Agenda item - Annual Review of Adult Social Care Charging Policy 2021

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Agenda item

Annual Review of Adult Social Care Charging Policy 2021

Report of the Assistant Director, Adult Health and Social Care (copy attached)

Decision:

RESOLVED – (1.) To agree that the council continues with the current charging policy for care and support services which includes an individual financial assessment to determine affordability and complies with the requirements of Section 17 of the Care Act 2014. The charging policy is attached at Appendix 1.;

 

(2) To agree to a 2% increase on current charges or to agree to a higher increase as shown in tables of charges with effect from 12th April 2021

 

Maximum Charges

 

2020-2021

 2021-2022

Means Tested Charges

 

 Current maximum

New Maximum

In-house home care/support

 

£26 per hour

£27

In–house day care

 

£40 per day

£41

In-House Residential Care

 

£126 per night

£129

Fixed Rate Charges

 

 

 

Fixed Rate Transport

 

£4.10 per return

£4.20

Fixed Meal Charge /Day Care

 

£4.90 per meal

£5.00

 

(3) To agree an increase to Carelink charges as follows:

 

2020-21                                               

2021-22

Standard Carelink Plus service

 

£19.30 per month

 £19.70 pm

Enhanced Carelink Service

 

£23.15 per month

 £23.60 pm

Exclusive Mobile Phone Service

 

£25.00 per month

 £25.50 pm

 

(4) To agree an increase to miscellaneous fees as follows:

 

                                                                                                2020-21 – 2021 – 2021-22

Deferred Payment set up fee (see 2.13)

 

£533 one-off

£544

Initial fee for contracting non-residential care for self- funders

 

 £281 one-off

£287

Ongoing fee for contracting for non-residential care for self- funders

 

£87 per year

£89 per year

 

(5) To continue with the existing policy not to charge carers for any direct provision of support to carers.

 

Minutes:

47.1    The Board considered a report of the Executive Director of Health and Adult Social Care detailing the annual review of Adult Social Care Charging Policy which had been undertaken and seeking approval for  the Council’s charging policy which was compliant with the Care Act 2014.

 

47.2    It was explained that people eligible for adult social care services were means tested to establish whether they must contribute towards the cost. There were around 2350 service users with non-residential care and approximately 1150 in residential care homes. This included older people. Working age adults with physical disabilities, mental health difficulties and learning disabilities. The Care Act 2014 provided a power to charge for eligible care and support services and was subject to government regulations and limitations. This report sought approval for the council’s charging policy which was compliant with the Care Act.

 

43.3    Also, that most care services, funded by the council were provided by private organisations and the maximum charge depended on the fees charged by them. There were very few chargeable in-house services but where these services were provided by the council there were maximum charges and these were reviewed in April every year. Most charges were subject to a financial assessment to determine affordability but the charging policy also included several, low cost, fixed rate charges and several additional one-off fees. The report recommended uprating these charges by 2% (rounded to the nearest pound or 10p if below £5) with effect from 12 April 2021.

 

43.4    It was noted a proposed Labour Group amendment had been received requesting the following:

 

          “to replace existing paragraph 1.2 with the following:-

1.2 To recommend to Policy & Resources Committee a maximum CPIH inflationary0.6% increase on all adult social care charges with effect of 12th April 2021 and to recommend that the costings set out in paragraphs 1.2, 1.3 and 1,4 in the report are amended so that no increase to charges from 12th April exceed the current rate of CPIH at 0.6%’.Delete paragraphs 1.3 and 1.4

 

47.5     The amendment was proposed by Councillor Childs and seconded by Councillor Moonan

 

47.6    If agreed, the amended report recommendations would read:-

 

Decisions, recommendations and any options (with effect from 12th April 2021)

 

1.1 To agree that the council continues with the current charging policy for care and support services which includes an individual financial assessment to determine affordability and complies with the requirements of Section 17 of the Care Act 2014. The charging policy

is attached at Appendix 1.

