Table 4.15.6
GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES
1997-98 TO 2002-03
| £million |
1997-98 | 1998-99 |
1999-00 | 2000-01 |
2001-02 | 2002-03 |
| Mental Health | 67.3 | 73.3
| 116.5 | 129.5 | 148.4
| 154.4 |
| Children's Services | | 5.0
| 75.0 | 120.0 | 291.8
| 561.5 |
| AIDS Support Grant | 13.7 |
13.7 | 15.5 | 16.0
| 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Training Support Programme | 35.5
| 35.5 | 39.0 | 42.5
| 47.5 | 57.5 |
| Promoting Independence: Partnership |
| | 253.0 | 216.0
| | |
| Promoting Independence: Prevention |
| | 20.0 | 30.0
| | |
| Promoting Independence | |
| | | 296.0
| 155.0 |
| Carers | | |
20.0 | 50.0 | 70.0
| 85.0 |
| Care Direct | |
| | 0.5 | 2.0 |
10.0 |
| Building Care Capacity | |
| | | 100.0
| 200.0 |
| Deferred Payments | |
| | | 15.0 |
30.0 |
| Improving Information Management |
| | | | 3.0
| 25.0 |
| Young People's Substance Misuse Planning |
| | |
| 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Preserved Rights | |
| | | | 624.2
|
| Residential Allowance | |
| | |
| 93.0 |
| Performance Fund | |
| | | | 50.0
|
| Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation |
| | | |
| 16.0 |
| Secure Accommodation | 13.2 |
8.2 | 6.2 | 6.2 |
6.2 | 6.2 |
| Drugs & Alcohol | 2.5 |
2.5 | 4.7 | 6.8 |
8.9 | |
| Invest to Save | |
| | 4.3 | 1.3 |
|
| Asylum-Seekers' Grants | 89.6
| 208.2 | 52.4 |
| | |
| Community Care Special Transitional Grant |
325.0 | 350.0 | |
| | |
| Guardians Ad Litem & Reporting Officer services
| 6.3 | | |
| | |
| TOTAL | 553.1 | 696.4
| 602.3 | 621.8 | 1,011.1
| 2,088.8 |
Note—figures may not sum due to rounding.
MENTAL HEALTH
2. Volume: A total grant of £154.4 million
is available in 2002-03. Of this £1.5 million is funding
the non-London homeless mentally ill initiative and £1 million
is to support a telephone help line association. The grant for
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services has been increased
by £5 million to £20 million, an extra 33 per cent.
The balance of £132 million is available to local councils
for adult mental health services.
3. Purpose: To support implementation of the
Mental Health National Service Framework standards in line with
local milestones set out in local implementation plans but in
addition, to deliver the Department's NHS Plan commitments. Councils
have been asked to give emphasis to services for looked after
children, children with learning disabilities or other high need
groups in using the additional £5 million funding for Child
and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
4. There are no changes to monitoring arrangements and
the measures of effectiveness.
CHILDREN'S
SERVICES
5. Volume: The total grant for 2002-03 increased
to £460.5 million (excluding grants made to reimburse councils
for the costs of Regional Development Workers).
6. Purpose: In 2001-02 there were three elements
to the grant—the main programme plus ring-fenced elements
for implementing the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and for
services for disabled children. These three elements remain in
2002-03. In addition, there is a new capital element for increasing
access to information and communication technology for looked
after children and care leavers. The grant breaks down as follows:
| £million | 2001-02
| 2002-03 |
| Main programme | 147.3 |
138.0 |
| Disabled children | 15.0 |
15.0 |
| Children (Leaving Care) Act | 128.0
| 298.0 |
| ICT for looked after children & care leavers
| | 10.0 |
The Children (Leaving Care) Act came into force on 1 October
2001. Therefore in 2001-02 the element for implementing the Act
covered only the second half of the financial year. Preparation
for the implementation prior to 1 October 2001 was supported from
the main programme.
7. Monitoring: Monitoring arrangements for 2002-03
remain the same, that is, through the Quality Protects Management
Action Plans (MAPs). However, the MAPs which councils submitted
in January 2002 will be the last, as future monitoring will take
place through the annual SSI Position Statements.
8. There are no changes to the measures of effectiveness.
Training Support Programme
9. Volume: In 2002-03 the grant increased by
21 per cent from £47.5 million to £57.5 million.
10. Purpose: This remains the same. The £10
million increase in funding has been added to the £3 million
that was ring-fenced in 2001-02 for supporting those social care
workers who undertake study for the Diploma in Social Work.
11. Monitoring: The only change to the monitoring
arrangements is that a mid-year review is not being undertaken
in 2002-03.
12. Effectiveness: The number of ring-fenced
elements within the grant have again been reduced for 2002-03.
The funding for sub-programmes for training residential child
care staff in Level 3 Caring for Children and Young People NVQ,
Foster Carers training and Sensory Impairment Training have been
returned to the Main Programme.
Promoting Independence
13. Volume: The grant available to councils in
2002-03 is £155 million.
14. Purpose: The purpose of the grant continues
to be to foster partnership between health and social services
in promoting independence. One of the grant conditions is that
it should be spent on "additional", new or improved
services. This year that condition excludes 2.7 per cent of the
grant (£4.2 million).
15. Monitoring: By 31 May 2003 councils must
provide a report that shows how they have used the 97.3 per cent
of their grant allocation which is to be spent on the provision
of additional services.
16. There are no changes to the measures of effectiveness.
Carers
17. Volume: The grant available to councils has
been increased in 2002-03 by £15 million to £85 million,
an increase of 21 per cent.
18. There are no changes to the purpose, monitoring arrangements
and the measures of effectiveness.
Care Direct
19. Volume: In 2002-03 the grant increased to
£10 million. To date grant payments amounting to £2.5million
have been made to 20 councils to meet (a) set up costs (b) part
year revenue costs where appropriate. Further grants are planned
to be paid to the same councils to meet revenue costs for the
second half of the financial year.
20. There are no changes to the purpose, monitoring arrangements
and the measures of effectiveness.
Building Care Capacity (Preventing Delayed Hospital Discharges)
21. Volume: The grant available to councils in
2002-03 is £190 million, an increase of £100 million
on the previous year. The remaining £10 million is held centrally
to fund the setting up and operation of a Change Agents team.
22. Purpose: The funding is to be used for reducing
delayed discharges from hospital and stabilising the care home
market. The primary aim is to reduce delayed discharges, with
a milestone of a reduction of 1000 in the number of delayed discharges
nationally by March 2003, compared to March 2002.
23. There are no changes to monitoring arrangements and
the measures of effectiveness.
Deferred Payments
24. Volume: In 2002-03 the grant doubled to £30
million.
25. There are no changes to the purpose, monitoring arrangements
and the measures of effectiveness.
Improving Information Management
26. Volume: In 2002-03 the grant available to
councils is £25 million, a considerable increase of £22
million on the 2001-02 grant.
27. Purpose: This remains the same, though there
is no longer a requirement for councils to produce a Local Information
Plan. The grant is available to help councils implement the strategies
set out in their plans submitted in October 2001. The 2002-2003
grant has two component parts. £24 million is available to
all councils, the balance of £1 million will be paid to 12
councils that have been selected to run a second series of demonstrator
projects.
28. Monitoring: Councils' use of the grant will
be monitored through position statements. Monitoring arrangements
for the demonstrator projects are unchanged.
29. There are no changes to the measures of effectiveness.
Young People's Substance Misuse Planning
30. Purpose: This remains much the same as in
2001-02 but in addition, grant funding can be used for the costs
associated with the implementation and monitoring of service provision.
31. There are no changes to the volume, monitoring arrangements
and the measures of effectiveness.
Preserved Rights
32. Legislation: Section 93 of the Local Government
Act 2000.
33. Volume: The grant available to councils in
2002-03 is £624.2 million.
34. Purpose: The Health and Social Care Act 2001
gave councils responsibility from 8 April 2002 for the care assessment,
management and (subject to means) funding of care home residents
who had previously funded their own care from a special higher
rate of income support, known as the "preserved rights"
rate. This special rate of income support has been abolished,
although many residents who were subject to preserved rights continue
to receive income support—but at a lower rate—under
the new arrangements. This policy change was subject to prior
consultation and was announced in the NHS Plan.
35. Councils take benefit income fully into account when
deciding how much residents for whom they are responsible can
afford to pay towards the cost of their own care. The purpose
of the new Preserved Rights Grant is to help councils to meet
the cost of their new responsibilities towards the residents concerned.
It has been calculated to reflect, primarily, the difference between
the present and previous benefit incomes of the residents affected.
The grant has to be spent on community care services and on people
for whom the local authority became responsible on 8 April.
36. Monitoring and Effectiveness: Statutory guidance
was issued to councils in March 2002 about how to carry out their
responsibilities in respect of residents with preserved rights.
The way in which they do so will be subject to review through
the routine monitoring of their performance by the Social Services
Inspectorate. In addition, by 31 December 2003, councils must
provide a statement to the Department, certified by their Chief
Finance Officer and by an auditor appointed by the Audit Commission,
that the money they have received has been spent in full and in
accordance with the conditions of the Grant. Any unspent money
will have to be repaid to the Department.
Residential Allowance
37. Legislation: Section 93 of the Local Government
Act 2000.
38. Volume: The grant available to councils in
2002-03 is £93 million.
