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Written question asked by Caroline Lucas (Green Party) on Tuesday, 18 April 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 April 2023. It was answered by Helen Whately (Conservative) on Tuesday, 25 April 2023 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Social Services: Carers

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the document Next steps to put People at the Heart of Care: A plan for adult social care system reform 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025, published on 4 April 2023, whether the planned CQC assessment of local authorities’ adult social care delivery will include Carer’s Assessments; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

The Health and Care Act 2022 places a new duty on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to assess the performance of local authorities’ delivery of their adult social care duties under the Care Act 2014, including those related to unpaid carers. This duty commenced on 1 April 2023. CQC assessment will increase transparency and accountability, allowing the public and the Government to better understand how well local authorities are delivering their adult social care services.

CQC assessment will consider how local authorities assess needs, this will include carers’ assessments. CQC assessment of local authorities will show to what extent the needs of unpaid carers are recognised as distinct from the person with care needs and if assessments for unpaid carers are undertaken separately from those who draw on care and support.

This Government is fully committed to the 10-year vision for adult social care set out in the People at the Heart of Care white paper. We want care to be of outstanding quality, personalised and accessible.

Building on the £100 million we have invested in the past year, we have now set out our plans for the next stage of social care reform and improvement. This includes £700 million to reform the social care system.

I wrote to all MPs in England on 5 April 2023 outlining the recent Next Steps announcement and launch of CQC assessment.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
181326
Session
2022-23
Related items
People at the Heart of Care: Adult Social Care Reform White Paper
Wednesday, 1 December 2021
Command papers
House of Lords
House of Commons
Subjects
Carers Reform Social services
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk