Care assessments by (non-) specialists…
From BBC news item on 16th July 2013:
Crossbench peer Lord Low of Dalston has called for protections for groups of disabled people undergoing a care assessment who may need the help of a specialist to fully understand their needs.
Lord Low cited the example of a deaf and blind person, during the debate at committee stage on the Care Bill on 16 July 2013.
He said: “For example, the ability to access a specialist assessment carried out by someone who understands the impact of deaf-blindness is a critical first step in the process of getting adequate and appropriate care and support.”
He went on to say that the Care Support Alliance was “very concerned” that measures will lead to many disabled people being assessed by someone without specific training in their disability”, which would be a “retrograde step”.
The Care Bill aims to reform care and support funding by creating a cap on care costs.
The legislation applies to England and Wales but the majority of its provisions apply to England only.
Labour’s Baroness Wilkins agreed with Lord Low’s amendment. She said specialist assessments were of “critical importance” and would “allay the concerns of organisations such as Sense and the RNIB [Royal National Institute of Blind People]”.
Health Minster Earl Howe said the government supported the aim of the amendment, telling peers it is “essential that the person carrying out the assessment has the right knowledge, skills and competence”.
He added: “In the light of what [peers] have said in support of the amendment, I will look again at Clause 12 to ensure that we are giving ourselves the relevant powers to achieve our aims.”
Peers expressed concerns about not just deaf-blind people, but also people on the autistic spectrum, especially those with Asperger Syndrome, and those with learning disabilities, and those displaying challenging behaviour.
Lord Low in moving his amendment, said”…some people with autism may be non-verbal or have limited capacity to communicate or take part in the process unless substantial adjustments are made. People with profound and multiple learning difficulties and people who display challenging behaviour are two further groups where it is vital that they have a specialist assessment undertaken by an expert. People with PMLD do not use formal communication such as words, signs or symbols and may rely on others to speak up for their needs. Staff carrying out the assessments will need to have skills to ensure that people with PMLD can be meaningfully involved in the assessment process and have the opportunity to influence decisions made about their lives. It is also important that people with PMLD have advocates who are trained in non-instructed advocacy techniques.”
Full details of this important debate may be found in Hansard online.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) in replying stated, “I say straight away that I fully support the intention of Amendment 88M, which is to ensure that local authorities engage a suitable expert when carrying out complex assessments. The assessment will remain an integral part of the process of determining a person’s care and support needs and whether these meet the national eligibility criteria. To ensure that this is done correctly, it is essential that the person carrying out the assessment has the right knowledge, skills and competence.”
Earl Howe’s resssurances were ultimately sufficient for the motion to be withdrawn – but Rescare is one of several charities and organisations who will remember those assurances for future reference…