(after 28 Jun 04)

Ambitious reforms to modernise the way in which social care services are delivered in Devon, to give people more choice and independence, have been backed by Devon County Council’s Executive.

A keynote report says this is what Devon people want from their care services and a planned increase in investment on top of already record spending will help extend a modernisation programme over the next three to four years, building on improvements in services which are now in place.

A detailed operational plan, including the spending required, will be brought before the County Council’s Executive in the autumn.

Drawing on local and national research, the report says: 'The demand for greater independence and choice from people who need the County Council’s Care is increasing too. Devon people want less institutionalised care, they rightly want to lead more independent lives, living wherever possible in their own homes and aided by flexible services tailored to their needs.'

'This is a consistent message from surveys of older people and groups representing older people that the majority of people want to stay at home. Overall, older people are often asking for very modest forms of help in order to maintain independence' adds the report by David Johnstone, Director of Social Services and Jan Stanhope, Director of Resources.

The report makes it clear that the programme is not to cut spending on care services. It says: 'Underpinning that programme of change is a commitment to investment in quality services that people want. The County Council is investing a record £265 million in social care this year alone and plans to increase that investment over the next three years to meet the needs of Devon people in the future.'

And the Government’s watchdog, the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI), says that the County Council is well placed to be able to make these improvements, after receiving a very positive performance report last year.

The SSI said that Devon’s social services are ‘Good, serving most people well, with promising capacity for improvement.'

Commenting on the planned modernisation, Cllr John Clatworthy, Executive Member for Adult Social Services, said: 'We will be able to deliver care services which Devon people say they want. If people want help to stay in their own homes we should be doing our very best to help them because there is no place like home

'It is not about cost-cutting - in fact Devon County Council will be investing more money in Social Services. The changes will give people choice, independence and flexibility. This is the right way forward.'

He added: 'The County Council is committed to discussion with users, carers and all interested parties on the detail of the programme to ensure that it is implemented as sensitively as possible, taking account of the needs of individual service users.'

Councillor John Smith, Executive Member for Children’s Social Services said: 'Devon County Council’s children's services are already way ahead and giving more support at home to children and their families and providing children who need it with foster care instead of old style children’s homes.

'We recognise that in any change people are bound to have concerns. That’s why we will be working hard to keep them informed and discuss changes with them.'

The planned modernisation is a major response to changing demographics and the increasing demand for care services from public and independent sector care providers.

• The need for social care services is continuing to rise in Devon, particularly among, older people, children and people with learning disabilities. The County Council is already helping over 18,000 people to live in their own homes, supporting over 3,000 people in residential care and looking after over 700 children at any one time.
• Devon’s population is ageing more significantly than the national average and the need for care services is rising. By 2011 residents aged over 80 will have increased by 20%. This is a financial challenge to the County because of the cost of providing care to someone over the age of 85 is double that of someone aged between 75 and 85.
• Around 4,000 people in Devon have learning disabilities. Medical advances mean that happily more people are surviving longer into adulthood. That good news brings with it an increased need for social care support.

The report warns: 'the demographic challenges Devon faces will consume the County Council’s planned growth aimed at improving social care services unless we also refocus funding into those services aimed at helping people to live more independently and reduce the reliance on old style residential and day care.'

Commenting on the plans, the County Council’s Director of Social Services David Johnstone said: 'Services in Devon need to change to keep pace with what users and carers want, and with demographic changes. There will not be change for change’s sake. In implementing proposals every effort will be taken to minimise the impact on users, carers and staff.

'What people will see is an improved service that will give people with complex needs the individual care they need in highly specialised facilities, and support for others to remain living at home rather than in institutionalised settings.'

Mr Johnstone said the modernisation programme was based on extensive consultation with people who use care services in Devon and he promised a continuing involvement for service users, carers and other interested parties on the detail of the programme.

He said: 'Current services will gradually change to promote independence, support community living, maintain quality of life and enhance opportunities for people. Those services that are less effective in meeting that goal will be replaced with services that are effective.

'Where we have already modernised services there are excellent signs of improvement for people receiving those services and these changes have been well received.' (News Eds. See Notes for case studies.)

Report plans - service by service:

Children's Services

There will be extra investment in family and parent support services to help children remain at home whenever it is better for them to do so. This will help to reduce the number of children who have to be looked after directly by the County Council in the future and reduce the need for institutionalised residential care. This will include the planned closure of 2 homes.

There will be 20 more family care workers to provide support to children with complex needs within family environments as an alternative to residential care.

There will be joint investment with the County Council’s Education service and the National Health Service to develop the behavioural assessment and support service.

This service will have a strong community and family support focus, with the back-up of a small residential assessment facility which will provide the right environment for the complex assessment process and reduce the need for emergency placements.

Older People’s Services

More investment will help older people and people with physical disabilities with less complex needs to live at home independently.

There will be investment in domiciliary care - that is care services brought direct to people’s homes. The County Council will strengthen its own services to support people in their own homes as well as investing in services provided by independent organisations.

The aim is to reduce the dependency on old style institutionalised care.

The County Council will only continue to provide traditional long stay residential care in areas where availability is limited. Plans are being developed to transform County Council care homes into community care support centres, and provide more specialist services for the elderly mentally infirm, as well as intermediate care to help people leaving hospital who need expert support before they can return home, and respite care to give carers a much needed break.

Devon County Council will work in partnership with District Councils, registered social landlords and private developers to develop extra care housing schemes to provide specialist accommodation and support.

Future plans include targeting services at people with mental health problems. Detailed proposals for modernising services people with a physical or sensory disability will also be published in the near future.

Learning Disability Services

Services for people with profound and complex needs will be delivered in dedicated centres, with specialist staff and equipment from health and social care services. There will be a gradual removal of large general purpose community resource centres, to be replaced by a network of specialist centres where profoundly disabled people can go to access services or where services can come to meet them.

Services for people with less complex needs will be delivered from a 'community hub' - a place where people can go to meet each other and receive advice and support from care workers.

This will be a less formal environment which is part of the community such as a town social centre or community café. Services will be based around a person’s individuals needs by creating opportunities for people through education and employment, and direct payments.

People who are not eligible for direct services will receive support and advice through investment in community infrastructure and information and advice about local activities, opportunities and networks.