Councils may have to outsource 'low-level' assessments to free up social workers, say sector leaders

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), the Local Government Association (LGA) and council chief executives' body Solace pointed out that councils will be expected to assess an additional 180,000 to 230,000 people and carry out an additional 440,000 to 530,000 reviews in 2016-17 because the reforms under the Care Bill will incentivise many more self-funders to approach them.

The three associations warned that the cost of the changes would be extremely difficult to model and urged the government to publish as much detail on costings as quickly as possible so that the sector can analyse the implications.

The associations said the delivery of assessments would need to change and suggested a 'triage' system to divert people without eligible needs away from approaching their council for an assessment, while providing them with information and advice. They also said this could be outsourced to national third sector organisations, though it would have to be made clear to these providers that their role would be to provide information and signposting, not advocacy for people to access services from their council.