Getting Personal – landmark social care report urges immediate action

A nationally acclaimed report by an expert commission of inquiry is urging immediate action to tackle the perceived unfairness and complexity of the care and support system for older and disabled people.

The commission, set up by Hampshire County Council, has made national recommendations together with local innovative solutions for the  people of Hampshire in its report ‘Getting personal: a fair deal for better care and support’

Amongst the recommendations the report calls for:

• A universal offer of help with information and advice regardless of where people live, how much money they have and whether they are assessed as being eligible for social care.
• Free social care for up to eight weeks for all those at risk of admission to hospital or those people being discharged from hospital, and in need of urgent social care.
• An increase in the threshold for means testing from the current level of £22,250 to £50,000 for people with savings and capital.

The Commission believes its proposals are practical and affordable and would both deliver a more personalised care system and ease the acute pressure that the system is under.

The national recommendations form the basis of a model for the future of adult social care in Hampshire that has been developed jointly with health partners. It comes with a commitment from the Commission Chairman, Councillor Ken Thornber, to transform social care locally with a new model of support for adult services in Hampshire.

The Hampshire Model will be presented to Hampshire County Council’s cabinet for approval on 22 December and the aim is for it to be a national benchmark.

Findings from Hampshire County Council ‘s Commission of Inquiry will inform and influence the Green Paper and forthcoming legislation on the future direction and funding of adult social care.

‘Getting Personal: a fair deal for better care and support’, The report of Hampshire County Council’s Commission of Inquiry into the future of adult social care is launched in Winchester on Thursday 27 November and in London on Tuesday 25 November.

An advance copy of ‘Getting Personal : a fair deal for better care and support’

For more information about the work of the Commission: