Independent LivingAs part of the Independent Living Strategy the Office for Disability Issues is considering running two action and learning sites, beginning in 2008. The first would aim to enable older people who are in residential care, or are at risk of going into residential care, to have choice and control over how their needs are met. The second would aim to reallocate some of the resources currently tied up in local authority assessment and care management services to support, information, advocacy and brokerage services provided by user-led organisations. Both initiatives would build on the current moves towards individual budgets for all those in receipt of social care but would also have implications for self-funders. Risk Solutions has been appointed to conduct a scoping study to undertake preparatory work that will inform decisions about how, where and whether these should be taken forward, and to help the chosen areas to plan for their projects. We will also develop a research and analysis framework to measure the effectiveness of the models, in terms of their costs and benefits, and impact on service users, commissioners, service providers and interagency working, We are working with Ann Macfarlane and Professor Gerald Wistow, both specialists in this area, who will provide us with advice and guidance throughout the study. The scoping study will report in April 2008. |
