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LGA responds to Care Act delay

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association's Community Wellbeing Board, responded to reports on a delay to the second phase of the Care Act

"The announcement to delay the second phase of the Care Act is a positive recognition from government of what the LGA has been warning – that we cannot try and reform the way people pay for adult social care when the system itself is on such an unstable foundation. 

"Local government was ready and able to implement the next phase of the Care Act - we have supported the need for reform to the way people pay for their care and still believe this to be necessary. In an ideal world, we would have funding for both the system and the reforms but we have to be realistic about where scarce resources are needed most. Local authorities have already implemented phase one of the Care Act, and if both the reforms and the care system were fully funded, we would not need to suggest a delay.

"Any money from delaying the reforms must be put back into adult social care services and support putting it on a sustainable footing. The funding gap in adult social care is growing by a minimum of £700 million a year, and whilst this will not cover the rapidly increasing care costs councils are facing, it will be better than to attempt to push forward with changes on shaky grounds."

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