Press Release
"Have your say" on fair access to social care services
31 March 2008
The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is inviting people to “have their say” about the issues and problems associated with the current system for deciding who is eligible for council funding and support for social care services.
In its State of Social Care 2006-07 report in January CSCI revealed that most councils now only help people with ‘substantial’ or ‘critical’ needs, leaving many needing help to fend for themselves or rely on friends and family for support.
Care Services Minister, Ivan Lewis, asked CSCI to carry out a review looking at how the current system of eligibility for social care, called ‘Fair Access to Care Services’ or FACS, could be improved.
CSCI Chair Dame Denise Platt said:
"CSCI’s starting point in conducting this review will be to consider the experiences of those people who have been through the FACS process. We very much want to hear from those people who use services as well as their carers, friends and families.
"It is vital that we have a fair system that is transparent."
On 1 April, CSCI will launch an online survey, which will seek views and experiences from the public, people who use care services and all interested parties including council representatives, providers, voluntary and community organisations. This survey will be on our website until 9 May. Anyone with an interest in social care can also send us written submissions with their ideas for change.
Also on 1 April, we are holding a national event, which will aim to encourage debate between people who use services, carers, stakeholders’ representatives, providers and councils on flaws in the current system and how a fairer system might look in future.
The Government has asked the Commission to report back with recommendations on its findings by 15 September.
http://www.csci.org.uk/about_us/news/review_of_eligibility_criteria.aspx
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