Issue - items at meetings - Adult Social Care Charging Policy

Report of Executive Director Adult Services (copy attached).

(1)    That the following table of maximum charges are agreed with effect from 7^th April 2014.

Freeze CareLink charges for 2014/15 at: £14.50 p.month (2 key holders) £18.50 p.month (1 key) holder

£21.50 per month with no key holders, but with a key safe.

Continue to review these charges annually.

Additional charge for new ‘Mcare’ CareLink service – see para 3.15

Free for first month then £5 per month for current CareLink users and £12 for non CareLink users.

(2) That the Transport Policy be agreed as set out in the appendix to the report.

54.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Adult Services which explained that Adult Social Care Services were generally subject to service user charges.  Most charges for Non-Residential Care Services were subject to a financial assessment to ensure affordability but the charging policy included several fixed rate charges.  The Charging policy took account of current legislation, regulations and Government Guidance.  Maximum charge rates were usually reviewed in April of each year when state benefits increased.  However, this year the recommendation was to agree a three year plan for future charges as listed in paragraph 2.   The report was presented by the Head of Financial Assessments and Welfare Rights.

54.2    Councillor Bowden made the point that pensions were not necessarily increasing with inflation.  He asked how many people would be able to afford the increases proposed.   Councillor Bowden expressed concern at the idea of no maximum weekly charge in 2016-17. 

54.3    The Head of Financial Assessments and Welfare Rights informed members that the report had been submitted to the Older Peoples Council.  All the charges were means tested.  People paying the higher charges would have over £23,000 in savings.  When the no maximum charge was introduced the government might or might not have a maximum requirement.  

54.4    The Chair stated that it was not sensible to place a figure in the 2016-17 column as there would be changes in legislation. 

54.5    Councillor Norman asked if the recommendations were agreed, whether the figures would have to be adhered to until 2016-17.  The Committee Lawyer explained that the figures could be changed by future committee decisions or by future legislation.  

54.6    Jane Viner expressed concern at the cumulative impact on vulnerable people.  She was worried that very vulnerable elderly people would stop attending day services.  She asked if the comments of the Older Peoples Council had been taken into account. 

54.7    The Head of Financial Assessments and Welfare Rights explained that because charges were means tested it meant that if someone could only afford £50 they would only pay £50.  The only exception was the fixed rate transport.  No-one would be disadvantaged unless they had savings at the higher level. 

54.8    Colin Vincent informed members that the Older Peoples Council did have a presentation on the proposed charges.  The proposals did not engender any great concern.  There had been reassurance that the vast majority of older people would not be affected by the increases.  Mr Vincent was not aware of people giving up access to services in the previous year. 

54.9    The Executive Director of Adult Services reported that if officers did find that someone was refusing services they would arrange for that person to be visited.  The situation would be monitored.

54.10  Councillor Norman questioned why officers were proposing charges for a three year period rather than submitting the usual yearly report on charges.  Councillor Norman supported the no maximum charge and thought this should have been implemented before. 

54.11  The Executive Director of Adult Services explained that Community Meals had already gone down the three yearly route, and it had been decided that in order to deal with the subsidy, Adult Social Care charging should follow suit. 

54.12  Councillor Meadows stated that the yearly increases were normally small incremental rises.  This could have an impact on income.  She was cautious about the three year plan as the impact of the Care Bill was not known.  Councillor Meadows suggested keeping annual reports for the time being. 

54.13  The Executive Director informed members that the Care Bill would receive Royal Assent in May 2014.

54.14  The Chair noted that the committee were not happy with the proposal to agree increases for a three year period and suggested a vote on the recommendations.    

54.15  RESOLVED -  (1)     That the following table of maximum charges are agreed with effect from 7^th April 2014.

Freeze CareLink charges for 2014/15 at: £14.50 p.month (2 key holders) £18.50 p.month (1 key) holder

£21.50 per month with no key holders, but with a key safe.

Continue to review these charges annually.

Additional charge for new ‘Mcare’ CareLink service – see para 3.15

Free for first month then £5 per month for current CareLink users and £12 for non CareLink users.

(2) That the Transport Policy be agreed as set out in the appendix to the report.