Have your say on this crucial consultation 

We have received information that the Department of Communities and Local Government has said it is examining all social care duties of local authorities as part of a wide-ranging review. It is holding an, "informal consultation exercise" for six weeks, finishing on April 25^th, 2011.

The department said it was aiming to give local authorities "freedom to operate in a way that meets local needs and priorities" and the consultation gives opportunity to influence which duties should be abolished and which should be kept.

Included in the list are duties to:

• Assess people for community care.

• Offer a Carer's assessment.

• Consider the needs of disabled people.

• Provide welfare services.

• Investigate suspicions that a child is being harmed.

• Keep a child in care when a care order has been made.

Obviously, this could have major impacts on disabled/vulnerable people in our community and on Carers and their needs. Therefore we would urge you to make sure your voice is added in to this crucial consultation.

To do so, you need to go to

www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/decentralisation/tacklingburdens/reviewstatutoryduties/

where you will find downloadable supporting information and a webform to express your views.

Unfortunately, we rang the Communities Department and there doesn't seem to be any alternatives to the online consultation. So, if you do not have internet access you and want to get involved in the consultation, we are providing internet access and support here at Carers Gloucestershire headquarters on Thursday April 21^st between 10.00am and 2.00pm. Even if you haven't been online before, we will help you have a say on this vital issue.

Finally, the supporting information on the website lists over a thousand statutory duties, which you might find off putting. One suggestion would be to use the ‘General Comments' section of the webform to outline some of the key areas that have been listed above that relate to Carers and/or Social Care, if you feel they are important areas of concern.

If you have any queries about the consultation, how or why to get involved or about getting support from Carers Gloucestershire to take part, please contact me directly: Nick Baker 01452 872242