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Community care statistics 2003-04: Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care, England - national summary
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Last modified date:8 February 2007
The national summary provides provisional information on referrals, assessments and packages of care for adults in England, purchased or provided by Councils with Social Services Responsibilities (CSSRs). A full national report containing final figures for England along with information at CSSR level will be published in February 2005.
Most of the national figures presented in this report are estimates as they have been grossed up to allow for non-response. When comparing data from the last four collection periods it should be borne in mind that the level of completion and quality varied over these years. This, together with changes in the recording procedures used by CSSRs, may explain in part some of the observed trends.
Main findings in 2003-04
- An estimated 2 million contacts from new clients were made to CSSRs in England.
- There were an estimated 656 thousand new clients for whom assessments were completed.
- In respect of waiting times for new clients aged 65 and over, about 21 per cent of all new older clients had their assessment completed within 2 days of first contact, and 49 per cent were assessed within 2 weeks. This is a slight increase on the 2002-03 figure of 47 per cent complete within 2 weeks, but is below the ministerial target of 70 per cent.
- Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of all assessments for new older clients were completed within 4 weeks compared to the ministerial target of 100 per cent by December 2004.
- 1.02 million reviews for existing clients were carried out.
- About 469,000 clients for whom assessments or reviews were completed were recorded as having informal carers. 348,000 carers received a carers assessment or review during the year, either separately or jointly with their client.
- An estimated 1.74 million clients received services during the year, a rise of 3 per cent from 2002-03.
- About 1.46 million clients received community-based services during the year, 4 per cent more than in 2002-03, accounting for 84% of all clients receiving services.
- 17,300 adults aged 18 and over received direct payments during the year, increasing from 9,600 in 2002-03, a rise of 80 per cent.
- 70 per cent of new older clients had received all services specified in their care plan within 2 weeks of their completed assessment meeting the ministerial target of 70 percent by December 2004. A further 11 per cent waited up to 4 weeks for all services to be provided, giving a cumulative total of 81 per cent compared to the target of 100 per cent by December 2004.
Further information
Press enquiries should be made to:
Media Centre
Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London SW1A 2NS
020 7210 5221
For further details about the statistics in this report contact:
Kate Anderson/ Polly Smith
Statistics Division 3B
Room 451C Department of Health
Skipton House
80 London Road
London SE1 6LH
Phone: 020 7972 5582/ 5600
Fax: 020 7972 5660
Editor: Kate Anderson
Associated Editors:
Jonathan Driscoll
Ratna Ganguli
Julia Reay
Polly Smith
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