To seek Cabinet approval, following the formal consultation exercise, to implement a new Charging Policy for residential services and update the policy for non-residential care services following the implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014.

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing sought approval, following a formal consultation exercise to implement a new Charging Policy for residential services and to update the policy for non-residential care services following the implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014.  

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing reported that prior to the introduction of the Act; residential charges were assessed in line with Welsh Government Guidance, Charges for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG) and the National Assistance Act 1948.  Non Residential care charges were assessed in line with the Fairer Charging Policy and the Social Care Charges (Wales) Measure 2010.  She stated that the introduction of the 2014 Act provided for a single legal framework for charging for care and support.  It also provided the authority with the discretion to charge. 

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing reported that detailed work had been undertaken to look at the implications of changing the discretionary aspects of the charging policy.  She summarised the responses to the proposals received to the consultation and highlighted the recommendation to be made in each of the charging categories.

The Leader was pleased to see that the Council had listened to the views of the public as a result of the consultation.

The Cabinet Member Wellbeing and Future Generations questioned whether other local authorities charge more for the cost of care.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing stated that this authority had been the only one to have undertaken a consultation on paying for care.  She informed Cabinet that all local authorities had been surveyed on paying for care and she would inform Cabinet of the outcome of that survey on the cost of care charged by local authorities.              

RESOLVED:           That Cabinet recommended noting the report and the consultation exercise and approved that the Council:

·                    Continues to charge for the cost of care and support in a care home;

·                    Applies an inflationary increase each year for the cost of care and support in a care home;

·                    Does not charge administration fees for the arranging of a Deferred Payment Agreement;

·                    Does not charge interest on any debt secured against an interest in land/property from the date of death;

·                    Under the residential charging rules begin to charge for temporary respite stays over more than 8 weeks, or stays that are intended to last more than 8 weeks and that a £10 commitments allowance should be made for all temporary respite stays;

·                    Charge all adults over the age of 18 for respite services and offer a transitional period for people between the age of 18-21 that are already receiving this service;

·                    Introduce a cost neutral administration fee to cover additional costs that the Council would face when arranging care and support in a care home with a care provider when asked to do so (this will only affect residents with savings above £30,000);

·                    Continue not to charge for  services directly provided to carers as a result of a carers’ assessment;

Continue not to charge for preventative services and services provided in prisons.