Agenda item
Proposed Consultation on Adult Social Care (Non-Residential) Fees and Charges 2021/22 (Decision: 110528)
Minutes:
Councillor Halden introduced
the report and stated that this was the first step in helping to
stabilise the adult social care budget for the long-term,
particularly in a post-COVID world, to ensure the most vulnerable
residents were protected. He explained that it currently cost users
£13 per hour for domiciliary care, but this service actually
cost the Council £17.06 per hour, which meant that the
service was not recovering costs. Councillor Halden added that
there were currently 1200 service users, of which almost 1000 users
only paid a portion of the costs or nothing at all. He added that
the adult social care market was experiencing increased financial
pressures because of COVID, which included the added expense of
appropriate PPE. He mentioned that Thurrock also had to remain in
parity with Essex County Council, which currently paid 90p per hour
more than Thurrock, which could leave Thurrock uncompetitive.
Councillor Halden stated there were three options going to
consultation, which were being presented to Cabinet, which included
taking no action; increasing to the maximum charges immediately; or
increasing the charges over a period of three years. He mentioned
that increasing the charges gradually was the proposed course of
action so residents had time to adjust to the changes whilst
ensuring that the service was stable and reliable in the future. He
stated that this report recommended the Council go out to
consultation on these three options to ensure residents could have
their say. He explained that the Council would listen to any
feedback carefully and was keen to hear views from those using the
service and those on the edge of care, for example family and
friends of care users. He stated that Cabinet had listened to
overview and scrutiny and had extended the consultation from 30
days to 8 weeks to ensure that as many residents could take part as
possible.
Councillor Coxshall questioned how the consultation would work and
make sure that all residents had the opportunity to take part, as
overview and scrutiny and Full Council often commented that
consultations regularly received low turnout. Councillor Halden
responded that due to COVID face-to-face consultation was limited,
but that the consultation was being designed with HealthWatch, who were an independent third party
organisation, and would help to make sure that the consultation was
up to standard. He added that a paper consultation questionnaire
would be delivered to all service uses, and a link to the online
consultation would be added to the Council’s newsletter. He
stated that the Local Plan consultation had used direct phone
questionnaires, and this would also be considered for this
consultation. He added that the Council were also currently looking
at ways in which socially distanced consultation events could
occur. Councillor Johnson asked how the Council would protect
vulnerable residents who were not able to pay. Councillor Halden
clarified that the full charge increase would only apply to 160
service users out of 1200, who were means assessed and able to pay
or who had not filled out the means test self-assessment form. He
stated that 148 service users did not pay for the service at all,
and the remainder only paid a portion. He felt that therefore the
maximum charge increase only had a limited scope and officers would
retain the ability to use their discretion to offset the charge in
exceptional circumstances. He stated that the means test criteria
would not change, but was open to resident’s feedback in the
consultation.
The Deputy Leader summarised and felt it was good to see the
consultation had been extended to eight weeks based on the views of
overview and scrutiny.
RESOLVED: That Cabinet:
1. Reviewed the three options for charging regarding the services
in scope detailed in section 3.1.
2. Approved that the three options go out to public
consultation.
3. Approved that the consultation with providers can start as soon
as possible regarding the rates the Council pays with the
presumption of an above inflation increase to stabilise the market
and reflect the increased costs arising from COVID.
Reason for decision: as outlined in the
report
This decision is subject to call-in
Supporting documents: