Proposed Cuts to Social Care in Derbyshire
County Councillor Barrie Taylor
Liberal Democrat County Councillor Barrie Taylor says "The Conservatives now in control of Derbyshire County Council are proposing real cuts to the level of Social Care, the 'Home Help' service, as well as a new scale of charges.
At present adults with 'moderate' need of care at home are eligible for service, but under the new proposals only those with 'substantial' needs will get any help, to save £4 million. The national definition of 'moderate' needs is essentially an inability to carry out several personal care or domestic routines. If a service for such vulnerable people is withdrawn it is difficult to see how they will be able to continue to live at home.
The Conservative proposals say that this £4 million will contribute towards their efficiency savings target. It is an abuse of the English language to describe the withdrawal of service as an 'efficiency' saving.
The Labour group seem not to care much about these cuts, but are concerned about the imposition of charges. Personally I have always felt that where the Government provides an Attendance Allowance because someone needs care at home it is reasonable for this to be used to pay for the care. Because Labour have for years stuck to their claim of providing a 'free' home care service, in practice this service has been severely rationed and has not been as good as it could and should have been.
All the political parties are agreed that there should be a move to'personal budgets' for those eligible for care, to give them a real choice concerning how the funding they are judged to need is used. So in future it will be necessary to put a price on every service that is provided.
At present there is a formal consultation process on these proposals for cuts and charges, and I recommend everyone with an interest to respond to the County Council by 5th November. The proposals and forms can be downloaded from the link below.
We all know that there are hard choices ahead for all councils, but cuts to front line services must be the last resort. We strongly oppose starting by cutting vital services to these vulnerable members of our community."