Funding to kickstart change in support for carers welcomed by Stuart Anderson
Unpaid carers across Shropshire will benefit from improved services, Stuart Anderson has said. South Shropshire’s Conservatives Parliamentary Candidate welcomed the funding which is part of the Government’s Accelerating Reform Fund. £367,754 has been allocated to the local integrated care system, which covers Shropshire as well as Telford and Wrekin. It is part of a £42.6 million fund to support innovation in social care and kick-start a change in services for unpaid carers. £20 million is the first tranche of funding for 2023 to 2024. The second tranche, £22.6 million, will be allocated in 2024 to 2025. The list of priorities for innovation and scaling includes focussing on identifying unpaid carers in local areas, encouraging people to recognise themselves as carers, and promoting access to carer services.
The Accelerating Reform Fund supports local authorities, working collaboratively with partners in their integrated care system (ICS) areas, to take forward locally identified projects that embed innovation and scaling in adult social care, including identifying, recognising, and supporting unpaid carers. Each ICS consortium has received a £300,000 ‘floor’ plus a share of £7,400,000 top-up funding, based on the adult social care relative needs formula (RNF) at a local authority level and summed for the ICS consortium.
Stuart welcomed the funding, which can also be used to expand community-based care models such as Shared Lives, a service that matches people aged 16 and above with approved carers on a short or long-term basis, giving people with care needs more freedom and autonomy and allowing them to live more independently in the community. Short-term care through Shared Lives also supports unpaid carers by providing them with more flexibility and breaks. The Government has now made available up to £8.6 billion additional funding over this financial year and next to support adult social care and £327 million earmarked for the Better Care Fund, which empowers local authorities to provide short breaks and respite services for carers as well as advice and support.
Stuart Anderson said: “Shropshire’s unpaid carers make a vital contribution in supporting some of the most vulnerable, including those with disabilities. I want to ensure that they are supported to live healthy and fulfilling lives alongside their caring role. Thats why I welcome the investment in our region being provided to through the Accelerating Reform Fund to promote partnership working as well as sharing of learning and best practice. It will help to promote collaboration and communication, vital to embed and sustain innovation in support for carers.”
Minister for Social Care Helen Whately said: “We’re sticking to our plan to deliver ambitious social care reforms that will ensure everyone gets the care they need and help even more people to live independently. Alongside our workforce reforms, we’re supporting the sector by backing innovations which will make our care system fit for the future and provide vital support to our selfless unpaid carers. I’ve seen first hand how Shared Lives helps people who need care, and I’m delighted this funding will scale up support and make an even bigger difference for more people across the country.”
Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities in England are required to undertake a Carer’s Assessment for any unpaid carers who appears to have a need for support and to meet their eligible needs on request from the carer. Carer’s Allowance (CA) aims to provide a measure of financial support and recognition for people who are not able to work full time in order to provide regular and substantial care for a severely disabled person. Since 2010, the rate will have increased from £53.90 to £81.90 a week from April 2024, providing around an £1,500 a year. As of May 2023, CA was being paid to nearly 830,000 carers in England and Wales. Between 2022/23 and 2027/28, real-terms expenditure is forecast to rise by around 40% to just over £4.7 billion a year. Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and other means-tested benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate than to those without caring responsibilities.
