Council to change rules for care in bid to balance books

VULNERABLE people who have relied on council care are set to lose out as a cash-strapped council tries to balance its books.

Last year Calderdale carried out a review of Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) and conducted a wide-ranging consultation involving service users, carers, the wider public and staff.

There are four categories of need for people requiring care services: low, moderate, substantial and high.

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Calderdale is one of only two councils in the country where care services are available to people in the lowest category but increased demand has led to rising costs.

Now the council has been forced to look at ways of cutting costs at a time of multi-million budget cuts and reassessing eligibility critera for health and social care.

On Monday councillors will consider a recommendation that the eligibility criteria for FACS be increased to moderate.

Coun Bob Metcalfe, Cabinet member for Adults, Health and Social Care, spoke out ahead of the meeting that will tackle rising demand for services for some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents.

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Coun Metcalfe says the council needs to address the rising demographic pressures and cost of social care, while minimising the impact of any changes on those people who need the services.

He said: “For some time, Calderdale has been one of only two councils to offer care services to people assessed to be in the lowest category of need.

“But if we are to ensure that the council can afford to make these services available to people in the future, then we have to look at the criteria under which people are entitled to receive them.

‘‘We have listened to people who use the services, their carers and anyone else with an interest for their views.

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People with low needs will still be able to get the full range if information and advice services along with support such as care line, meals on wheels, and small items of equipment.

“The sensible option is to raise the FACS banding to moderate with a review in autumn to see whether this is containing demand pressures.’’

If the raising of FACS banding to moderate is agreed it will be used for all new referrals from April 2011 and for existing care users as their needs come up for review.