To achieve the goal of fully accessible information and advice services for all, it is essential that planning takes place at a strategic level and brings together key partners from across the adult social care agenda. Equally, delivery needs to draw together the work of teams and agencies from both within and outside of local authorities, with clear management procedures in place. If planned and structured effectively, information and advice services can contribute to wider objectives such as effective commissioning and shaping of services in response to market need.
2. Information matters The table below sets out policy documents across key aspects of the adult social care agenda. It highlights requirements for relevant information and advice services,
and also includes related documents of which planning and delivery should take account. This is intended to demonstrate the links across agendas and policy documents
rather than acting as an exhaustive list, as there are a significant number of initiatives in which information and advice could potentially have an impact.
Priority area Key policy documents Why is it important? Key requirements for information and advice Related documents
This is intended to give a flavour of the range of key documents, rather than an exhaustive
list. However, we would welcome feedback on additional documents that could be included.
Personalisation Putting People First: a shared vision and commitment The overall cross-departmental vision and commitment
to the transformation of adult social care. It sets out the
Universal information, advice & advocacy service for people needing services and
their carers, irrespective of their eligibility for public funding.
• LA Circular (DH) (2009) 1: Transforming Social Care
to the transformation of adult social care • Progress Measures for the Delivery of Transforming Adult Social Care
Government’s pledge for all public bodies to work together
Service to be available via phone, letter, email, the internet and through (DH, ADASS, LGA, 2009)
to enable choice and independent living for all adults.
appropriate community points, with personal advocates available to provide extra
• Guidance on Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (DH, 2007)
The document includes a commitment for family members support where required.
and carers to be treated as experts and care partners. • Evaluation of the Individual Budgets Pilot Programme: Final Report (DH, 2008)
• National Evaluation of Partnerships for Older People (PSSRU, 2008)
• LinkAge Plus national evaluation: end of project report (DWP, 2009)
Care Shaping the Future of Care Together (Green Paper) Green paper on the reform of adult social care. Building on
Putting People First it sets out the Government’s vision for
Easy access to information about care and support for everyone in the country when
they need it. This includes information for both those who need care and their carers
• High Quality Care for All – NHS Next Stage Review Final Report (DH, 2008)
• Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities
a new care and support system, and highlights the need for about who can help, what care can be expected and how quickly it can be provided.
(HMG, 2008) – National Carers Strategy
radical reform to create a national care system.
Health Health & Social Care Act 2008 The Health and Social Care Act 2008 sets out measures to
modernise and integrate health and social care. It brought in
The NSF requires information to be provided to older people and their carers about the
services which are available and the choices they have. This includes information on
• Impact Assessments for the Health and Social Care Bill (DH, 2007)
• Health inequalities: progress and next steps (DH, 2008)
the Care Quality Commission as the new integrated regulator preventative health and access to services, as well as contact points for further support,
for health and adult social care. such as through voluntary organisations. • Health & Care Services for Older People (DH, 2008)
• Living well with dementia: a National Dementia Strategy (DH, 2009)
• National Stroke Strategy (DH, 2007)
• The NHS Constitution (DH, 2009)
National Service Framework for older people and The NSF is a 10–year strategy published in 2001, aiming to
system reform ensure fair, high quality, integrated health and social care • The Year: NHS Chief Executive’s annual report 2008/09 (NHS, 2009)
services for older people.
• Evaluation of Information Prescriptions (DH, 2008)
• The Information Standard: Questions & Answers (DH, 2009)
• A recipe for care: not a single ingredient (DH, 2007)
Ageing Building a Society for All Ages Government strategy on ageing. It sets out the need for
society to adapt to the demographic shift in age, and work
Opportunities for local delivery of information to be developed alongside nationally funded
services. Information to include support around entitlements and opportunities for those
• Working together for older people in rural areas (Defra/Cabinet Office, 2009)
• Don’t Stop Me Now: Preparing for an ageing population (Audit Commission, 2008)
demographic together to deliver what is needed. approaching 60, including support for those who want to continue working. Nationally funded
services to include: • Empowering engagement: a stronger voice for older people (DWP, 2009)
• A national one-stop shop available from 2010. This will provide information about planning for • Families & Relationships Green Paper (due out in autumn)
retirement, state pensions, workplace pensions and working longer. This will link to new and • Independent Living Strategy (Office for Disability Issues, 2008)
existing services, and signpost on to more specialised services. It will draw together support
• Helping you make the most of your money: a joint action plan for financial
online, on the telephone and face to face from across Government and the third sector
capability (HM Treasury/FSA, 2008)
• Adult Advancement and Careers Service to be available country-wide from 2010, to give
• Equality Bill
people tailored advice and support via the internet, telephone and face to face
• The Learning Revolution White Paper (DIUS, 2009)
• Establishment of Carers Direct: a carers’ information helpline & website.
Housing Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods National housing strategy. It recognises the need to join
up support for housing, health and care, and links to
Improved information and advice to help people make decisions about housing options in later
life, particularly including support to stay in their own home. Strengthening of local housing
• Delivering Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods (DCLG, 2008)
Putting People First. It sets out requirements for improved information services to be combined with a national information and advice service (First Stop).
information, support to enable older people to remain in their
The level of information, advice and support provided to be tailored to the individual’s need, with
own homes, and for all new public sector housing to be built
services to be delivered by phone, online and through local one-stop shops, and expanded in the
in accordance with Lifetime Homes standards by 2011 with an
future to cover full range of information needed by older people, including social care, health and
aspiration for all new housing to be built to these standards
benefit information.
by 2013.
The benefits of Access to the full range of Cost savings through pooling Provision of data on supply and Key point of contact to support Information to support carers Raising awareness and providing Point of contact for local voluntary
information and advice that is of resources and reduction in demand for services to support integrated working with children’s in their caring role access to related initiatives, such and community organisations
joining up information needed at a time, place and in duplications and inefficiencies commissioning and market services, including transition as Change4Life, the handyman’s offering support
Collated feedback about services
and advice: a format that meets users’ needs across information provision facilitation planning & parent/carers scheme and financial support
to support market facilitation