Councils should introduce Japanese style ‘care credit scheme’

People

should volunteer in the community in exchange for ‘care credits’ that

would see them supported in later life, according to a major report into

social care published today.

Under

the ‘Care and Support’ insurance scheme people in their 40s and 50s

should carry out activities that were beneficial to their local

community to generate ‘credits’ which could then be ‘cashed in’ for

future local authority care.

Participants

could volunteer their time in a number of ways including by caring for

older residents, such as helping at a day centre or organising local

community activities. In return they would earn hourly ‘care credits’ to

be exchanged for home care services and support when needed.

The

scheme is inspired by a long-running and successful system in Japan

called ‘Hureai Kippu’ to help manage the country's ageing population

whereby volunteers can ‘bank’ the hours they spend helping an elderly or

disabled person in their personal ‘time account’.

The

recommendation forms part of a wider independent report commissioned by

Westminster City Council into the future of local authority care in the

UK.

The report, “A vision

for the Future Health and Social Wellbeing of a City”, was authored by a

number of leading health care experts including the former director

general of Age Concern England Baroness Sally Greengross.

Baroness

Greengross said: “Given the current economic climate we saw a genuine

opportunity for the council to redesign and reconfigure services so they

are fit for the 21st century. Using ‘time credits’ is just one of a

wide range of recommendations that could be considered.

“We

have put forward a number recommendations that could be implemented at

councils across the country to radically overhaul adult social services

and help drive out inefficiency.

“While

we acknowledge that our recommendations do not provide all the

solutions I hope they offer a blueprint for a new approach to council

care for elderly and vulnerable people.”

Westminster

Council commissioned the report’s experts in September 2010 to help

shape its response to demographic change and rising public expectations

for adult social care.

The

council has faced a 10% increase in demand for adult social care over

the past two years and it is estimated that over the next 10 years it

will see a further 20% increase in demand for services from an ageing

population. 

Cllr Daniel

Astaire, Westminster’s cabinet member for society, families and adult

services, said: “We asked the Commission to challenge the assumptions

around the provision of adults social care and the ‘care credit’ scheme

is just one a number of proposals that have come out of this innovative

report.

“It’s clear that

given the multiple pressures we are facing we cannot continue to do all

we have done in the past. We need to consider how we can we continue to

provide first class adult services in a changing world.

“Fortunately

in Westminster, we start this debate from a position of strength,

having laid the foundations for a service that respects and encourages

personal responsibility and choice.

“But

I have no doubt that we, like other local authorities, are going to

have to look to innovate and consider new ways of doing things. We need

to ensure we are able to meet rising public expectations and provide

services to the most vulnerable and as such I welcome the suggestions of

this timely report.”

The

council said it hoped the report’s findings would be provide a

‘blue-print’ for the future provision of local authority support for

elderly and vulnerable residents and also inform the government’s own

social care commission, which is expected to publish its recommendations

in July.

The council said it

was considering all the recommendations in the report before making any

decisions on the future of adult social care in the city.