Case studies needed to help improve Social Care!

[EmmaS-NRAS]

Dear all,

As part of our work on the Care and Support Bill, we are looking for some patient case studies to help demonstrate the need for eligibility criteria, when qualifying for social care support, to be set at what is currently regarded as a ‘moderate level’.

To be entitled to social care support in England, an individual is judged on two criteria - means and needs. Those who qualify for help through means-testing, i.e. based on their financial situation, are then assessed for need. Councils are obliged to provide care only if applicants meet a certain threshold. There are four thresholds - low, moderate, substantial and critical. It is up to councils to decide which standard they want to set depending on their finances.

We are currently looking for people who have been assessed as having a ‘moderate’ need, who receive social care support, and would be willing to talk about the support they get and the impact it has on their lives.

Although this is primarily our target group, we would also be interested in hearing from people who don’t receive support because they are deemed to have ‘moderate’ need in an area where ‘substantial’ need is the threshold.

The case studies we are attempting put together will be used as part of a portfolio being collected by the Care and Support Alliance, a coalition of over 70 organisations representing older and disabled people with long-term conditions, of which NRAS is a member. These will be presented to the Department of Health and are vital in our bid to show how important it is to provide financial support for those deemed to have moderate need.

If you are interested in helping us with this, or you have any questions about the social care reforms, please get in touch directly with our Government Affairs Officer, Leo, on 0845 458 3969 or email [e-mail] preferably by Thursday 28 March, but no later than Friday 5 April please.

A list of the 25 councils that currently give support for people with ‘moderate’ need can be found at the bottom of this post.

Many thanks in advance for your help!

Best wishes

Emma

NRAS Membership Supervisor

• Bradford

• Calderdale

• Central Bedfordshire

• Derby

• Derbyshire

• Doncaster

• Halton

• Hammersmith and

• Fulham

• Islington

• Kensington and Chelsea

• Kent

• Lincolnshire

• Liverpool

• North Lincolnshire

• North Yorkshire

• Nottingham

• Peterborough

• Portsmouth

• Rochdale

• Rutland

• Salford

• St Helens

• Sutton

• Warrington

• York