Peter Beresford takes a magnifying glass to the Care Act.
Despite the explicit thread running through the Act, "the assumption that
the individual is best placed to judge the individual's wellbeing", the
reality is that mere lip service is being paid to a service user's empowerment.
The final decisions about a person's needs will ultimately remain with the
council. Furthermore, such decisions will be restricted by the extent of
funding from central government.
Independent advocacy also comes under his spotlight. The
definition of advocacy that councils are bound to employ is a very narrow one.
The emphasis is on the need for clear communication and understanding. There is
no obligation to ensure that the service users’ rights and even needs are being
maintained. More lip service?
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