in control first phase report 2003-2005

12Any preconception that care managers might be strongly resistant to suchchange is contradicted by a further outcome from this event. All participantswere in favour of a changed role for care managers.FIGURE 4NoYesCare managers’ preference for a change to the care management role.In a system that facilitates Self-Directed Support there will be increasedscope for creativity and the use of core social work skills. Care managerswill retain a duty of care and represent the local authority in the contractwith the disabled person. They need to agree support plans and take part inthe review.If, however, disabled people make their own assessments according to anopen and public Resource Allocation System – and if those people writetheir own support plans and organise their own support – care managers willbe released to focus on other tasks.They will be able to focus energy on working with people who are in complexsituations and on the high-cost, out-of-authority placements that mostauthorities have. In this work they can use the social work skills in whichthey are trained rather than spending excessive time processing forms –especially assessments – as many do at present.The support for a new direction in social care comes not just from front-linestaff. In a 2005 report by Verita for the Association of Directors of SocialServices (ADSS), the authors identify a clear trend towards greater spendingon traditional services for people with learning disabilities – at a timewhen policy and customer demand point in the opposite direction.One indicator of this trend is that:In real terms, spend on residential and nursing care more thandoubled between 1995/97 and 2003/04.A report on in Control’s first phase 2003-2005