The aim of this briefing for managers and senior managers in adult social care is to show how councils can implement personalisation and reduce unit costs in assessments and reviews by improving efficiency and productivity. It notes that councils spent £2.2 billion on assessments and care management in 2010/11, and carried out nearly 1.8 million assessments and reviews of clients. It reports
The aim of this briefing for managers and senior managers in adult social care is to show how councils can implement personalisation and reduce unit costs in assessments and reviews by improving efficiency and productivity. It notes that councils spent £2.2 billion on assessments and care management in 2010/11, and carried out nearly 1.8 million assessments and reviews of clients. It reports on analysis showing that some councils have obtained low unit costs for assessments and reviews, and that this helps them to reduce overall costs. It covers trends in assessments and reviews, savings from reducing unit costs of assessments and reviews, savings from efficient business processes, and quality, cost and risk. It recommends that councils should aim to spend less on assessments and reviews and more on care, and suggests how spending can be reduced. A checklist of areas where councils can make potential savings is included, and a benchmarking costs tool accompanies the report.
Subject terms:
local authorities, management, performance management, personalisation, social care provision, adult social care, assessment, care management, cost effectiveness, costs;
Based on desk based research and visits to eight English councils, this report examines personal budgets in social care and considers financial management and governance implications for local councils. Four main chapters outline good practice in making the transition to individual budgets; the financial implications; commissioning strategies, and governance arrangements. Self-assessment checklists to help councils review progress and identify points for improvement, and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services’ (ADASS) policy on resource allocation are presented.
Based on desk based research and visits to eight English councils, this report examines personal budgets in social care and considers financial management and governance implications for local councils. Four main chapters outline good practice in making the transition to individual budgets; the financial implications; commissioning strategies, and governance arrangements. Self-assessment checklists to help councils review progress and identify points for improvement, and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services’ (ADASS) policy on resource allocation are presented.
Subject terms:
local authorities, performance evaluation, personal budgets, personalisation, accountability, commissioning, direct payments, financial management;
The Audit Commission report Reducing the Cost of Assessments and Reviews: An Adult Social Care Briefing was based on a calculation of the unit costs of conducting assessments and reviews across a sample of councils, using data from annual returns completed by councils with social services responsibilities. This paper describes the approach used for the secondary analysis of quantitative data for the report. It includes information about the data sources used, the selection of councils for inclusion in the analysis, the approach used to develop the levelling exercise in the analytical model, steps taken to mitigate risks, indicators used to identify variation between councils, and financial impact of the levelling at council level.
The Audit Commission report Reducing the Cost of Assessments and Reviews: An Adult Social Care Briefing was based on a calculation of the unit costs of conducting assessments and reviews across a sample of councils, using data from annual returns completed by councils with social services responsibilities. This paper describes the approach used for the secondary analysis of quantitative data for the report. It includes information about the data sources used, the selection of councils for inclusion in the analysis, the approach used to develop the levelling exercise in the analytical model, steps taken to mitigate risks, indicators used to identify variation between councils, and financial impact of the levelling at council level.
Subject terms:
local authorities, management, performance management, personalisation, research methods, social care provision, adult social care, assessment, care management, data analysis, costs;