Issue - meetings

(To receive a report from the Executive Director – Adult Care and Community Wellbeing which seeks approval to a change in payment arrangements from a "net" to "gross" basis for both Resident Contributions and Third Party Contributions for all categories of adult residential care)

(1)  That the second Report of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, as set out at Appendix A to the Report and the recommendations made therein, be noted.

(2)  That the improvements in systems and processes since this matter was last considered in 2018, and the improvement programme in progress to continue the journey, be noted.

(3)  That the change in payment arrangements from a "net" to "gross" basis for both Resident Contributions and Third Party Contributions for all categories of adult residential care be approved.

(4)  That the Executive Director for Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services, be delegated authority to make decisions as to the implementation of the change including determining all necessary changes to contractual documentation and the final implementation date for the change.

A report by the Executive Director of Adult Care and Community Wellbeing was introduced by Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell OBE, the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on the payment arrangements for residential care, following a report by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in 2018. 

The report, presented by the Head of Finance, Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, set out the results of a review of the residential care payment arrangements since 2018.  This put forward a proposed change from a 'net' payment arrangement to a 'gross' payment arrangement.  Under the proposal, the Council would pay the residential fees in full and recover any service user contributions directly from the service user.

Three improvements were highlighted: a reduction in the assessment time from 17 weeks to four-to-six weeks, with earlier clarity on the level of service user contribution; a reduction in the costs of operating a gross payment system, which was expected to reduce further; and a system development programme, which would see four distinct IT processes and systems merging into three interactive systems, and this would embrace automated payments.  

Improvements in the debt collection process were underway, with an aim of recovering debt in a shorter period of time.  The improvements would be implemented by 31 March 2021.  

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board confirmed that the Adults and Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee had recorded its support for the recommendations to the Executive.  The Committee recognised the benefits of the proposed system.

The following points were clarified through questions:

·         Debt levels had been high, but processes were in place, for example through area team managers, with an assigned officer to manage each debt.  The lessons learned would be incorporated in the new Hoople IT system, which would be completed by March 2021.

·         Abacus would continue to be used for financial assessments, but an initial online assessment would provide an indication to the service user of their contribution level.

·         Approximately 70% of service user payments were made via direct debit and the use of direct debit was being encouraged.

·         A register had been compiled of all third party contributors to fees and is updated regularly.

·         The costs of the services provided by Serco were expected to reduce, as the use of automated systems increased. 

RESOLVED

(1)         That the second Report of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, as set out at Appendix A to the Report and the recommendations made therein, be noted.

(2)         That the improvements in systems and processes since this matter was last considered in 2018, and the improvement programme in progress to continue the journey, be noted.

(3)         That the change in payment arrangements from a "net" to "gross" basis for both Resident Contributions and Third Party Contributions for all categories of adult residential care be approved.

(4)         That the Executive Director for Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services, be delegated authority to make  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17