Agenda item

Purpose of the Report:

To update the Adults and Health Select Committee on Surrey County Council’s Adult Social Care Debt position as at the end of November 2017.

Declarations of Interest:

None

Witnesses:

Toni Carney, Head of Resources & Caldicott Guardian, Adult Social Care, Surrey County Council

Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adults, Surrey County Council

Nick Markwick, Surrey Coalition of Disabled People

Matt Parris, Deputy CEO, Healthwatch Surrey

Liz Uliasz, Deputy Director of Adult Social Care, Surrey County Council

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.     The report was introduced by officers who informed Committee Members that adult social care debt had been an ongoing challenge for the Council. The Financial Assessment and Benefits (FAB) Team had been transferred across to the Adult Social Care (ASC) Directorate from the Orbis Partnership which meant that the collection of debt through the implementation of the Dunning Process was the responsibility of ASC staff. Members heard that the decision to transfer responsibility for collecting money owed to the Council for the provision of social care to the ASC Directorate had been taken following the implementation of a deferred payment initiative which had led to a considerable reduction in the amount of money owed to SCC for social care.

2.     Attention turned to an updated version of Annex 1 which was tabled at the meeting and is attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes. Members highlighted that the table suggested that the majority of money owed to the Council for the provision of social care appeared to be forthcoming. Officers highlighted that more analysis was required to understand the different categories of debt to understand the extent to which monies owed to SCC should be classed as secured or unsecured. The Committee was advised that officers would be proactive in pursuing unsecured debt which was deemed to be recoverable.

3.     Members asked how SCC would approach the recovery of social care debt differently since its transfer over to the ASC Directorate. The Committee heard that the FAB Team would undertake a review of the Dunning Process to ensure that it was fully effective. Previous experience had demonstrated that having direct conversations with those who missed payments for social care support was more effective at recovering debt than simply sending them a letter. In the majority of cases those who owed the Council money for social care support did want to pay but there were physical restrictions on their ability to do so and in these instances the FAB Team were able to assist users in making payments. Members heard that some people felt that social care should be a free service, in these instances it was important for the FAB Team to highlight their obligation to pay for social care and then fast-track legal proceedings against those who still refused to pay.

4.     The Cabinet Member for Adults highlighted that he had advocated for the FAB Team to be transferred across to the ASC Directorate stating that it made sense for collection of social care debt to be done in house. He further emphasised the need to promote Direct Debit as means of payment for the receipt of social care.

5.     The Committee highlighted that payments for social care could be made through an online account and asked whether this was promoted as a means of payment. It was highlighted that this was a pre-paid account which users could transfer funds across to that could then be drawn down by SCC as a means of payment for social care. Officers were unsure the number of people who used the pre-paid account but stated that they would respond to the Committee with a percentage.

6.     Members expressed concern that the amount of money owed to the Council was increasing and highlighted the need to institute a robust process for writing off debt for which there was little prospect of SCC recovering. Officers were asked whether the transfer of the FAB Team across to the ASC Directorate would take time to embed and if the debt position was likely to deteriorate in the short term. The Committee was advised that there were challenges inherent in the transfer of staff over to a new Directorate but that it had gone relatively smoothly. Members heard that the transfer would require staff within the FAB Team to change how they operated but it was reported that they welcomed the challenge and were committed to reducing the amount of social care debt. Officers were asked whether they had a specific target in mind that they wished to reduce the level of social care debt to who  responded by stating that while no debt should be considered acceptable they would have a figure in mind the next time they reported on SCC’s social care debt position.

7.     Members were encouraged by the £2.7 million in debt that had been collected during the pilot project run by the FAB Team last year highlighting that this income was greater than many of the Council’s most significant savings project.

Recommendations:

The Adults and Health Select Committee:

i.       agreed to receive an annual report on the performance of ASC’s debt management in light of the transfer of responsibility from Business Operations to Adult Social Care; and

ii.      agreed that an updated set of figures on the Council’s social care debt position be circulated to Committee Members for information in six months’ time.