18/06/2012

Health and social care to be top of government’s agenda say disabled people and older people.

Social care should be free at point of need, paid for by general taxation according to attendees at an event focusing on social care, jointly organised by Inclusion London and Age UK London on 12 July 2012.

The importance of social care to the independence of disabled people and older people was emphasised by attendees. It was recognised that many disabled people and older people are left needing support and living in isolation. Adequate funding, which is key to improving the care system, should be provided through general taxation, so it is free to all at the point of need. Participants also spoke of the importance of improving services by using service user feedback.

Other recommendations by participants to improve care in the 21st century included:

• Assessments to be needs led and support to be person centred
• Preventative support to be provided, to avoid more expensive intervention later on
• Information, advocacy and peer support to be provided
• Education and training for health and social workers provided by users
• The rights to choice, control and quality should to be enforceable 
• The needs of those with dementia and mental health issues should be fully addressed
• Community and social networks need building to prevent isolation
• Social care and health should be at top of the government’s agenda

An overview of social care from past to the present was provided by Gordon Deuchars, Age UK London’s Policy and Campaigns Manager.  Robert Templeton, Head of Adult Transformation at Social Care Institute for Excellence spoke about the Dilnot and Law Commission’s recommendations.  Initial comments from respondents to Inclusion London’s social care survey were also presented, followed by discussions on the reality and vision of social care in the 21st century.

The social care survey has been extended to the end of August, to participate please go to: http://www.inclusionlondon.co.uk/Home

Click here to take the survey now. 

The transcript and presentations from the event are available to download below. 

To view Robert Templeton's presentation 'What is personalisation?' visit: www.scie.org.uk/socialcaretv