Concern expressed over social care budgets
Charities
26th October 2009
Providing direct payments via personal budgets for social care could place vulnerable people at risk.
This is the opinion of Daniel Blake, Action on Elder Abuse policy development manager, who claimed that the government's plans could lead to abuse of the system.
A survey by union Unison indicated that those receiving such regular cash could be targeted by criminals, with 62 per cent of social workers expressing concern that this could happen.
Mr Blake explained that this is a "massively unregulated part of the social care workforce" and emphasised the importance of monitoring social care practice, something that may interest those in the industry seeking UK insurance.
He called for direct payments to be viewed as "one part of a much wider agenda" and stressed the need for criminal checks, vetting and barring within the system, including personal assistants.
Under the government proposals, personal budgets will be rolled out nationwide by 2011, with targets set for councils to move people across to the new arrangements.
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