Transcript Slide 1

Quick Guide to the
Care Act 2014,
Section 4
(and related Guidance)
The new duty
Every local authority must: “establish and maintain a
service for providing people in its area with
information and advice relating to care and
support for adults, and support for carers”.
This does not mean that the local authority should
provide all the elements itself. Instead, it should
“understand, co-ordinate and make use of” the
resources available across the community.
The system should:
 be coherent
 be aimed at the whole population
 address a range of issues (including financial
advice)
The Audiences
 A very broad group, including people who may need care and
support now or in the future. (Local authorities should be mindful
of the different circumstances that might trigger someone to need
information and advice).
 This includes carers; local authorities must recognise and
respond to their specific requirements.
 It also includes people not eligible for formal support – i.e. “selffunders”. (Local authorities must have regard to identifying
these people and helping them to understand the financial costs
of their care).
The Content
The council’s offer must include:
 How to raise safeguarding concerns about any adult who may be
at risk.
 The care and support system locally, including the process for
getting support.
 How to complain or formally appeal.
 When independent advocacy will be provided.
 Paying for care and support (including charging arrangements).
 The choice and types of support, and the choice of care providers
available in the area.
 How to access independent financial advice on matters relating
to care and support.
The Content (cont’d)
The council’s offer should include – e.g:
 Housing and housing-related support options
 Treatment and support for health conditions
 Preventative services (e.g. practical support, befriending,
handypersons)
 Intermediate care services (e.g. aids and adaptations)
 Benefits advice
 Employment support
 Transition from children’s services
 Carers services and benefits
 Sources of independent information, advice and advocacy
 Planning for future care costs
Accessibility and quality
 Wide accessibility can only be achieved by working with other
information and advice providers (statutory and voluntary).
 The council should consider the persons or places where people
might first seek help, and play a role in joining up information and
advice organisations locally so they can work collaboratively.
 Information should be available in a variety of formats and using a
variety of channels, e.g:
- Face-to-face
- Telephone/emails
- Mass communication (e.g. leaflets, posters)
- Free media and social media
- Websites
Accessibility and quality (cont’d)
 Information should be of high quality – i.e. clear, comprehensive,
accurate, easily understood, up-to-date and consistent.
 Information should be proportionate to a person’s needs –
ranging from “quick read” to in-depth advice.
 The council should consider how to make use of national as well
as local sources.
 In some instances the advice may need to be provided by an
impartial source.
Developing and reviewing a plan or strategy
 Councils should have a plan for information and advice. These
should be aligned with other strategies including joint strategies.
 Plans should be based on analysis of population needs.
 The plans should have regard to certain principles – e.g:
- involving people who use services and carers, interested
organisations and service providers;
- adopting a co-production approach;
- mapping to understand the current range of provision;
- co-ordination with other statutory bodies including CCGs,
Health and Wellbeing Boards, Healthwatch and neighbouring
local authorities;
- assessing the impact.
 Councils should review and publish information about
the effectiveness of their information and advice services,
including customer satisfaction.