APPENDIX TWO SURVEY OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Methodology
A three part survey was issued to 26 Scottish local authorities 56 in May 2006 comprising:
- A request for background information to policies and procedures for implementing FPC (see below)
- A questionnaire seeking information and views on key policy and practice issues (see below)
- A brief statistical survey requesting up-to-date information on certain key FPC related statistics
The survey achieved a 100% response rate, although some of the information requested, in particular some of the statistical data, was not provided by all local authorities.
Information request
1. Home care charging policy and charges
2. Procedures for assessment and care management/ Community Care services procedures
3. Eligibility criteria for Community Care services including:
- Criteria for determining home care packages
- Policy on level of intensive home care packages (including any policies on maximum number of hours or cost of home care per individual)
4. Admissions criteria for care homes (if not included above)
5. Information material or guidance given to the public on FPC and how to access it
6. Annual (if produced) or latest monitoring report on the implementation, impact or cost of FPC
7. Complaints procedures and reports arising from complaints received regarding Free Personal Care
8. Examples of any policies, services or initiatives (in relation to free personal care) specifically designed to meet the needs of older people with specific needs; for example, those from black and minority ethnic groups or those with a disability or dementia
9. Any Best Value reviews of social care services, other evaluations or related research reports produced since July 2002
10. Any other relevant documentation on the implementation of Free Personal Care
Policy and Practice Questionnaire
1. Does your council set targets for completing care assessments of those aged 65 and over? If yes, what are these targets?
2. If you have waiting lists for assessments for those aged 65 and over - what issues contribute to this and what is being done to reduce waiting lists for assessment?
3. In what ways does the assessment process you operate affect free personal care - for example, its uptake and success?
4. In relation to free personal care, how could assessment processes be improved?
5 What targets are set for reviewing care services provided to those aged 65 and over?
6. Are targets set for first service delivery date from completion of assessment for those aged 65 and over? If yes, please tell us these targets. Where you have different targets for services and/or client group please indicate these.
7. If you have waiting lists for service delivery on completion of assessment:
- what services have waiting lists;
- what issues contribute to this; and,
- what is being done to reduce these waiting lists?
8. In relation to service delivery, how are services prioritised, e.g. are certain client groups or services given priority?
9. Please describe / provide information on any policies, services or initiatives you have implemented or supported specifically to meet the needs of people with particular needs; for example for people with dementia, physical disabilities or black and ethnic minorities.
10. Please describe how the views of individuals, their carers and their families are taken into account when determining care packages?
11. What do you think your authority has done well in the implementation of free personal care?
12. Are there any areas of the guidance on free personal care (e.g. definitions of personal care services) that you consider are ambiguous and would benefit from clarification?
13. What are the barriers to the better operation of the free personal care policy in your area?
14. Has free personal care improved conditions for those who receive it?
15. What improvements can be made to make the free personal care legislation operate more effectively?