People with disabilities and older residents in South West Norfolk will be supported to live independently in their own homes for longer thanks to an immediate cash injection into the County’s Disabled Facilities Grant scheme.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed a funding boost of £1,347,466 for Norfolk Councils as part of an £86million boost to the Disabled Facilities Grant for this financial year across the country. This announcement is part of a package of measures confirmed by the Government to improve adult social care, support the care workforce and take pressure off the NHS.
Terry Jermy MP said; “Disabled facilities grants are crucial to support residents who need home adaptations such as a wet room or a stair lift. Such improvements can help keep people living at home independently or allow someone to be discharged from hospital. I am delighted the Government has confirmed this extra funding for Norfolk on top of existing allocations so that we are able to help even more people”.
As part of the funding announced, Breckland Council will receive an extra £199,563 and Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council will receive £267,577.
Alongside the funding, the government’s immediate action to support adult social care also includes harnessing the power of care technology to transform care and support older people to live at home for longer, cutting red tape to ensure billions of joint NHS and social care funding is keeping people healthy and taking pressure off the NHS, as well as improved career pathways for care workers and new national standards to ensure providers and families use the best care technology.
Care workers across Norfolk will be better supported to take on further duties to deliver health interventions, such as blood pressure checks, meaning people in South West Norfolk can receive more routine checks and care at home without needing to travel to healthcare settings. The national career structure for care staff will also be expanded, ensuring there are opportunities for career progression and development pathways.
The government will launch an independent commission into adult social care to inform the work needed to deliver this. The commission, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey and reporting to the Prime Minister, will work with people drawing on care and support, families, staff, politicians and the public, private and third sector to make clear recommendations for how to rebuild the adult social care system to meet the current and future needs of the population.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
“In the first six months of this government, work has already begun on stabilising the care sector, investing in prevention, and in carers and care workers. The investment and reforms we’re announcing today will help to modernise social care, get it working more closely with the NHS, and help deliver our Plan for Change.
“But our ageing society, with costs of care set to double in the next 20 years, demands longer term action.
“The independent commission will work to build a national consensus around a new National Care Service able to meet the needs of older and disabled people into the 21st century.
“I have written to opposition parties to invite them to take part in the commission’ work, and asked Baroness Louise Casey to build a cross-party consensus, to ensure the national care service survives governments of different shades, just as our NHS has for the past 76 years.
“We are appointing one of our country’s leading public service reformers, and Whitehall’s greatest do-er, to finally grasp the nettle on social care reform.”
