Local authorities will experience a shift in their role after central government announced plans to hand out cash directly to individuals to fund their own social care. Health secretary, Alan Johnson, this week announced that £520m of ring-fenced funding was being ploughed into transforming social care for older and disabled people, with personal care budgets at the centre of the reform. ‘One of my top priorities is to develop a new care system which gives people maximum control over their own support services,' said Mr Johnson. ‘This is a ground-breaking concordat because it is the first attempt by central government to co-produce a major public service reform, in this case with local government, the NHS, people who use services and their carers.' Director of strategy at the Commission for Social Care Inspection, David Walden, said the move widely supported its aims to see individuals given greater choice over care services. He also highlighted how local authorities would have to take on new responsibilities to make the scheme successful. ‘If lots of people get their own personal spending power, local authorities will have a major role in stimulating market development,' he said. ‘If, for example, services are not available in an area but the demand is there, councils must encourage providers to make them available. And this is where we will see the shift in their role. ‘Broadly, we think this is the right way to go. Seeing the transfer of power into the hands of individuals will increase quality of life for people.' But, he added, the changes must be carried out within a council framework of guidance, support, information and advocacy, to ensure those in need of support chose the best-possible care.
