Staffordshire County Council Update

Martin SamuelsCommissioner for Care(MQNF October 2014)

Key Issues

• Funding• Care Act• Better Care Fund• Market Position Statement

Funding• Ongoing Pressures– Further reductions in budgets• Net 3-4% in 2015/16, no end in sight

– Continuing increase in demand• Demography, public expectations

• Challenges– Controlling cost while maintaining quality• Prevention & person-centred care

– Incentives for providers & staff• Maximise personal independence• Operational sustainability

Care Act• First Phase from April 2015– Focus on prevention & early intervention– More regular reviews of needs– Carers entitled to assessment of own needs– Entitlement to Personal Budget / Direct Payment

• Second Phase from April 2016– Care Accounts: £72k lifetime cap• May draw people into system earlier• Issues over £10k pa ‘hotel costs’ disregard

– Self-funders call on Council contracts• Price issues

Better Care Fund• New Pooled Fund Across Health & Social Care– £3.8bn nationally / £56m in Staffordshire– Incorporates Disability Facilities Grant

• Key Features– No new money• Reallocation of existing (reduced) funding

– Focus on reducing hospital admissions• Scope for closer working with NHS community services• Limited scope for invest to save ideas

Market Position Statement

• Significant Challenges for System– Tight financial constraints– Growing public expectations– Shift towards choice & control

• MPS as Statement of Council Direction– Trends in demand– Philosophy for care– Market approach– Promote dialogue with sector– Regular editions / supplements

Questions?