Agenda item

The Strategic Director Social Care and Education submits a report to inform the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission of a consultation exercise in relation to proposed changes to the charging policy for non-residential care services.

Members of the Commission are recommended to note the consultation and make any comments to the Strategic Director Social Care and Education.

The Strategic Director Social Care and Education submitted a report to inform the Commission of a consultation exercise in relation to proposed changes to the charging policy for non-residential care services. The Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission was recommended to note the contents of the report and provide any comments and feedback to the Strategic Director Social Care and Education.

Councillor Russell, Deputy City Mayor Social Care and Anti-Poverty introduced the report, and noted that the charging policy was being looked at and had gone out to consultation due to budget pressures, though it was stated that people’s care needs were still the priority.

Ruth Lake, Director of Adult Social Care and Safeguarding presented the report, and provided the following information, and informed the meeting of the commitment to consult as fully as possible to understand what people thought about the proposals, including visiting groups, online, and public meetings.

In response to Members’ questions, the following was noted:

·         In relation to people and financial impact, if the proposal was to go ahead there would be some financial impact but it could not be said what on an individual basis at this point, but nobody would be left without the basic level of finance to live on. If people were using benefits to pay for their care needs, it would be taken into account. In simple terms, disability benefits were paid at different rates. The Care Act had removed a cap and all disability benefits could be taken into account.

·         The link for the online consultation page had been circulated to all Members for them to pass on to constituents.

·         People affected were people receiving services from ASC. Following consultation, the equalities impact would form part of the final report. Individual letters had been sent to those in receipt of services and carers.

·         All steps had been taken to inform people about the consultation. Meetings would be held at the Peepul Centre, Brite Centre and in the City Centre.

·         There was a ceiling of £14,250 savings for individuals whereby savings up to this level are ignored for the purposes of assessment of an individual’s financial circumstances. Any additional capital above this ceiling (up to £23,250) is included in the financial assessment. In summary, for every £250, or part of £250, between £14,250 and £23,250, an individual is assessed as if they have an extra £1 a week in income. The consultation was specifically the treatment around disability benefits, and how ASC regarded the additional bit of benefit that used to be disregarded.

·         The Care Act allowed to take into account full disability benefit but if someone was expending full benefit that would be taken into consideration.

Councillor Russell suggested that pending the outcome of consultation, if the revision to the Charging Policy was enacted, a full report be brought back to the Commission on the number of people where the full charge was discounted.

Matthew Cooper, Contract Assurance and Business Manager informed Members that although the revision was a change in policy, it was not a blanket policy and an individual’s financial circumstances would be looked at on a case and case basis, taking into consideration an individual’s care.

Steven Forbes, Strategic Director, said the revision in policy was to maximise income, and discretion would be used as to what arrangements were in place for each individual.

Micheal Smith, Healthwatch Leicester queried how the figure of estimated £1.3million in generated income had been reached. It was explained that DWP statistics on the higher disability benefit thresholds actually paid had been used to estimate the potential cohort of ASC service users who may be in receipt of the higher level payments and this was applied to reach a potential maximum of £1.3million of additional income. The actual figure was likely to be lower as it was anticipated that a number of affected individuals would be able to demonstrate that they expend all their disability benefit for the provision of their care and support needs. It was agreed that consultation information would be shared with Healthwatch Leicester.

The Chair asked that recommendations and comments from the Scrutiny Commission be fed into the consultation.

AGREED:

that:

1.    The reported be noted.

2.    If the revision to the Charging Policy was enacted that a full report be brought back to the Commission on the number of people where the full charge was discounted.

3.    Consultation would be shared with Healthwatch Leicester.

4.    Recommendations and comments from the Scrutiny Commission be fed into the consultation.