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Care Funding and Advice

Care funding advice May 2021

Carewise care funding advice scheme - May 2021
People are living longer and for some this may mean moving into a care home. This decision is likely to be one of the most expensive decisions people make in their lives and the prospect of paying for long-term care can feel daunting. Yet many do not seek information and advice to help them consider all the options available and make informed decisions. This sort of planning is vital because based on current estimates, West Sussex residents can expect to pay an average of £50,000 or more per year for a residential care home.
Carewise contact details

To ensure that the residents of West Sussex have access to high quality information and advice about care and support options and the most cost effective ways of paying for this, our Carewise Care Funding scheme was established by Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA), the County Council’s Adults’ Services and Trading Standards departments and West Sussex Partners in Care.

Carewise has a panel of approved independent specialist financial advisers to help people afford the best quality care at home or in their preferred care home for as long as they need it and so prevent people running out of money and becoming the financial responsibility of the County Council.
Carewise has been operational since 2011 and the County Council has, therefore, been in a good position to evaluate performance over a fairly long period and take action as necessary to refine the model. Consequently, we were well-positioned to meet our duty under the Care Act to ensure that residents have access to impartial financial advice about paying for care and support. This also means that Carewise has evolved into a model that is being used as an exemplar of good practice at a national level, not least because of the high level of customer choice that is built into the model. The successful partnership style and the risk management approach adopted by the County Council have also been highlighted to other local authorities as positive elements of our approach.
Presentations on the Carewise model were included in TLAP (Think Local, Act Personal)/Department of Health national workshops held to support local authorities in planning to discharge their duty under the Care Act 2014. Carewise has informed the Department of Health final guidance for local authorities on the provision of financial information and advice

Performance

The potential financial benefits to both individuals and the County Council, and the predicted demographic increase in numbers of older people, particularly those with dementia, over the coming years, means that promotion of the Carewise  scheme is imperative. Carefully targeted marketing and promotions campaigns have run from 2014-2021. A marketing campaign for 2021-22 has been carefully planned and is now  underway  using  evaluation data from previous years  to identify successful activities which will inform implementation. The marketing aims to ensure that the momentum of past campaigns is maintained and public awareness increased. The 2021-22 campaign is designed to reflect the Adults' Services vision for the future which focuses on increasing people’s independence and wellbeing and encouraging more people to plan early for their long-term care needs in  later life.

We know that many people do not immediately want a referral to a care fees specialist but would rather have information in the first instance and then make a measured decision later about whether to proceed. It is, therefore, recognised that the number of referrals is never likely to increase dramatically in a short period of time and that any campaign will take time to yield results. Partners, including the care fees specialists, have advised that the quality of referrals should be a key focus rather than simply aiming to increase the numbers.

Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove provides a free Money Advice service which is part of the Carewise scheme; this service includes benefits advice. Maximising benefit entitlement enables people to purchase care and remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible and can reduce the need for reliance on County Council funding. Increased financial security can also enhance people’s wellbeing, a key principle of the Care Act. In addition, the local economy can benefit from people using their benefits to employ people to provide domiciliary care, personal assistants, gardening etc.

The yearly target for referrals to the Carewise care fees specialists is being revised to reflect a realist and achievable figure. This will be agreed following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

The target for Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Money Advice Service for 2021-22 is to maintain 550 individual sessions per month throughout the year.  

MAY 2021 FIGURES
REFERRALS TO CAREWISE CARE FEES SPECIALISTS =  22.  
22  people have received some level of financial advice from the care fees specialists ranging from basic to specialist advice during  May 2021. A significant amount of return calls made by the care fees specialists to those who have contacted us culminate with only basic advice being given ( these calls can last for up to 30-45 minutes). This might be because the person has inadequate income or assets, meaning that the care fees specialist is unable to suggest any action that would enable the person to remain a self-funder and preserve assets. Sometimes the care fees specialist is contacted at the very early stages where the person's situation is still uncertain. Whatever the reason might be, usually the care fees specialist can provide useful, timely guidance and information to the caller. This might involve explaining the complex care and benefit system in simple, easy to understand terms. On numerous occasions during the conversation the care fees specialist has identified that the person has not claimed Attendance Allowance, or is still receiving the lower amount when they should have applied for the higher amount. Sometimes it is appropriate to direct the caller to colleagues at Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove. If the person has had a positive experience of using Carewise and they choose to spread that message to others that can lead to a good outcome for the scheme.
AGE UK WEST SUSSEX, BRIGHTON & HOVE MONEY ADVICE SERVICE - The number of individual sessions held by the Money Advice Service (people receiving advice on a specific benefit) for May 2021  = 502. The target for May 2021 is 550. This is slightly below target.
The value of additional benefits accessed for people from April to May 2021  =   £434,037
Marketing  and Promotions

The marketing campaign comprises a wide range of promotional channels including radio advertising, direct mail, social media and digital methods, all of which are subject to robust monitoring and evaluation.

There is a focus on promoting Carewise at the ‘point of need’; for example, in residential care homes and to domiciliary care providers
Carewise logo

We will continue to issue invites to care home providers to hold Carewise 'surgeries' for their staff, residents and their families once the COVID-19 situation has ceased. We can, however,  video conferencing sessions in the coming months if restrictions continue longer-term. A flyer recommending that new care home residents access good financial advice for inclusion in admission pack has been circulated to providers and it is being suggested that existing residents are also included. Carewise is referenced and promoted to care providers via the Contracts regular provider newsletter and  on the Provider Zone website.

We also visit local organisations and groups to give presentations on request and we seek out promotional activities, including cost-free channels, as part of the ongoing marketing campaign. Visits to local groups are on hold during the current COVID-19 situation but video conferencing  session would be held if requested.
The number of referrals to care fees specialists received via the  'request a call-back' online option have been increasing steadily over the past months  due to promotion as the preferred route for referrals.
Actions being taken.
  • 2021-22 promotional campaign planning
  • Planning for  an increase in promotional activities of the benefits of seeking early financial advice to self-funders with a renewed focus on those people who are more likely to fall below the threshold of funded social care within the next 3-5 years.
  • Reviewing the 'affordability indicator' offered by the care fees adviser to care home owner/managers. Promotion to providers will follow.
  • Carewise website is being further revised to include increased information about choosing and paying for long-term care -  promotions to encourage residents to self-refer - Being Care Wise.
  • Regular promotion of the benefits of Carewise to residential and domiciliary care providers and their customers/residents and families via the Contracts department regular newsletter and  the Provider Zone website.
  • Appointing a new independent care fees adviser to cover the north of the county to replace adviser who has retired. 
For more information about Carewise visit: www.carewiseadvice.com, call 0330 222 7000 or email: socialcare@westsusex.gov.uk