Re-ablement March 2011 John Crook – Social Care Policy, Department of Health

2 What do we mean by “re-ablement”? Re-ablement is an active period of up to 6 weeks of intense activity and support designed to promote people’s independence. This is a preventive measure that can reduce people’s need for both acute hospital care and can help people to continue living at home for longer.

3 Homecare re-ablement Homecare re-ablement is an intermediate care service, focusing on people’s skills for daily living to give them greater independence in their home and reduce the need for ongoing homecare support. Services are provided both as step down from hospital and step up to avoid admission to hospital or residential care. DH-funded prospective study on the cost-effectiveness of homecare re- ablement services by University of York. Final report published Dec. Current policies to promote home care re-ablement appear to be well- founded and show good value for money, especially in achieving health- related outcomes.

4 Funding £70 million of extra funding has been allocated to PCTs to be spent this financial year across the health and social care system to enable the NHS to support people back into their homes after a spell in hospital through re-ablement. A further £150 million earmarked for re-ablement in PCT baselines 2011/12 and £300 million a year from 2012/13 to 2014/15. In addition, as a result of the SR, more money (£648m in 2011/12, rising to £1bn in 2014/15) will go to PCTs to transfer to councils to spend on jointly agreed social care priorities that also benefit the NHS. Additional £162m in 2010/11 to PCTs for transfer to social care for jointly agreed winter pressures that will also benefit NHS