§ Jim KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the progress his Department has made in respect of the Third Age Service. [108881]
§ Maria EagleThe Government aims to deliver the Manifesto commitment to improve services for older people by better integrating health, housing, benefits and social care into a "third age service". To this end we are now managing the 6 Care Direct pilots in the South West to identify good working practices and incorporate them into improved local services.
The Department has also been making considerable progress in working with other service providers e.g. Department of Health, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Local Authorities and the Voluntary Sector (Age Concern, RNIB, NACAB), assessing current services and identifying opportunities for integration. Partnership working is being developed between The Pension Service, Local Authorities with social care responsibilities, Primary Care Trusts and the Voluntary Sector.
437WWe are also looking at other opportunities beyond the Care Direct pilots to deliver services which can offer face to face contact for customers unable to use the telephone. These will build on existing initiatives offering a single point of contact through local surgeries or home visit.