Impact of the Care Act on the Adult Social Care Workforce

Jo David ADASS

Anna McCreadieSuffolk County Council

Workforce: Critical to Implementation

• A piece of reforming legislation – opportunity to develop and promote a change in culture and practice

• Much of the Act consolidates good practice and existing policy in statute

• But … new statutory duties and responsibilities likely to require an increase in workforce capacity and/or new roles and ways of working

• Analysis and planning needs to start now

Understanding the Impact on the Workforce

• Review CA policy, duties and responsibilities against current local practice

• Identify and scope potential workforce capacity, skills and knowledge gaps

• Determine operational approach – council delivered function or commissioned / delegated

• Recruit / train or commission / contract

Key areas for staff training and development

• Basic understanding / awareness of the overarching principles of the Care Act – wider workforce, key council and external partners

• High level legal training – senior managers and social workers, social care lawyers

• Culture change – best practice - implications for social work practice – senior managers, social workers, commissioners

Key areas where the Act likely to affect workforce capacity

• Assessments and support plans - significant increase in demand for assessments expected, particularly Carers

2015/16• Universal Deferred Payments – councils likely to need to

expand DPA function and train key staff• Right in law to a direct payment – councils currently with low

numbers may need to expand function and strengthen back office

2016/17• funding reform and care accounts

Partnerships and Dependencies

• Closer planning, collaboration and integration with health, housing

• Integration of health and social care integration• Responsibility for social care needs of prisoners-

significant impact for councils with one or more prisons within their boundaries

• Safeguarding –new legal framework and statutory duty

Councils will need to assess current practice, identify gaps and plan to meet their new responsibilities.