39. Purpose: The Residential Allowance is a component
of the income support payable to people who live in independent
sector care homes. Councils take the allowance fully into account
when deciding how much residents for whom they are responsible
can afford to pay towards the cost of their own care. This means
that individual residents needing local authority support do not
themselves benefit from the allowance. It subsidises the council's
cost in providing residential care and can therefore provide an
incentive for them to commission this form of care provision.
The Government therefore announced in the NHS Plan that it would
abolish payment of the allowance from 8 April 2002 for people
not already receiving it at that time and transfer the money to
councils in order to give them more flexibility to use the resources
in promoting independence. The new Residential Allowance Grant
represents this money.
40. Monitoring and Effectiveness: The money has
to be spent by councils on community care services. No formal
monitoring of expenditure will take place. Councils already have
a statutory responsibility to ensure that they assess the care
needs of the residents concerned and provide (and, subject to
means, fund) a package of care to meet those needs. However, there
is still an audit requirement. By 31 December 2003, councils must
provide a statement to the Department, certified by their Chief
Finance Officer and by an auditor appointed by the Audit Commission,
that the money they have received has been spent in accordance
with the conditions of the grant. Any unspent money will have
to be repaid to the Department.
Performance Fund
41. Legislation: Special Grant Report No. 101
was laid under the powers contained in Section 88B(5) of the Local
Government Finance Act 1988, as substituted by paragraph 18 of
Schedule 10 to the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
42. Volume: The grant in 2002-03 is £50
million, the first year of the grant.
43. Purpose: The Personal Social Services Performance
Fund provides resources to fund locally developed and designed
incentive schemes tailored to the particular needs of each area
and aimed at supporting implementation of the NHS Plan, initially
focussing on improving intermediate care performance. It works
in tandem with a similar Performance Fund for the NHS. A small
amount (£2 million) has been retained to fund Performance
Action Teams to support poorer performing councils and to spread
best practice between councils.
44. Monitoring: The amount of monitoring depends
on a council's social services star rating, announced in May 2002.
Two and three star councils are able to decide locally on which
schemes to support (three star councils can spend their grant
on any area of social services, not just intermediate care). One
star councils will have their plans examined more closely by the
Social Services Inspectorate. The plans of zero star councils
will be examined very closely by the Social Services Inspectorate
who will require updates throughout the year to monitor progress.
45. Effectiveness: Two and three star councils
will be encouraged to evaluate whether schemes have achieved their
objectives and share good practice. This evaluation by the council
will be mandatory for one and zero star councils. In addition,
certified statements, confirming expenditure and usage of grant
monies will be issued to councils by auditors appointed by the
Audit Commission, for onward transmission to the Department. Audit
arrangements are also dependent on the star rating. For one and
zero star councils auditors will also test baseline performance
and actual performance and check whether targets were met to earn
the reward element.
Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation
46. Legislation: Section 93 of the Local Government
Act 2000.
47. Volume: Since April 2002 resources for local
implementation of the teenage pregnancy strategy, previously routed
through health authorities, have been allocated as a grant to
councils, amounting to £16 million in 2002-03.
48. Purpose: The purpose of the grant is to support
the implementation of agreed local teenage pregnancy strategies
and ensure that robust arrangements are in place to continue the
co-ordination and delivery of agreed local action plans. Local
strategies are agreed locally by councils, health and other key
partners. The Local Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Board makes
recommendations on the use of the grant and oversees the implementation
of the local action plan. The Partnership Board includes representation
from the council, Primary Care Trusts and other key local partners.
The aim is to accelerate and support new developments, add value
to existing services, pump-prime promising approaches and facilitate
effective local co-ordination.
49. Monitoring: By the end of April 2003, councils
must submit a report on implementation progress during 2002-03
to the cross-Government Teenage Pregnancy Unit. These will be
assessed by regional panels chaired by the regional teenage pregnancy
co-ordinator and include a representative from the Teenage Pregnancy
Unit as well as regional colleagues from other key programmes
such as Quality Protects, Healthy Schools, Sure Start, Connexions
and housing. Formal written feedback will be provided to Partnership
Boards by the end of June 2003.
50. Effectiveness: A national indicator set
which includes 20 indicators monitoring progress against all major
aspects of the national strategy, has been agreed. Information
from it can be used to assess local effectiveness, such as data
on the under 18 conception rate by local authority area. In addition,
certified statements, confirming expenditure and usage of grant
monies will be issued to councils by auditors appointed by the
Audit Commission, for onward transmission to the Department.
Drugs and Alcohol Grant
51. The grant ended in March 2002.
Invest to Save Grants
52. Volume: 2002-03 is the last year of this
particular Invest to Save Grant. Up to £2.1 million is being
made available to up to six councils. Of this, up to £0.06
million is for capital and up to £1.5 million is for revenue
expenditure.
53. There are no changes to the purpose, monitoring arrangements
and the measures of effectiveness.
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