Chris Horlick, Managing Director of Care at Partnership, the largest provider of Long Term Care insurance in the UK, has been invited to be a Commissioner by Westminster City Council, which has formed an independent Social Care Commission, to scrutinize policy considerations in this critical area.
Westminster is one of London's largest city councils and governs more than 220,000 residents and 47000 businesses that collectively generate 2.2% of the United Kingdom's GDP. Over the next three years the council expects to make £3.9 worth of savings from its £89m social care budget.
The council is currently facing increasing pressure from falling government grants, rising costs and 10% increase in demand for adult social care over two years. The Council believes that it will see a further 20% increase in demand for services.
Over the next 3 months, Baroness Sally Greengross will lead the wide-ranging review in order to advise the council on the best way to deliver excellent social care services in the context of an aging population, reducing resources and rising public expectations.
Chris has been invited to the Commission in addition to social care experts with links to the English Community Care Association, Age UK, London School of Economics and Independent Age.
“I am delighted to be invited to assist Westminster City Council with its Social Care Commission. Its aim is to investigate and explore how to develop social care services in the city to ensure they continue to be fit for purpose into the next decade,” Horlick said.
“Westminster City Council has demonstrated its vision by commissioning this initiative and I am delighted that the financial service sector has a role.
“Partnership can bring the expertise and experience it has gained as the UK’s leading Long Term Care insurance company to support Westminster’s Social Care Commission,” he added.
Cllr Daniel Astaire, Cabinet Member for Society, Families and Adult Services, said: “Given the current economic climate, reductions in public sector funding and increased demand for adult social care services our current way of delivering services are simply not sustainable.
“As a result we are going to have to look to innovate and consider new ways of doing things in order to ensure we can continue to deliver first class services to those who need them most.
“In throwing open our doors to external scrutiny and by setting up the commission, we are placing ourselves at the very heart of one of the most pressing policy considerations of our generation – how we can provide first class adult services in a changed world.
“The commissioners are some of the very best and brightest thinkers and unrivalled in their field and we are looking forward to studying their findings as we strive to provide the very best service to residents in Westminster’.
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About Partnership:
Partnership is a specialist provider of financial solutions for people with health/ lifestyle conditions, as well as those suffering from a serious medical impairment. Partnership was the first company in the UK to offer higher retirement incomes by taking account of people’s health and lifestyle conditions. It has been a consistent innovator developing this sector by championing the needs of those with even modestly reduced life expectancies. Partnership has led the way in providing products designed specifically for individuals whose health and lifestyle is likely to result in a reduced life expectancy. Partnership is expert in the field of medical underwriting and has a unique in-house data set. Partnership believes that its years of accumulated data and knowledge gives it a unique understanding of the impact of health and lifestyle choices on longevity. This, in turn, enables it to offer the most accurate assessment of a client’s life expectancy and therefore offer the fairest price to them. Partnership has the most comprehensive offering in the retirement sector and offers a complete range of Enhanced Annuity solutions, from clients who smoke or have minor health impairments, through to serious conditions such as cancer. Partnership is the largest provider of annuities for Long Term Care funding in the UK, with 80% of the market, and also offers specialist Protection solutions for clients who have been declined cover from standard providers. Partnership offers a firm commitment to supporting advisers in growing their business. Partnership was winner of the 'Long-term Care Provider' award at Health Insurance Awards 2009 and this year’s Simply Biz ‘Annuity Provider of the Year’ award.” www.partnership.co.uk Partnership is a trading style of The Partnership Group of Companies, which includes Partnership Life Assurance Company Limited (registered in England and Wales No. 05465261), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered office: Sackville House, 143 – 149 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 6BN.