Adult social care provides extra support to those with physical or learning disabilities or physical and mental illness. In a speech about social care provision, Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt admitted ‘we need to do better’. This conference, Social Care Reform: Improving Care and Support for Older People, will offer delegates the opportunity to discover more about the government’s plans to reform the sector and provide sustainable support for older people.
In 2015/2016 there were over 1.8 million new requests to local authorities for adult social care support. Three-quarters of these applications were from adults over the age of 65. As the population continues to get older, official estimates suggest there will be around 2.2 million more over 65s in 2027 compared with 2017, the demand for elderly social care will also increase. The social care system in the UK is already under pressure. Age UK suggests almost 1.2 million people aged 65 and over do not receive the care and support they need. A long-term sustainable solution urgently needs to be developed and implemented.
To tackle the challenges of an ageing population, the government’s green paper aims to set out the plans to reform the care and support system and improve provision for older people. It will build on previous reports, reviews and debates and look not only at statutory services but consider wider networks of support within communities. Embracing new technology, innovation and workforce models will play key roles in delivering better quality care.
The Social Care Reform: Improving Care and Support for Older People will discuss the contents of the green paper through a series of presentations, delivered by expert speakers, a debate on funding with highly informed panellists and the sharing of examples of best practice. Delegates will gain greater clarity as to the government’s ambitions for the future of social care and have the opportunity to discuss how these plans will impact on people’s lives.
To improve the provision of adult social care for the older generation the government is laying out plans in a green paper. The proposals in the paper will form a long-term blueprint for social care reform, with a view to establishing a sustainable system, capable of meeting the needs of an ever increasing aged population.
There are seven key principles that have guided the framework of the green paper. They are:
The green paper will undoubtedly stimulate the debate of long-term, sustainable funding. The Health and Social Care Secretary acknowledged that the “economics of the publicly funded social care market are highly fragile” and said care models needed to “transform and evolve”.
He said: “We will, therefore, look at how the government can prime innovation in the market, develop the evidence for new models and services, and encourage new models of care provision to expand at scale.” He added “We must make sure there is a long-term financially sustainable approach to funding the whole system.”
Tackling variations in care and ensuring that care quality is of the highest standard is a key priority. Greater integration between health and social care has long been an ambition, however, has had limited results. Whole-person integrated care will provide users with a single plan covering all of their health and social care needs, based on a joint assessment by both systems. Allowing recipients of social care greater control over their support package is also on the agenda, with a pledge to look at personal budgets and funding set aside for pilots schemes.
Social Care has experienced difficulties in workforce supply. With 90,000 vacancies currently in the social care sector, recruitment and retention are a major issue. Respecting, valuing and rewarding social care workers is crucial in providing the stable workforce needed to meet demand. Unpaid carers save the economy £132 billion per year, an average of £19,336 per carer. The vital work undertaken by these people cannot be underestimated and it has been recognised that greater levels of support should be provided for families and carers to help them undertake this important role.
The reform of the social care system will rely on innovations and the use of digital technologies. The Social Care Digital Innovation Programme (SCDIP) will support projects with funding that look to that can use information and technology to improve adult social care and health outcomes and deliver financial savings.
Join us at the Social Care Reform: Improving Care and Support for Older People where the future social care system will be under the spotlight providing a light for the way forward.
The age profile of the UK’s population is changing profoundly thanks to increased life expectancy. In turn, long-term health conditions are driving the demand for care and support. How can we bend the demand curve for care and establish a sustainable system for the future. What role will the green paper play will it hold the answers?
A key principle of the green paper is the full integration of health and social care centred around the person. Embracing working together can be highly beneficial for patient well-being, efficiency and financial gains. It is hoped that following the reforms NHS and social care systems should be 'operating as one'.
Pat Jones-Greenhalgh, Associate, ADASS (confirmed)
Linda Thomas, Leader, Bolton Council (confirmed)
Michael Chick, Stakeholder Relations Manager, Alzheimer’s Society (confirmed)
Gerald Holtham, Visiting Professor of Regional Economy, Cardiff Metropolitan University (confirmed)
Despite some new funding for adult social care, the system faces a funding gap of £2.2 billion by 2020. The Green Paper provides an important opportunity to set out the plans to secure a sustainable funding solution for the long-term. This debate offers a platform to discuss the very latest funding reform proposals and assess the way forward.
Technology can be a powerful tool in the care and support of older people, and when used to improve daily contact, instead of replacing it - the results can be life and service changing. In this talk you'll learn about several ways you can improve outcomes for older people and your services by putting daily contact at the heart of what you do.
Transform Ageing is a three-year programme aimed at reimagining solutions form people in later life.
The programme is a collaboration between the Design Council, UnLtd, the South West Academic Health Science Network and the Centre for Ageing Better and funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
Led by older adults, it unites “people in later life, community groups, senior leaders in health and care and social entrepreneurs to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing us as we age”.
The presentation will share positive examples of digital innovation and interventions, but in a context of an understanding of the challenges in this area, especially digital exclusion. The speaker will also explore key questions re generic v specialist digital solutions; the need to target citizens, staff and those with care and support needs; and how this can be funded
There are 6.5 million people in the UK who are carers. Although caring for an older person can be rewarding, it can also be extremely demanding and can detrimentally impact on health, wellbeing and financial position.
Extra support provision has been highlighted as a key feature in the green paper.
Construction of The Bridgewater Hall commenced on 22 March 1993, but the idea of a new concert hall for Manchester dates back to the reconstruction of the Free Trade Hall in the 1950s after wartime bomb damage. The Free Trade Hall was home to the city’s famous Hallé orchestra and also hosted rock and pop concerts. However, despite holding great public affection, the 1850s Free Trade Hall was ill-equipped to respond to the rising standards of service and acoustic excellence demanded by performers and audiences.
Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Practitioners
Extra Care Housing Managers/Homecare
Gerontologists
Heads of Assisted and Independent Housing
Heads of Assistive Technology
Heads of Community Care Services
Heads of Housing Services
Heads of Telecare / Telehealth
Heads of Wellbeing, Heads of Inclusion
Health Economics Professionals
Knowledge Transfer Managers
Legal Advisers
Medical Directors
Pension Fund Managers
Research Directors / Professors
Social Inclusion Officers
Social Services Executives
Strategic Development Directors / Managers
Technology Leads
Trade Union Representatives
