issue you with a personal budget to allow you to choose service providers to meet those needs. Alternatively, they might arrange for those needs to be met through one of the providers they have an existing relationship with. Unlike Westcott, they cannot advise or recommend specific services, but they may provide you with a long list of local providers for you to explore. If you would like any other services outside of those assessed as eligible by the Local Authority you can, of course, pay for those yourself by way of a top-up.
How Does Social Care Fit into an Intergrated Care System?
Social Care is often the link between Healthcare and Well-being. The support received allows people to reach, or maintain, a sustainable level of Well-being and quality of life. However, many people don't even realise that Social Care exists. Often families and carers struggle to provide the care and support themselves. It falls outside the remit of healthcare professionals, such as GPs, so unless they search for advice specifically they are unlikely to receive it. In an integrated care system, it is vital that care consumers are aware of all options that are available to them, regardless of the particular category of care. This is what current policy initiatives aim to address. The difficulty faced by those charged with implementing them is how to do that.
Cleary, the three elements of Westcott's integrated care model are intrinsicly linked: Social Care to support Well-being may only be necessary because of a Healthcare need, for example. The key, in Westcott's opininon, is to ensure that you are the receiving the right care at the tight time from the right provider in order to improve quality of life and reduce the overall cost of care.
Watch out for our next post, which will explore how we believe care can be integrated efficiently and effectively for the benefit of care consumers: it's the model behind the way Westcott operates and, we believe, the solution to the problem that many CCGs and Local Authorities are grappling with currently.
What is Social Care?
Social Care is support with activities of dailiy living. For example, people may need social care support when they are ill, disabled or as they get older. Contrary to Healthcare, which specifically supports medical needs, Social Care is focused on helping people lead a "normal" life and maintain a level of Well-being. Social Care might include help with getting up, going to bed, bathing, the preparation of meals and even companionship. It might be provided in your own home or other setting such as care home, day centre or extra care (assisted-living) accommodation.
Who funds my Social Care?
The short answer is: you do. However, the funding system is extremely complex and is currently being reformed through new legislation in the form of the Care Bill. Depending upon your circumstances, you might be entitled to some support from your Local Authority or even the NHS.
If you believe that you or someone you know (e.g. a family member) needs some support then you have the right to request a needs assessment from your Local Authority's Social Services department. This is typically carried out by a Social Worker or Care Manager and they will determine your "eligible needs". Currently, each Local Authority sets its own criteria as to what constitutes an "eligible need" within the context of Government's Fair Access to Care guidelines. If they identify an eligible need, the Local Authority has a duty to provide, or arrange the provision of, support to meet those needs. The majority of Social Care is actually provided by third-party organisations drawn from the private or voluntary sector; Local Authorities have very little of their own care provision. It is worth noting that most Local Authorities classify eligible needs as those where there is a critical or substantial risk that an individual will come to some harm unless those needs are met. There may be other needs or wishes which are less critical, but if they were to be met would help enhance quality of life. These are unlikely to be identified or met by the Local Authority.
Having identified an individual's eligible needs the Local Authority will carry out a means test to determine how much funding, if any, they will contribute towards the cost of care. As a rule-of-thumb, currently, if you have assets (including property) in excess of £23,250, the Local Authority will NOT contribute towards the cost of your Social Care. However, regardless of means, the Local Authority may make arrangements for temporary care provision, if they deem it necessary, until a more permanent solution can be found. Alternatively, if your needs are of a medical nature, you may be entitled to Continuing Care from the NHS. There is a separate assessment process for this. In all cases, Westcott can help you understand and apply for what you might be entitled to.
Once the Local Authority have identified your eligible needs, they will produce a care/support plan. If your means test has indicated that you qualify for financial assistance they will also issue you with a personal budget to allow you to choose service providers to meet those needs. Alternatively, they might arrange for those needs to be met through one of the providers they have an existing relationship with. Unlike Westcott, they cannot advise or recommend specific services, but they may provide you with a long list of local providers for you to explore. If you would like any other services outside of those assessed as eligible by the Local Authority you can, of course, pay for those yourself by way of a top-up.
How Does Social Care Fit into an Intergrated Care System?
Social Care is often the link between Healthcare and Well-being. The support received allows people to reach, or maintain, a sustainable level of Well-being and quality of life. However, many people don't even realise that Social Care exists. Often families and carers struggle to provide the care and support themselves. It falls outside the remit of healthcare professionals, such as GPs, so unless they search for advice specifically they are unlikely to receive it. In an integrated care system, it is vital that care consumers are aware of all options that are available to them, regardless of the particular category of care. This is what current policy initiatives aim to address. The difficulty faced by those charged with implementing them is how to do that.
Cleary, the three elements of Westcott's integrated care model are intrinsicly linked: Social Care to support Well-being may only be necessary because of a Healthcare need, for example. The key, in Westcott's opininon, is to ensure that you are the receiving the right care at the tight time from the right provider in order to improve quality of life and reduce the overall cost of care.
Watch out for our next post, which will explore how we believe care can be integrated efficiently and effectively for the benefit of care consumers: it's the model behind the way Westcott operates and, we believe, the solution to the problem that many CCGs and Local Authorities are grappling with currently.