Wokingham

An estimated 6,500 local people were contacted or responded to Wokingham District Council’s formal consultation on possible changes to the social care services it provides to people across the district.

Held from December 1 2006 to February 9 2007, the consultation document explained why Wokingham council is having to consider these as changes as well as asking local service users, carers and service providers for their views.

And this week (Thursday February 22) will see Wokingham council’s decision-making executive consider the results from this comprehensive consultation and to decide whether or not to adopt the proposal to change the criteria on who can receive social care from the council from those with moderate needs to those with critical needs.

The executive members are also set to approve additional funding of some £650,000 over two years to invest in setting up alternative community support and prevention services. This is in addition to some £477,000 already ear-marked, bringing the council’s total investment in alternative support and prevention services to over £1.1million.

Wokingham Cllr Debbie Lewis, lead member for social care finance, said: “We have listened to and acknowledge the views expressed by local people and organisations during the consultation, which will help form the basis for developing future services.

“We were particularly encouraged by the positive responses regarding proposals to invest in community support and prevention services. In the light of severe and continuing financial and demographic pressures, we believe the council needs to reform its social care services in order to prioritise community investment whilst maintaining individual services for the most vulnerable people and their carers.”

A key reason for the proposed changes is that the council, along with many others across the country, simply does not receive enough funding from central government for adult social care.

Wokingham District Council