David Pearson (pictured), the President of the Association of Directors of Social Services in England (ADASS), speaking at the ACSA national conference this week gave a rundown on Consumer Directed Care in the UK.

CDC commenced in 2001 and today (after 13 years) just 62% of all clients are receiving a ‘personal budget’, meaning they are dictating where all expenditure goes. The remaining 38% rely on the care provider guiding them on the care given them.

The government and the sector is aiming for 5 million people to be on personal budgets.

The massive growth has been in ‘personal assistance’, where the care client can identify virtually anyone to be paid to provide personal services – from family members to family friends to agency personnel. The fact that most people have to co-contribute to the cost has driven this growth.

David said there is little difference in the cost to government of private personal assistants versus operator provided staff. However the overall social care expenditure has declined 26% in four years. Several reasons could be a reduction in over servicing, competition for services has dampened price growth and client control a budget with co-contribution leads to more frugal demands.

The average government care contribution per client is £1000 p.a. at age 65, £2000 at 75 and £5000 at 85.

There is virtually no regulation of the people acting as personal assistants.