LGA adult social care for the future survey – Inclusion London’s response

Inclusion London responded to the Local Government Association’s (LGA) survey on adult social care for the future.  Our response highlighted that Social care/personal assistance is vital to Disabled people because, when adequately funded and delivered it can enable Disabled people’s rights to independent living and being included in the community as stated under Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities to be implemented.

However, currently the funding crisis in social care is having a very real and detrimental impact on Disabled people’s ability to live and take part in the community and the gap between the life chances of Disabled and non-disabled people is widening.  The most basic choices such as when to get up, go to bed or use the toilet, when and what to eat, and the choice to leave the house are no longer in the hands of Disabled people but subject to Local Authority budget allocations which are becoming ever more restricted.

We do not believe the Care Act 2014 is fit for purpose because it not strong enough to prioritise Disabled people’s wellbeing rights under the Act over concerns about a Local authorities’ (LAs) funding and resources.

National independent living service

The structure of adult social care delivery urgently needs to be changed, our recommendation includes the development of a new independent living service:

Support for Disabled people is administered by new ‘national independent living service’ managed by central government, led by Disabled people, but delivered locally.

The national independent living service would be located in a cross-government body, which can oversee implementation plans in all areas covered by the twelve pillars of independent living, whether it be in transport, education, housing, or social security. This will ensure that independent living is mainstreamed in every area of activity.

The national independent living service will be responsible for carrying out assessments, reviews and administering payments to individual Disabled people. Individuals will not be obliged to manage their support payments themselves if they choose not to.  It will be independent of, but sit alongside, the NHS.

It will be led by need, not profit and will not be means tested.  Social care and support will be free at the point of delivery funded from direct taxation.

Read Inclusion London’s full response: Inclusion London Response to LGA adult social care survey