Decision details

Changes to Charging for Adult Social Care Services

Decision Maker: Executive

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Purpose: To consider the introduction of new fees and charges for Adult Social Care Services

Decision:

 

RESOLVED:  That further to the Government’s introduction of the Care Act 2014, the Executive agrees to introduce new social care charges for social care customers in Wokingham Borough. The Care Act requires the Council to review all of its charges for care services. The recommendations set out at 1) to 4) below are consistent with current practice; recommendation 5) is a new charge; and recommendation 6) updates current practice to be Care Act compliant. The recommendations are as follows:

 

1)    That, in accordance with current practice, the council does not set a maximum charge for non-residential services;

2)    That , in accordance with current practice, the council does not include any further disregards within the financial

assessment other than those determined by the Department of Health;

3)    that no charges for services provided to the carer will be introduced prior to April 2016 and then only by decision of the Executive;

4)    that,  in accordance with current practice, respite services continue to be treated as being provided for the cared for person and not the carer;

5)    That for new Self-funders an administration charge for non-residential services is introduced from 1st July 2015. The charge to be £260set up and £194 annually thereafter (both amounts exclusive of VAT). However for existing customers the effective date of the Annual charge will be 1st October 2015

6)    That for Deferred Payment Agreements (DPA) effective from 1st July 2015:

a)                        an administration charge is introduced to be £755 or £600 plus disbursements at set up, and £261 or £172plus disbursements annually thereafter (both amounts exclusive of VAT); and

b)                        an interest rate equivalent to the maximum set by the Department of Health is applied to all new agreements; and

c)                        the Council set an equity review limit of 70% of the asset value. However the Director of Health &Wellbeing could increase this to 80% as an exception to be determined on a case by case basis; and

d)            the only acceptable security should be property related; and

e)            the Council set the maximum rental income that can be retained at 50%. However the Director of Health &Wellbeing can increase this on an exceptional basis; and

f)                   that the DPA policy at Appendix D is approved.

 

Wards Affected: None Specific;

Declarations: None

Dispensations: None

Reference Number: WBC788

Contact: Email: steve.cross@wokingham.gov.uk.

Report author: Steve Cross

Publication date: 25/06/2015

Date of decision: 25/06/2015

Decided at meeting: 25/06/2015 - Executive

Effective from: 04/07/2015

Accompanying Documents: