Agenda item

(To receive a report by Pam Clipson, Head of Finance – Adult Social Care and Wellbeing, which invites the Committee to consider a presentation Charging for Social Care)

Consideration was given to a presentation by the Executive Director – Adult Care and Community Wellbeing and the Head of Finance – Adults on charging for social care from October 2023. 

The changes would see an introduction of an £86,000 care cap for anybody requiring social care. Local authorities would be responsible for maintaining care accounts of anybody requiring social care. For Lincolnshire, this would increase from around 8,000 to around 20,000. It was proposed that a move to digital software with the introduction of a banking style app for tracking social care would mitigate the need to recruit more staff in areas which were already dealing with recruitment challenges. 

Members were reassured that Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) were in a strong position to respond to the changes due to having representation from Linca and a strengthened corporate structure to support the work of the adult social care team.

The presentation also detailed a timeline of the programme of work in preparation for the changes, and the key risks and mitigating actions.

Consideration was given to the report and during the discussion the following points were noted:

• The Committee were satisfied that the timeline and risks were well mapped out.
• The importance of clear communication with the public throughout the transition process was emphasised.
• Concerns were raised over the financial impact the changes were likely to have on the Council.
• The County Council network had estimated that there would be a substantial shortfall in finances nationally to support Councils in implementing the proposed changes.
• There were still choices to make in terms of the fair cost of care and what was deemed the responsibly of the local authority for funding. Officers were working hard to identify self-funding individuals and were working with the communications team to encourage individuals to self-identify with the Council.
• Officers required further information on the criteria for charging for hotel costs before the impact on service users could be properly identified. It was noted that third party payments would be excluded from the care cap calculations.
• Assurance was provided that a programme of work had been created to support the changes.
• Members were pleased to see that the forms and application process was being simplified.
• Local Authorities would have a responsibility within the new guidance to notify individuals 12 months before they were due to reach the care cap threshold.
• The recent report from the County Council Network was agreed to be circulated.
• The Council were working with suppliers to identify what a ‘good care account’ would look like. Assurance was provided that every known individual would be communicated to about their care account and each statement would include contact details of who to contact with any queries.
• Officers were keen to trial the changes during the current financial year.
• It was estimated that it would take on average around three years for individuals to reach the care cap.
• If it was suspected that individuals had transferred their assets shortly before transferring to care, investigations would be carried out to identify whether the transfers were aligned with the care act policy. Cases were taken on an individual basis.
• Individuals would be able to to pay supplements to receive any extra care.
• It was requested that an update be provided, when appropriate, to assess how the pilot was progressing.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the update be noted.

2.      That a report be scheduled on the progress of the pilot, when appropriate.