Councils hail Department of Health change of heart over Care Act funding

Adult social services portrait1Two councils which launched a judicial review challenge over the amount of funding they were allocated for implementation of the Care Act have welcomed the Department of Health’s reversal of its original decision.

West Berkshire and Wokingham councils launched legal action in March this year.

West Berkshire claimed at the time to have been left with a £3m shortfall and had accused the Government of “reneging on its promise”.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Ministers have decided to quash the original decision not to give the councils additional funding, and will work with the councils to identify any additional impact on them.

“Now that the Care Act has been implemented this can be based on the experience of transitioning to the national eligibility threshold.”

Cllr Hilary Cole of West Berkshire said: “I’m pleased that the Department for Health has reversed its initial decision to leave the council without all the money it needed to provide social care. In doing so, they acknowledged the true cost of providing this important care – care which people rely upon to help them lead a decent and normal life.

“As a result of this decision we hope to be in a position be able to fund the care we need to provide to these vulnerable people. A review will now take place to consider the cost of providing the care since 1 April and help inform the level of funding we’ll receive.”

Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner, executive member of health and wellbeing at Wokingham, said: “We’re pleased the Department of Health is now willing to work with us, as we had wanted all along, to reach an agreed position that recognises the true costs to Wokingham residents of the changes introduced with the Care Act.”