 

1.2 To recommend to Policy & Resources Committee a maximum CPIH inflationary 0.6% increase on all adult social care charges with effect of 12th April 2021 and to recommend that the costings in the report are amended so that no increase to charges from 12th April exceed the current rate of CPIH at 0.6%

 

1.3 To continue with the existing policy not to charge carers for any direct provision of services.

 

47.7    The Chair explained that the original amendment had been re-worded as a recommendation to the Policy and Resources Committee because as set out in the financial implications section of the report, any amendments which might impact on the Service budget at this stage in the budget setting process needed to be agreed by that Committee.

 

47.8    The Chair invited Councillor Childs to speak to his amendment and for Councillor Moonan to speak in support as the seconder. Childs stated that he had grave concerns regarding the potential impact of about these increases at this very difficult time, he did not consider that it would be appropriate therefore to exceed the current rate. Councillor Moonan concurred in that view.

 

48.9    Councillor Bagaeen sought clarification regarding whether how, the impact of Councillor Childs proposed amendment could be met from within existing budgets currently. It was confirmed that they would have an impact if agreed and that a further assessment of that would need to be made and that if Members were minded to do that those changes would  need to be referred to the Policy and Resources Committee in the manner identified. Councillor Bagaeen stated that on the basis of the information given he was unable to support the proposed amendment. The Chair, Councillor Shanks and Councillor Nield concurred in that view.

 

48.10  The Assistant Director, Angie , referred to the considerations set out in the report which were considered when assessments were made, what was taken into account and what was excluded and the underpinning background to the fee changes proposed. Despite the considerable financial pressures on the local authority and the support measures put into place to assist the provider market it was recognised that providers continued to experience ongoing rising costs.

 

47.--   There was no further discussion and recorderd vote was then taken in respect of the proposed amendment. Councillors Childs and Moonan voted that the amendment be agreed. Councillors Bagaeen, Nield and Shanks, the Chair,voted against. Dr Andrew Hodson, Lola Banjoko and Ashley Scarf of the CCG abstained. The amendment was therefore lost on a vote of 2 to 3 with 3 abstentions. The Chair then took a vote on the substantive recommendations as set out in the officer report and these were agreed.

 

47.11  RESOLVED – (1) To agree that the council continues with the current charging policy for care and support services which includes an individual financial assessment to determine affordability and complies with the requirements of Section 17 of the Care Act 2014. The charging policy is attached at Appendix 1;

 

          (2) To agree to a 2% increase on current charges or to agree to a higher increase as shown in tables of charges with effect from 12th April 2021

 

Maximum Charges

 

2020-2021

2021-2022

Means Tested Charges

 

 Current maximum

New Maximum

In-house home care/support

 

£26 per hour

£27

In–house day care

 

£40 per day

£41

In-House Residential Care

 

£126 per night

£129

Fixed Rate Charges

 

 

 

Fixed Rate Transport

 

£4.10 per return

£4.20

Fixed Meal Charge /Day Care

 

£4.90 per meal

£5.00

 

(3) To agree an increase to Carelink charges as follows:

 

2020-21                                                

2021-22

Standard Carelink Plus service

 

£19.30 per month

 £19.70 pm

Enhanced Carelink Service

 

£23.15 per month

 £23.60 pm

Exclusive Mobile Phone Service

 

£25.00 per month

 £25.50 pm

 

          (4) To agree an increase to miscellaneous fees as follows:

 

                                                                                                2020-21 – 2021 – 2021-22

Deferred Payment set up fee (see 2.13)

 

£533 one-off

£544

Initial fee for contracting non-residential care for self- funders

 

 £281 one-off

£287

Ongoing fee for contracting for non-residential care for self- funders

 

£87 per year

£89 per year

 

          (5)To continue with the existing policy not to charge carers for any direct provision of support to carers.

Supporting documents:

 


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