PRACTICE


Playing to their strengths


Adult assessments will look very different after the Care Bill is passed, says Alex Fox, with more value placed on approaches that support family and community contributions


‘I


shouldn’t have to spend my life proving that my son can’t do things to get the support my family needs to help him do things for himself.’ This quote from an unpaid family carer whose son has


a learning disability will chime with social work practitioners whose aim it is to help people overcome their challenges and live fuller lives, but too often fi nd themselves the gatekeepers of a diminishing store of ‘maintenance-only’ services. Community care


legislation and assessment regulations were framed to manage demand by restricting services to those with higher levels of need. Consequently, it has been diffi cult in many places to introduce a more creative, holistic, ‘personalised’ approach in that context, particularly in this era of cuts. However, the Care Bill, now progressing


have on their wellbeing;


Every intervention should support the


individual’s unpaid relationships and informal networks of support


• the outcomes they wish to achieve; • the role that services could play in achieving these outcomes; and


• the role which ‘other matters (including, in particular, the adult’s own capabilities and any support available to the adult from friends, family or others)’ could contribute to achieving these outcomes. Assessments will, then, look much more


through parliament, envisages a diff erent approach to assessment as part of a move towards a more ‘strengths-based’ or ‘asset- based’ approach. Whereas the current system focuses only


on rating a person’s level of need as eligible or non-eligible for a service response, the proposed needs assessment looks at four aspects of a person’s life: • their support needs and the impact these


12 SOCIALWORKMATTERS JULY13


holistically at a person’s wellbeing, which is defi ned very broadly in clause 1 of the bill to include not just physical and mental health but also family relationships, employment, housing and active citizenship. It will not be assumed that services on their


own are the only ways to achieve outcomes. Whereas needs being met by family carers are now treated as ineligible – in eff ect meaning that the input of families is invisible in assessments – these contributions will be noted in future assessments. The intention is to increase the support routinely off ered to carers to continue caring.


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