Agenda item

To consider the results of a formal consultation on Adult Services Charging Policies, and Scheme of Delegated Commissioned Care Charges, and to agree to set the charges at a suitable level to remove significant subsidy from commissioned care prices.

Consideration was given to the results of a formal consultation on Adult Services Charging Policies, and to a Scheme of Delegated Commissioned Care Charges, the aim of which was to remove significant subsidy from commissioned care prices.   The report included a summary of the consultation responses, and the equality impact statement. 

RESOLVED

1. That agreement be given to set the Scheme of Delegated Charges (including flat rate fees for transport) at a suitable level to remove significant subsidy from commissioned care prices. This to include Council overhead costs and enable the recovery of additional income from customers who can afford to pay, whilst ensuring the level of charges provide Care4CE with competitiveness in the open market.

2. That it be noted that customers will continue to have the choice to meet their needs in the open market through a personal budget as an alternative to choosing commissioned care services.

3. That approval be given to levy a one-off administrative charge (approx £400 to cover the costs of administrative and legal time) for deferred charge agreements.  

4. That approval be given to apply interest at contract end to deferred debt at base rate plus 5%, capped at 8% whilst base rate is below 7.5%, then base plus 1%, in accordance with statutory guidance.

5. That approval be given to maximise the use of direct debit for income collection.  Offering this as the preferred payment option in new cases and applying an administrative fee to those who could pay via direct debit but chose to pay through alternative methods.

6. That approval be given to maximise the use of the Empower processes as the primary method of receiving a direct payment and as the single option to new service users unless in exceptional cases and where legally required to commission services on behalf of the customer.

7. That agreement be given to move to a process where the Council encourages net payments to care providers through revised contract terms, thus reducing Council overheads in income collection.

8. That agreement be given to introduce a one-off charge for the administration of managed individual personal budgets by the Council, should the Council’s provider service (Care4CE) move to be able to  trade independently, and for signpost access to Third Sector support, where the customer can reasonably afford to pay a suggested charge of £25.

9. That approval be given to explore options to streamline the Council's Appointeeship and Deputyship system via electronic banking/Empower processes and to introduce a moderate annual fee for administration of the service where possible from interest gained on accounts.

10. That approval be given to remove subsidy from the Non-Residential Charging formula taking account of the strong public view not to increase this to 100%.  This is currently set at 90% of disposable income taken as a maximum charge.  It is proposed this moves to 97%, from 9^th April 2011, however the impact of this change should be reviewed again at 2012/13 to consider a move to 100% of disposable income as a charge from April 2012, subject to Cabinet approval.

11. That, following consideration of the strong public opinion to the Council’s proposal to extend the Non-Residential Charging policy to include strategically commissioned care services for carers, it be withdrawn from consideration.

12. That agreement be given to extend the Non-Residential Charging policy to recipients of Independent Living Funds subject to guidance on the continuation of this funding.

13. That agreement be given to revise and tighten the disability expenditure assessment framework to ensure consistent and fair application and to account for personal budgets which cover many disability costs reducing the dual funding in this area.

14. That approval be given to review the structure of charges within Extra Care Housing by mid-year 2011; to move away from banded average charges to actuals based on hourly provision, aligned to hourly home care charges.  To protect those people who receive no care services in their own right (partners of service users or people who have made a life-style choice), at their current contribution through transition and as part of the full review of charges to introduce a Health & Wellbeing charge.  

15. That the hot meals unit price to the customer remain at the current level of £3.25 per meal whilst the contract is reviewed due to the reduction in demand for commissioned hot meals and increased private sales.  That it be agreed that care managers from April 2011 offer a personalised service to new customers directing people through the open market for their provision of meals, with support as required, only commissioning meals in exceptional circumstances and where legally required to do so.  Adult Services will support ineligible hot meals service users to access private purchased meals, Extra Care Housing Restaurant, brokerage, re-ablement services to promote independence, IT training to facilitate on-line ordering, personal budget via Empower Card removing the need for cash transactions or assisted technology for checking on safety of customers who have no other services.  

16. That customers be charged for the actual number of double handed staff hours of care commissioned subject to the means test, removing inequity between those who choose commissioned care and those who have their care provided through a personal budget where subsidy is already removed.