United Response: The coalition's first 100 days

Friday, 20 August 2010 12:00 AM

For all of the undoubted energy the Coalition Government has brought to its first 100 days in office, it is still too soon to judge what the impact of its policies will be on social care and on vulnerable people.

If David Cameron turns his idea of a Big Society into a reality, energising local communities, government and the voluntary sector into working together on projects and initiatives that create a fairer and more socially conscious country, then it will have been a success. There would be huge social benefits from developing more closely knit communities where everyone is valued and involved, whether elderly, poor, disabled or from different backgrounds.

However, the more worrying possibility is that the severity of the coming spending cuts will actually increase vulnerable people's isolation and cut them off from vital support. At the moment, local authorities provide essential care services to people with severe disabilities, but these are either under threat or already being cut, due to overwhelming financial pressures. If nothing replaces those services, we will see people with disabilities, their carers and their families begin to struggle, not just financially, but physically and emotionally.

There have already been some signs that this is happening, with the Independent Living Fund running out of money and finding itself unable to provide invaluable support to people with severe disabilities. Disability allowances are another source of concern: few would argue that benefit fraud needs to be combated, but tightening up the system must not be achieved at the cost of taking away essential financial assistance to those who need it to live their day to day lives.

The Coalition Government's values of freedom, fairness and responsibility are absolutely laudable, but it must tread carefully. It is obvious that the UK is facing serious financial difficulties and bold steps are needed to tackle the deficit. But cuts to existing programmes should only be made after careful consideration of what the long term impact of those cuts would be and what will replace them.

In our own experience, we know that providing a low level of support to a person with a learning disability early in their lives can save money in the long run, by preventing a deterioration of mental and physical health that costs the NHS more, and by helping people to develop the skills to contribute to their communities. For our part, those of us in the social care sector need to understand the financially difficult position the Coalition is in, and to work hard to find ways to be as efficient and effective as possible in providing services. It is this kind of collaborative approach that underpins any successful society.

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