Decision details

As detailed in the report.

That the Executive:

1. Notes the results and analysis of the public consultation, as set out in the Consultation Report at Appendix A;

2. Notes the Equality Impact Assessment, as set out at Appendix B,  and the equalities considerations in section 4 of the Executive Report;

3. Approves amendments to the Council's Non-Residential Care Contributions Policy as follows:-

a.    To introduce a 72 hour (three days) notice period for cancelling care;

b.    To introduce an annual review of the contributions paid from service users where requested and to calculate entitlement to refunds by comparing the total cost of care for the whole year with the total annual contribution paid by a service user and refunding any amounts by which the total contributions paid are more than the total cost of care;

c.    To introduce a new rule so that everyone assessed to pay a contribution will be charged from 14 days after the financial assessment form is sent out;

d.    To assess service user contributions against the full cost of the services received;

e.    To phase in a removal of the cap on service user contributions, as per the table at section 5.8 of the Executive report.

f.     To proceed with the application of banded Disability Related Expenses (DRE) to new service users as described at section 5.9;

g.    To introduce a one-off arrangement fee for new self-funding service users who wish the Council to arrange their non-residential service care package.

4. Delegates to the Director of Adult Social Services, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health Services and Children's Services, the authority to:

a.    make amendments and approve the final form of the Non-Residential Contributions Policy reflecting the changes approved under paragraph 3 above;

b.    following a review, take decisions as to whether to apply the banded Disability Related Expenses (DRE) referred to in paragraph 3f to existing service users, within the next 6 months;

c.    develop and approve implementation plans setting out the detail of how the policy changes will be implemented in practice; and

d.    following such engagement as he shall consider appropriate, approve the level of the fee to be charged for new self-funding service users who wish the Council to arrange their non-residential service care package.