Information and advice - Care Act 2014

1. Information and advice - Care Act 2014

2. A vital component Information and advice help to promote people’s wellbeing by increasing their ability to exercise choice and control and form a vital component of preventing or delaying people’s need for care and support Information and advice is fundamental to enabling people to take control of, and make well-informed choices about, their care and support and how they fund it They are an essential building block of the Care Act reforms

3. Types of information and advice

4. Problems which people identify with information and advice The social care system is too complex and localised to comprehend Decisions are typically taken in a crisis There are problems with the quality and availability of information, advice and referral The availability and quality of all council information services is patchy and is not linked up There is a lack of independent support for the assessment process There is a lack of joined-up advice covering care and housing/benefits options There is a lack of information about service availability and quality There is a lack of signposting to financial advice

5. A duty on local authorities Section 4 of the Care Act places a duty on local authorities to ensure the availability of information and advice services for all people in its area, regardless of whether or not they have eligible care needs A wide definition including care and support related aspects of health, housing, benefits, employment and the environment

6. Provision of information and advice Local authorities do not have to provide all elements of this service They are expected to: • Understand, coordinate and make effective use of all the information and advice resources that are available locally and nationally • Think about how they are reaching out and joining up with other providers of information and advice to ensure the coherence of the overall ‘offer’ • Signpost or refer people to relevant independent and impartialsources of information and advice

7. Range of Information and advice required Information about how the local care and support system works How people can access care and support services What types of care and support are available, and the choice of providers (resource directory etc.) Care and support related financial information and advice, including how to access independent financial advice How to raise concerns about the safety or wellbeing of someone who has care and support needs

8. Financial information and advice The local authority must provide financial information and advice, including: • understanding care charges • ways to pay • money management As well as identifying those who may benefit from independent financial advice or information and help them to access it Broader awareness raising about how care and support is funded

9. Users of information and advice Transitioning to adulthood Subject to safeguarding concerns Wanting to plan for their future Who contact the local authority People Who are family members or carers Who may develop care and support needs in the future In prison Who are assessed as being in need of care and support

10. Self funders Self funders often not well served for information and advice by many councils in the past: • many do not seek help • those that do find little information was offered and that signposting to other sources of support was a negative experience There is a duty for the Council to ensure self – funders are well informed and can make appropriate decisions as a result of effective information and advice

11. Information and advice must be open to everyone who would benefit from it. They authority should ensure that: There are a range of delivery mechanisms that are accurate and up-to-date Staff are aware of accessibility issues and appropriately trained Websites meet accessibility standards Printed materials are clear and in plain English Materials are adapted as necessary e.g. easy read versions, translations, appropriate formats, Braille etc. Help from independent person is available to help people access information and advice Accessibility

12. A strategic approach to information and advice

13. Information and advice principles (1) Involve people who use services and carers in determining what is needed and how it is provided Be available at the right time for people who need it, in a range of accessible formats and through a range of channels Meet the needs of everyone in the community served Be clear, comprehensive and impartial Be consistent, accurate and up-to-date Meet quality standards

14. Information and advice principles (2) 7. Be based on a detailed analysis of the needs of the local population 8. Be commissioned in tandem with other relevant support and advocacy services 9. Avoid reinventing the wheel 10. Signpost people to sources of further information 11. Provide consistent information throughout individuals` social care journey 12. Be used to inform future planning

15. Summary Information should be available to all, regardless of whether or how their care is paid for Good quality, easily accessible information will help people to make good decisions about the care and support they need or may need in the future Local authorities have a key role in ensuring good quality advice is available locally and for sign posting people to independent advice Information and advice needs to be targeted at key ‘trigger’ points in people’s lives Information and advice should be accessible, timely and proportionate