Wokingham

Wokingham District Council is this week starting formal consultation on possible changes to the social care services it provides to people across the district.

Being distributed this Friday (December 1), the consultation document explains why the Wokingham council is having to consider these as changes as well as asking local service users, carers and service providers for their views.

A key reason for the proposed changes is that Wokingham council, along with many others across the country, simply does not receive enough funding from central government for adult social care. This lack of adequate funding, coupled with growing numbers of people seeking help from social services, means that more and more demands are being made on already stretched social care budgets.

The council therefore has to look very carefully at how it provides social care services. Cllr Debbie Lewis, lead member for social care finance, said: “We believe we may have to refocus our limited resources to protect those people most in need in our community and to look at investing in alternative, more cost-effective community-based services for those who are less vulnerable. This could be achieved by working closely with our public, private and voluntary partners such as the health service, private home care agencies and local voluntary groups.

“It is important to clarify that we are not looking to reduce the overall amount we spend on social care but, because of the increasing demand for services and lack of growth in national funding, we are considering how best to target our scarce resources to those most in need.

“One of the ways of doing this could be to review who can receive social care services from the council (the ‘eligibility criteria’). And this is what we are consulting on now. Even if, after the consultation, the changes did go ahead, services for people most in need would still be protected and safeguarded for the future. If you live in a residential or nursing home or supported housing, your right to continue to live there would not be affected by any proposed changes. Essential personal care services and mental health after-care would also be protected but other services such as shopping and housework, day care and carers’ services would have to be reviewed.

The formal consultation is being sent to service users, carers, partnership boards, service user forums, partnership organisations, voluntary organisations and service providers as well as councillors and MPs. It can also be downloaded from the council’s website www.wokingham.gov.uk and meetings have been arranged for service users to attend.

The formal consultation period closes on February 9, 2007. The results will be considered by the council’s decision-making executive later that month.

“We are very aware that this review is sensitive, and may worry and unsettle some of our clients and carers. Whatever the decision is at the end of the consultation, the council will keep everyone informed as to how these proposals could affect them,” emphasised Cllr Lewis.

Some people might not continue to receive services in the same way but the Wokingham council would ensure that they were made fully aware of where they could get alternative support. No services would be withdrawn without a full re-assessment of care needs. It is anticipated that this re-assessment process would begin in spring next year if councillors decided to proceed with the changes.

Anyone wanting further information after reading the consultation document should contact their case worker (if they have one) or the service that provides their care and support:

Wokingham District Council