Discretionary elements : Cumbria County Council

We have discretion with regard to what we commission to meet need and who we commission it from. We have a responsibility however to get the best balance that we can between cost and quality in service commissioning including in-house provision.

We provide a number of services through the voluntary sector. These are commissioned in order to help people to retain higher levels of independence in their local communities. These services are described as prevention services. They are an essential part of our strategy to help people and communities to help themselves and to rely less on mainstream social care services.

Putting People First emphasised the importance of prevention services in transforming social care. Whilst there is no statutory duty to provide such services, regulators strongly expect such a programme to be in place. This also recommends such services on the evidence base that are cost effective.

Supporting People

SP currently provides housing related support to approximately 10,000 vulnerable adults living in Cumbria ranging from women fleeing domestic violence, young people leaving care, homeless individuals and families, older people receiving sheltered accommodation and community alarms to name a few. Research shows that where SP services cease this has a consequence of increasing the public spend on public services, principally social health, health care, criminal justice.

Support Services

Customer Support services deliver mechanisms to support the statutory functions of the Directorate such as developing ICT solutions, improving Customer Contact arrangements, ensuring Business Continuity arrangements are robust, management of office and public access buildings, and production of information for the public.

Physical Disability

Provision of equipment to people with low to moderate needs
Workstep Programme

Mental health
The commissioning of an Appropriate Adult service in accordance with the Police & Criminal Evidence Act. The service would need to be commissioned by another agency – potentially the Police.

Learning Disability
All current services are provided within the Fair Access to Care eligibility framework. Individuals who do not meet the LD Eligibility criteria are signposted to preventative services.

Preventative services are commissioned from partners taking into consideration ‘Best Value’ and ensure individual’s needs are met without the need to use statutory services.

Library Service:
Possibly some areas, but there is a lack of a clear and widely accepted definition of the above. This is under review by HMG – review expected late 2009.

Archive Service:
Discretionary elements are provided on a self-financing basis e.g. Historical Research and Digitisation.