Questions and Answers on Adult Social Care in Reading

Last night Cllr Tom Steele asked me a couple of questions about funding for social care in Reading and growth pressures we are experiencing. I have attached them in full below:-

Social Care Funding

Councillor Steele to ask the Lead Councillor for Community Care, Housing and Health:

What level of funding is proposed to be spent on social care 2011/12 and how does this compare with previous years?

Answer:

"In 2009/10 Adult Social care overspent its budget by £1million. In this financial year (2010/11) the Directorate has managed growth pressures of around £2.3 million and is predicted to break even at year end.


Following the 2010 national spending review there has been a radical change to Local Government Grant Funding streams. The Council is proposing a budget for Adult Social Care Services of £43.27m (Gold Book report 2011/12); however, it is not possible to make a direct comparison to the position for 2010/11 due to some changes (i.e. specific grants received by the Directorate in 2010/11 have now become part of the formula funding the Council received).

Adult Services are have a targeted expenditure savings and income generation programme that is supporting the Council to achieve the £18.8m savings target (a full break down of these schemes is included in the Gold Book report to Council, page 56) of £5.2m. These savings are mainly part of the transformation of Adult Services and are focused on areas of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the services.

Social care services are experiencing significant growth pressure from across the client groups supported. To meet these needs the Council is proposing to increase funding in 2011/12 by £2.6m, with the majority of this funding supporting individuals with Learning Disabilities (£0.9m) and Older People (£0.84m).

The Council will not be reducing spend on voluntary sector support and will continue to support a range of discretionary activity, for example support for carers. The major focus of activity will be to complete the transformation of care so that everyone is offered a personal budget and continue to focus activity on the most frail and vulnerable."

Social Care Pressures

Councillor Steele to ask the Lead Councillor for Community Care, Housing and Health:
What growth pressures is the Council experiencing in relation to social care services?


Answer

"Adult Services in Reading is undertaking a major transformation of its services to delivery improved outcomes, but in a more cost effective way. An example of this is our reablement service which is delivering considerable savings and better care outcomes by enabling people to regain their independence. A further example is the merger of Edward Hughes and Tanfield homes – creating a centre of excellence for intermediate care, providing a better physical environment for frail elderly people and saving money.


I am pleased to say that because of this type of service transformation the Housing and Community Care budget will break even in this financial year.

However, even with substantial change to service delivery, Social Care Services are experiencing significant growth pressure from across the client groups supported. This is partially because people are living longer and partially because we are managing much more complex cases within the community.

In response, the Government has established a Commission on Long Term Care which will report in July this year and made additional moneys available to promote better integration of health and social care (around £1.1 million across the PCT area in 2011/12)

At local level the Council is proposing to increase funding in 2011/12 by £2.6m, with the majority of this funding supporting individuals with Learning Disabilities (£0.9m) and Older People (£0.84m)."