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http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/almost-5million-cuts-to-care-funding-approved/story-29707266-detail/story.html
Almost £5million cuts to care funding approved
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ALMOST £5m in cuts to health and care services have been approved by Staffordshire County Council in an effort to help plug a £15m funding gap.
In June the Cabinet approved in principle a range of savings in a bid to help close the hole in the County Council's finances from the loss of anticipated income from the Better Care Fund (BCF).
At the time, members asked that more work be conducted to detail the impact the cuts would have on service users and the communities, so consultation was carried out.
A two-hour Corporate Review Committee meeting on Friday agreed cuts of £1.5m in 2016/17 and £3.7m in 2017/18 to: Carers' services; assistive technology, fixed equipment, adaptations and community equipment; the crisis support scheme; loneliness and isolation support services; direct payment support and non-statutory advocacy services.
County councillor Susan Woodward, who called in the suggested cuts, said she felt the proposals had not had proper scrutiny on the effect on service users and staff.
She told the committee: "We can see the impacts are going to be significant, particularly on the most vulnerable people in our community."
She added: "As far as the crisis support service is concerned, this is a service for those who find themselves in the most difficult position. People will often find themselves on hard times, these problems are often not self-inflicted and this is possibly the cruellest cut of all."
Councillor Woodward said 1,200 people will be affected directly by the cuts to services which help prevent loneliness and direct payments allow independence for people that need care.
She asked for the proposal to be deferred pending a review of advocacy services, but councillor Simon Tagg said the implementation plan covers working with providers already out there, without the expense the council can no longer afford.
One service affected by the cuts is Asist Advocacy Services, which has been helping people with learning disabilities to take part in consultation and speak up about decisions which affect them.
Cathy Jones, CEO, said: "As an organisation committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have a voice and a right to be heard, this is both a very sad situation, but also a missed opportunity to improve community engagement and understanding of the needs of people with disabilities.
"Overall feedback over the past couple of months about the possible loss of this service has ranged from extreme anger to a resigned acceptance as the people in these groups feel they are once again being disempowered and ignored."
Almost £5million cuts to care funding approved
Comments (0)
ALMOST £5m in cuts to health and care services have been approved by Staffordshire County Council in an effort to help plug a £15m funding gap.
In June the Cabinet approved in principle a range of savings in a bid to help close the hole in the County Council's finances from the loss of anticipated income from the Better Care Fund (BCF).
At the time, members asked that more work be conducted to detail the impact the cuts would have on service users and the communities, so consultation was carried out.
A two-hour Corporate Review Committee meeting on Friday agreed cuts of £1.5m in 2016/17 and £3.7m in 2017/18 to: Carers' services; assistive technology, fixed equipment, adaptations and community equipment; the crisis support scheme; loneliness and isolation support services; direct payment support and non-statutory advocacy services.
County councillor Susan Woodward, who called in the suggested cuts, said she felt the proposals had not had proper scrutiny on the effect on service users and staff.
She told the committee: "We can see the impacts are going to be significant, particularly on the most vulnerable people in our community."
She added: "As far as the crisis support service is concerned, this is a service for those who find themselves in the most difficult position. People will often find themselves on hard times, these problems are often not self-inflicted and this is possibly the cruellest cut of all."
Councillor Woodward said 1,200 people will be affected directly by the cuts to services which help prevent loneliness and direct payments allow independence for people that need care.
She asked for the proposal to be deferred pending a review of advocacy services, but councillor Simon Tagg said the implementation plan covers working with providers already out there, without the expense the council can no longer afford.
One service affected by the cuts is Asist Advocacy Services, which has been helping people with learning disabilities to take part in consultation and speak up about decisions which affect them.
Cathy Jones, CEO, said: "As an organisation committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have a voice and a right to be heard, this is both a very sad situation, but also a missed opportunity to improve community engagement and understanding of the needs of people with disabilities.
"Overall feedback over the past couple of months about the possible loss of this service has ranged from extreme anger to a resigned acceptance as the people in these groups feel they are once again being disempowered and ignored."
