The government said that it would examine why care trusts (bringing together adult health and social care services into a single organisation) had not been as popular or successful as anticipated. It said that care trusts might not be the best means of integrating health and social services, and that more flexible partnership arrangements could prove more effective. The announcement followed the dissolution of a pioneering partnership between a social services department and a primary care trust in east London.
Source: The Guardian, 25 September 2003 | The Guardian, 3 September 2003
Links: Guardian report 25/9 | Guardian report 3/9
Date: 2003-Sep
An independent review found that the health of people in Wales was relatively poor; that the configuration of health services placed an insupportable burden on the acute sector and its workforce; and that Wales did not get as much out of its health spending as it should. The report recommended a much greater emphasis on preventing ill health; greater efforts to break down barriers between health and social care; and an end to the underwriting of National Health Service deficits each year by the Welsh Assembly Government.
Source: The Review of Health and Social Care in Wales: Report of the Project Team advised by Derek Wanless, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | WAG press release | Community Care article (1) | Community Care article (2)
Date: 2003-Jul
Research among users of social services found that most believed that rights and welfare went beyond the needs of any individual, and that there was a need to recognise shared rights, citizenship and entitlements. However, most felt that present systems were 'paternalistic' and unequal in the way they viewed people's rights. Many saw benefit levels as being too low for recipients to maintain a reasonable standard of living.
Source: Michael Turner, Phil Brough and Bob Williams-Findlay, Our Voice in our Future: Service users debate the future of the welfare state, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 683
Date: 2003-Jun
The Labour Party published a consultation document on health and social care policies. It said that a 'centrally run, one-size-fits-all approach is no longer the most appropriate way to get the best out of a National Health Service that employs over a million people'.
Source: Improving Health and Social Care, Labour Party (08705 900200)
Links: Consultation document (pdf)
Date: 2003-May
The House of Commons Library produced a background research paper on proposed reforms to social care inspection in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill. A Commission for Social Care Inspection would be created to take over the duties of the Social Services Inspectorate, including joint reviews with the Audit Commission, and those of the National Care Standards Commission relating to social care.
Source: Social Care aspects of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, Research Paper 03/39, House of Commons Library (web publication only)
Links: HOC Library research paper (pdf) | Text of Bill
Date: 2003-May
The government announced new regulations (effective from 8 April 2003) requiring all local councils in England to offer direct payments (cash in lieu of social services) to people who had an assessed need and were able to manage them (alone or with assistance). The government said direct payments were 'an important vehicle for the promotion of independence and choice for adults using social services'. The new regulations also permitted the use of direct payments to pay for the employment of spouses or other close relatives as carers. (Similar measures were announced for disabled people in Scotland with effect from 1 June 2003.)
Source: The Community Care, Services for Carers and Children's Services (Direct Payments) (England) Regulations 2003, Statutory Instrument 2003/762, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Statutory Instrument | DH press release | Scottish Act | Scottish Executive press release
Date: 2003-Apr
Social services directors called for a comprehensive, independent review of the funding of social care, and in particular of the capacity of social care services to assess children's needs to the standards required by the Laming Inquiry report (which followed the murder of Victoria Climbi ).
Source: ADSS Position Statement in Response to the Victoria Climbi Inquiry Report, Association of Directors of Social Services (020 8741 8147)
Links: Statement | Laming Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb