[To approve the final proposals to change contributions for non-residential adult social care in line with the Care Act 2014]

1.       That the final proposals, following consultation, be approved for a new approach to non-residential contributions scheme based on individual financial assessments that are fair and equitable and Care Act compliant and:

·         Allow for a £12.00 disregard on disability benefits for disability-related expenditure;

·         Allow for an additional 30% of the enhanced disability premium (currently £4.77) for working-age customers to help mitigate against the lower Minimum Income Guarantee set by Government for working-age people than for pensioners;

·         Cap any non-residential weekly contribution at no more than the weekly personal budget rate for a residential care home, currently £394.94;

·         Maintain a £150 charge for the administration costs for self-funders who request that the Council arrange for their care and support and add £75 per year thereafter to cover on-going costs;

·         Maintain exemptions from contributions for terminally ill customers and carers;

2.       That transitional protection for current service users by limiting any significant increases be approved. 

3.       That the implementation of the new contributions scheme from April 2018 be approved.

4.       That the report on the outcome of the public consultation on the review of contributions to non-residential adult social care be noted.

Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE presented the report on revised proposals for contributions to non-residential adult social care, following the public consultation. The amended scheme would be based on individual financial assessment and replace the current banded contributions scheme for those in receipt of non-residential council support under the provisions of the Care Act 2014. 

Resolved:

1.     That the final proposals, following consultation, be approved for a new approach to non-residential contributions scheme based on individual financial assessments that are fair and equitable and Care Act compliant and:

·         Allow for a £12.00 disregard on disability benefits for disability-related expenditure;

·         Allow for an additional 30% of the enhanced disability premium (currently £4.77) for working-age customers to help mitigate against the lower Minimum Income Guarantee set by Government for working-age people than for pensioners;

·         Cap any non-residential weekly contribution at no more than the weekly personal budget rate for a residential care home, currently £394.94;

·         Maintain a £150 charge for the administration costs for self-funders who request that the Council arrange for their care and support and add £75 per year thereafter to cover on-going costs;

·         Maintain exemptions from contributions for terminally ill customers and carers;

2.     That transitional protection for current service users by limiting any significant increases be approved. 

3.     That the implementation of the new contributions scheme from April 2018 be approved.

4.     That the report on the outcome of the public consultation on the review of contributions to non-residential adult social care be noted.

[Helen Winfield, Head of Service – Community Financial Support, to present report on the review of contributions to non-residential adult social care]

Helen Winfield, Head of Service – Community Financial introduced a report in relation to the review of contributions to non-residential adult social care, the outcome of public consultation and the final proposals

The report gave details on the outcome of the public consultation, approved by Cabinet on 19 July 2017, on the review of contributions to non-residential adult social care which took place from 4 September 2017 to 26 November 2017.  The consultation was later than the original dates proposed (24 July to 15 October) in order to avoid the summer holiday period and therefore maximise participation.

The report also set out revised proposals, following consultation, for a scheme based on individual financial assessment to replace the current banded contributions scheme for those in receipt of non-residential council support under the provisions of the Care Act 2014. 

Following the consultation, it was now proposed that instead of a 20% disregard of disability benefits for DRE which would involve different amounts being applied dependent on the level of disability benefits received, a standard disregard of £12.00 per week be allowed for all service users in receipt of a disability benefit plus a 30% disregard of the enhanced disability premium (EDP) where it was included in a person’s individual MIG. 

Currently, the EDP was £15.90 and therefore the disregard would be £4.77 per week.  Those service users with more significant DRE would still be able to request an enhanced financial assessment which would look at all evidenced DRE to consider higher disregards where applicable.  However, with standard disregards at this level it was anticipated that such assessments would be kept to a minimum.

Officers referred to the case studies which provided examples of what a person might be expected to pay under the proposed new and old scheme.

Section 7.1 showed a table which highlighted the current scheme, the  proposed individual assessment and then a summary of changes.

Appendix 1 of the report addressed concerns brought up regarding the asking of intrusive questions. This would be an Individual assessment but there would still be a standard regard to avoid those intrusive questions.

The Panel considered that even though the disability related expenditure covered a huge range and negated the need for intrusive questions for some people this might not be sufficient for all people and the question was raised as to whether there was an appeals process.

Officers confirmed that there was not an appeals process at that point but an enhanced financial assessment could be carried out.

The Panel congratulated Officers on the report.

Resolved:      That the comments of the Panel be noted.