Laura Sharman 31 January 2017

Councils could face judicial review over Care Act

Councils may be unable to fulfil their legal obligations under the Care Act due to a chronic underfunding of social care, town hall chiefs have warned.

In its Budget submission, the Local Government Association (LGA) said the Care Act would fail unless new money was released for social care services.

The LGA also warned that councils could face judicial review due to the limitations in the level of care they will be able to provide.

The Government has also been urged to set out contingency plans to deal with major failure in the care provider market, as the LGA said many contracts were already being handed back to councils.

Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, said: ‘The Care Act is a really important piece of legislation which the LGA fully supports. But the intentions and the spirit of the Care Act that aims to help people to live well and independently, are in grave danger of falling apart and failing, unless new funding is announced by government for adult social care.’

Cllr Seccombe also called on the Government to provide an ‘honest and upfront’ account of what level of care the public should expect to receive from councils on the current level of funding.

‘Genuinely new government funding is now the only way to save the Care Act, and to protect the services caring for our elderly and disabled people and ensure they can enjoy dignified, healthy and independent lives, live in their own community and stay out of hospital for longer, reducing the pressures on the NHS,’ she said.

Ministers recently dodged questions about the long-term funding of social care, claiming there is a ‘spectacular’ disparity in bed blocking performance across different local authority areas.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

North Northamptonshire Council
£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

South Wales Trunk Road Agent
£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recuriter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer x 2

Hounslow London Borough Council
£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI ChelmsfordFixed Term, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 Per Annum, Full Time EquivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of SEN Assessment & Resolution

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£77136 - £88230 per annum
Shape a fairer future for children with special educational needs.As Head of SEN Assessment and Resolution at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chel England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Linkedin Banner