£20 million invested in innovative projects supporting people in adult social care and unpaid carers across the country
People in adult social care and unpaid carers will benefit from a £20 million boost to fund innovative projects across the country, as the government continues to deliver on its vision for social care reform.
The Accelerating Reform Fund will expand community-based care models such as Shared Lives, a service that matches people aged 16 and above with approved carers.
Under this scheme, people move in with their Shared Lives carer on a short- or long-term basis, giving people with care needs more freedom and autonomy and allowing them to live more independently in the community. Short-term care through Shared Lives also supports unpaid carers by providing them with more flexibility and breaks.
This week, Minister Whately visited a Shared Lives home in Oxfordshire. There, the minister met and spoke with the Shared Lives carer and the three people who live with them in the home on a short- and long-term basis. Minister Whately heard how Shared Lives is providing newfound freedom, security and comfort.
Minister for Social Care Helen Whately said:
The funding will also develop innovations and digital tools focused on identifying and supporting unpaid carers. For example:
The Accelerating Reform Fund provides a total of £42.6 million over 2023/24 and 2024/25 to support innovation and initiatives in adult social care services across the country, focused on developing and scaling sustainable and effective types of support for people with care needs.
£20 million is being allocated to lead local authorities, covering all 42 Integrated Care Systems, which deliver adult social care services and will work with a range of partners including the NHS, care providers, voluntary and community groups. £20 million is the first tranche of funding for 2023/24. The second tranche of the Accelerating Reform Fund, £22.6 million, will be allocated in 2024/25.
Kathryn Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Social Care Institute of Excellence, said:
Kirsty McHugh, Carers Trust CEO, said:
Ewan King, Chief Executive Officer of Shared Lives Plus, the UK membership charity for Shared Lives and Homeshare, said:
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said:
Andy Biddle, Director of Adult Social Care, Portsmouth City Council
The Accelerating Reform Fund supports the government’s 10-year vision for adult social care, which focuses on three objectives:
The government has now made available up to £8.6 billion additional funding over this financial year and next to support adult social care and discharge. This includes up to £3.2 billion of additional funding over 2023/24 and £5.4 billion of additional funding in 2024/25.
The government has also earmarked £327 million for the Better Care Fund which empowers local authorities to provide advice support, short-breaks and respite services for unpaid carers.