Issue - items at meetings - Fee Level for Adult Social Care Services 2014-15

Report of the Executive Director Adult Services (copy attached).

(1)       That the proposed fee increases as set out in the table below be agreed. 

55.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Adult Services concerning fees paid to independent and voluntary sector providers that supply care services on behalf of Brighton & Hove City Council Adult Social Care and Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group.  The report included fees paid to providers of services for older people, people with physical disabilities, adults with mental health needs and adults with a learning disability.  Service providers included registered care homes, supported accommodation, home care and community support, community service and direct payments.    The report was presented by the Commissioning Manager.

55.2    Councillor Bowden asked why there was no Equalities Impact Assessment attached to the report.  He expressed concern that the care sector had been blighted by low pay.   Councillor Bowden stressed that numerous quality problems had occurred in the sector.  

55.3    The Commissioning Manager replied that the EIA had been made available and published.  In terms of quality, care homes were monitored through the Council’s Contracts Unit.  Officers were mindful of monitoring quality to ensure the best service could be provided. 

55.4    The Executive Director of Adult Services explained that when the council retendered the homecare contract, the increases were based on the living wage.  The Executive Director stated that officers would be mindful of any changes in the year, especially changes to the minimum wage.  The council did monitor quality and officers were not seeing a reduction in quality at the moment.  

55.5    Councillor Norman mentioned that there had been a 5% increase to independent care homes.  He asked if that payment had led to wages increasing.  The Executive Director replied that she could arrange for another report to be submitted back to the committee on that subject.

55.6    Colin Vincent asked if the council had any way of assuring that homes contracted to the council were paying the national minimum wage.    The Executive Director replied that the council were not able to stipulate what providers paid to their staff.  However, when the council set the rate it was made quite clear that there was an expectation that wages should be increased.  All providers were required to pay the minimum wage. 

55.7    RESOLVED - (1)      That the proposed fee increases as set out in the table below be agreed.