CUTBACKS WON'T HIT HOME CARE SERVICE

The statement was made by Cllr Pat Arculus, cabinet member for adults' services, in response to questions at the meeting.

Cllr Vilna Woolhead asked how many people would lose their service as a result of proposed changes. She also queried how many would have their service reduced '“ and asked for information about what changes in home care arrangements were being made in order to deliver savings.

Cllr Arculus said no residents would lose their home care service or have services reduced as a result of savings made.

She added: "The county council is looking to make savings by more efficient use of new technology for the ordering, scheduling, monitoring, invoicing and payment of invoices for the home care services it provides and for those it purchases from the independent sector '“ voluntary and private."

These changes were entirely concerned with greater efficiencies. And while such changes were never easy to implement, statements about adults' services being 'hit' or vulnerable people being affected were wholly misleading.

An additional 242,000 has been invested by the county council this year in direct payments for parent carers of disabled children, Cllr Mark Dunn, the cabinet member for children and young people's services, told members.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette October 17