By Richard Johnstone | 6 June 2014
The Department of Health is consulting on how councils should be tasked with introducing the government’s care and support reforms.
In a consultation document published today, the department said it was looking for views on how to implement measures in the Care Act including the rollout of an eligibility threshold across the country and how plans for personal budgets could be enacted.
Local authorities have already warned ministers that the national threshold would lead to extra costs, and earlier this week called for a five-year funding settlement.
Care and support minister Norman Lamb said today the government had worked with individuals and organisations to develop the most comprehensive overhaul of care and support since 1948.
‘Care and support is something that nearly everyone in this country will experience at some point in their lives. Our Care Act will make the system fairer by putting people in control of their care and limiting the amount anyone may have to pay for the support they need,’ he said.
‘These regulations and guidance will help support councils in making these reforms a reality. We ask people to continue to share their views and experiences as part of this consultation to make sure we deliver real, lasting change for people across the country.’
The consultation, which runs until August 15, focuses on the changes that will come into effect from April 2015.
A further consultation on the reforms that come into effect from April 2016 – which include the £72,000 individual lifetime cap on care costs – will take place this autumn.
