Introduction to Fair Access to Care Services (F.A.C.S.) (1 day)

Current legislation requires that all staff who are responsible for the purchasing or commissioning of social care packages are conversant with the FACS principles.

Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) is guidance that provides councils with social services responsibilities with a framework for determining eligibility for all adult social care and guidance on how assessments and reviews for community care services should be carried out and how individuals should be supported through the process.
The aim of Fair Access to Care Services is to ensure that people with similar needs obtain similar care outcomes if they are eligible for help. This should apply across different parts of the country, within different parts of a council and across care groups.

FACS provides one eligibility framework for all councils to apply when they set their eligibility criteria for community care services. The framework consists of 4 bands, each containing a number of risk factors, which describe different levels of risk to the independence of an individual if their needs are not addressed. The bands are:
Critical, Substantial, Moderate and Low.

This course affords the opportunity to have the subject explored in a lively and interesting way. Interactive and reflective, course participants will have the opportunity to discuss current work practice and identify the processes used during assessment; applying them within the framework.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this training the learner should understand:

• The principles of the eligibility framework
• The principles of conducting holistic assessments
• Service user empowerment and barriers that may make it difficult for users to communicate their needs.
• Local preventative strategies and approaches in order to prevent individuals from reaching substantial/critical risk
• The implications for those individuals who are deemed not eligible for services and in directing them to other areas for advice, guidance and support.
• The impact that the new transforming social care agenda will have on assessing people for Individual Budgets under FACS.

Training Methods:

• Discussion
• Overheads/PowerPoint
• Small group work
• Case study
• Tutor presentations
• Chalk and talk
• Handouts

CP87/4.9