Overview

The Social Care Portability Bill aims to make it easier for disabled people receiving social care packages to move between local authority areas in England and Wales without disruption to their care. It ensures continued funding and a smooth transition of their care arrangements.

Description

This Bill establishes duties for local authorities when a person receiving a social care package moves between their areas.

• Duty to Give Notice (Section 2): The first local authority (where the individual currently resides) must notify the second authority (where they're moving) as soon as the individual's intention to move is known.
• Duty to Make Provision (Section 3): The second authority must then arrange an equivalent care package to meet the individual's needs.
• Duty to Continue Funding (Section 4): The first authority must continue funding the care until the second authority's package is in place. They will be reimbursed by the second authority.
• Cooperation Between Authorities (Section 5): Both authorities must cooperate to ensure a smooth transition, involving the individual and respecting their dignity, choice and control.
• Regulations (Section 6): The Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers can create regulations to determine specifics like the notice format, transition timelines, and reimbursement methods. These regulations will cover things like how the transfer will be handled, for how long funding is provided by each authority and the process to resolve disagreements between the authorities.
• Interpretation (Section 7): The Bill defines "care package," "equivalent," and "local authority," covering various types of care and council structures.

Government Spending

The Bill doesn't directly specify increased government spending. However, it may lead to shifts in spending between local authorities, as the first authority funds the care temporarily and is then reimbursed by the second. The overall cost is difficult to predict without further detail.

Groups Affected

• Disabled individuals receiving social care packages: They will benefit from smoother transitions when moving between local authority areas.
• Local authorities in England and Wales: They will have new duties and responsibilities under the Bill, requiring coordination and potentially adjustments to their budgets.
• Care providers: They may experience changes in their client base and associated funding streams.

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