Agenda item

That the following recommendations be approved:

1.         To consult on the following proposals as part of a revised charging policy for Adult Social Care services, that:

·       The Council will charge an administration fee in any case where the person is able to pay the full cost of their care and support at home but nevertheless asks the Council to commission care on their behalf.

·       The Council will increase the amount of available income contributed in charges for non-residential services from 90% to 100%.

·       The Council will include the full rate of Higher Rate Attendance Allowance/ Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment (excluding mobility elements) in the calculation of income.

·       The Council will no longer give a discretionary allowance of £20 per week when calculating the available income for respite services.

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2.         That subject to consultation, any changes will take effect from 2 October 2016.

3.         That Cabinet receives a further report at its meeting on 14 July 2016, detailing the response to the consultation and the proposed Charging Policy.     

Reasons for Decisions:  

The Council has previously consulted on the policy of charging for care and support. The recommendations made in this report do not change charging for those people in residential and nursing care but may impact on people currently receiving care and support in their own homes and it is right that we consult people who may be adversely affected by the revised proposals. People who can afford to contribute towards their care and support should do so in a fair and equitable way.  

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Social Care Services Scrutiny Board]

In the absence of the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Independence, the Cabinet Associate for this portfolio introduced the report. He said that the report provided details of proposed changes to the charging policy to increase income to help bridge the funding gap for Adult Social Care services and that it also made recommendations for a full consultation on the proposals with people who received chargeable services.

He said that the report explained the rationale behind the proposals, as detailed within it under the following headings:

·         The Council will charge an administration fee to full cost payers

·         The increase in the percentage of available income taken in charges

·         The full rate of Attendance Allowance / Disability Living Allowance / Personal Independence Payment (excluding mobility elements) should be included in the calculation of income

·         The removal of the £20 per week disregard when charging for respite care

He said that the consultation of the proposals would take place between 7 April – 16 June 2016 and that the recommendation today was to go out to consultation on these proposals, with a report being brought back to Cabinet on 14 July 2016 for determination.

Finally, he said that it was important to stress that those residents who currently qualified for free support would continue to receive the necessary care and support to help maintain their independence and wellbeing.

The Cabinet Associate for Community Safety Services drew Cabinet’s attention to the Equality Impact Assessment, attached as Annex 2, and said that this was an initial assessment which would be updated as the consultation progressed.

RESOLVED:

That the following recommendations be approved:

1.         To consult on the following proposals as part of a revised charging policy for Adult Social Care services, that:

·       The Council will charge an administration fee in any case where the person is able to pay the full cost of their care and support at home but nevertheless asks the Council to commission care on their behalf.

·       The Council will increase the amount of available income contributed in charges for non-residential services from 90% to 100%.

·       The Council will include the full rate of Higher Rate Attendance Allowance/ Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment (excluding mobility elements) in the calculation of income.

·       The Council will no longer give a discretionary allowance of £20 per week when calculating the available income for respite services.

.   

2.         That subject to consultation, any changes will take effect from 2 October 2016.

3.         That Cabinet receives a further report at its meeting on 14 July 2016, detailing the response to the consultation and the proposed Charging Policy.     

Reasons for Decisions:  

The Council has previously consulted on the policy of charging for care and support. The recommendations made in this report do not change charging for those people in residential and nursing care but may impact on people currently receiving care and support in their own homes and it is right that we consult people who may be adversely affected by the revised proposals. People who can afford to contribute towards their care and support should do so in a fair and equitable way.