Council collecting views on care support changes

The new Care Act which comes into force next April means care and support in England is changing.

Care and support is the term used to describe help for adults of all ages with things like washing, dressing, eating, getting out and about and keeping in touch with friends or family.

The changes are designed to help people plan for the future and put people more in control of the help they receive, have more control over their care and support and remain independent for as long as possible.

While the way most parts of the Act are delivered is being decided by the Government, some aspects can be decided locally.

West Sussex County Council is asking about:

- Carrying out assessments for carers and for people needing social care support;

- Delivering an independent advocacy service (someone to speak on a person’s behalf);

- How we charge people for services.

Four public meetings for people to hear a presentation of the proposals, ask questions and seek views will be held in:

Worthing – on 12 January 2015 from 6.30-8pm at Worthing Leisure Centre, Shaftsbury Avenue, Worthing, BN12 4ET

Crawley – on 15 January 2015 from 6.30-8pm at The Charis Centre, West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7EL;

Burgess Hill – on 20 January 2015 from 6.30-8pm at Marletts Hall, Civic Way, Burgess Hill, RH15 9NN; and

Chichester – on 26 January 2015 from 6.30-8pm at Chichester College, Conference Hall, Chichester Campus, Westgate Fields, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1SB.

Peter Catchpole, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults Social Care and Health, said: “We are really keen to hear from people of all ages in this consultation. Even if you are many years away from needing care and support, we hope you’ll take part and give us your views. The consultation will only take a few minutes but your answers will help influence how parts of the Care Act are delivered in West Sussex.”

The consultation runs until Wednesday February 11 2015.

To take part in the consultation go to www.westsussex.gov.uk/careact, call 01243 642121, email [email protected] or write to us at the freepost address Have Your Say, Care, Support and You, Freepost RSBK-CHTU-KGGG, West Sussex County Council, Chichester, PO19 1RQ.