Proposed changes to eligibility criteria for adult social care support

The York Council are saying that; “On 1st August the Cabinet Member for Health Housing and Adult Social Care will be considering a report on the results of consultation about changing the eligibility criteria for adult social care support. The change would see those with moderate needs being supported by alternative community based approaches, and only those with substantial or critical needs supported through personal social care budgets and services”.
Over 1200 people responded to the consultation, with over 30% of residents who currently receive support from adult social care giving their views. This is an exceptionally high response rate for surveys of this nature.

Unfortunately the Council failed to tell those asking to comment on the proposals that there were alternatives to withdrawing care facilities from dozens of York residents.

A short time earlier the Liberal Democrats had put forward a budget amendment which would have allowed those with moderate needs to continue to receive care. Instead savings would have been made in a range of other areas including the cost of “Cabinet” posts, withdrawal of the planned “free WiFi” services in the City centre and abandoning vanity projects such as the “innovation” fund.

It is hardly surprising therefore that three in every five respondents (61%) a”ccept that the Council will need to change its eligibility criteria to ensure that those most in need of support can be protected”.

The Council has committed that if the decision is taken to change the eligibility criteria no support will be withdrawn from anyone affected without a formal review of their needs with a social care officer. The review will establish if their needs have changed and will look at alternative options for support if the individual remains at the moderate level of eligibility. Carers needs will be included in these reviews.

If the change to eligibility criteria is agreed it would see this local authority using the same threshold as many other Labour controlled authorities across the country. Over 100 elderly York residents would lose their care services under the Labour proposals.

Residents can still make representations.

For more information about registering to speak ,written representations or copies of reports for this meeting please contact the Democracy Officer – Catherine Clarke / Louise Cook Telephone – (01904) 551031 or E-mail – catherine.clarke@york.gov.uk and louise.cook@york.gov.uk