Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

Review of Non-Residential Charging Policy

Consider report by Chief Operating Officer Adult Social Work and Social Care.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

8.1  There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Operating Officer Adult Social Work and Social Care reviewing the Non-Residential Charging Policy for 2021/2022.  The report provided an analysis of responses to the consultation on the review of the Non-Residential Charging Policy 2021/22 (Charging Policy) and sought approval for changes to the charges for social care support at home.  The Charging Policy Review was an annual activity of Scottish Local Authorities with guidance of The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).  However, this year the publication of COSLA guidance had been delayed until May 2020 due to the impact of COVID 19.  The report acknowledged the review and consultation took place in midst of the COVID 19 Global pandemic and that the pandemic was having a major impact on how public services were delivered and on how individuals, families and communities were living in uncertain social and economic circumstances that was seeing unemployment and benefits dependency increase.  The Consultation on specific charging matters had been undertaken between February and August 2020 and sought to balance the increasing demand on services, mitigating against hardship and providing good quality services within budget.  Five proposals were consulted upon:

 

1.    The implementation of an equivalency model for care and support;

2.    Charging for extended short-stays in residential care settings (longer than 4 weeks);

3.    Clients with capital above an upper capital threshold of £16,000 would be deemed to be self-funding and asked to pay the full cost of their services (excluding free personal care);

4.    Replacing the flat rate charge with financially assessed charge in Extra Care Housing and Housing with care chargeable services; and

5.    The increase of the Taper Rate from 65% to 100%.

 

8.2  Appendices A to E to the report provided sample case scenarios illustrative of the impact of the charging policy recommendations in individual circumstances.  These examples were believed to be representative of the impact but, due to every individual’s circumstances being different, it was not possible to show every scenario.  Appendix F provided a sample of comparison Taper rate and Capital thresholds in other Local Authorities from the Local Government Benchmark Framework and Appendix L illustrated the impact of applying different upper capital thresholds of £16,000, £28,500 and £32,000.  Members discussed the report in detail and sought clarification regarding some of the proposed amendments.  Some concerns were raised regarding the consultation process and assurances were given that every effort would be made to include all stakeholders in the next consultation which was due to commence in February 2021.

 

DECISION

AGREED to:-

 

(a)   note the feedback and analysis from the charging policy consultation;

 

(b)  approve reference to the equivalency model in the Charging Policy being applied to care & support resources;

 

(c)   approve the following changes to the charges for social care support for people at home, to take effect from 1st April 2021:

 

(i)    the level of the Upper Capital threshold to be £28,500 and to be reviewed annually, bringing this into line with the Upper Capital threshold also used for Residential Care charging assessment. COSLA guidance uses £16,000 upper capital threshold;

 

(ii)   implement a charge for extended short stays in a residential care setting (in line with national Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance) where the length of stay is longer than 4 weeks;

 

(iii)  replace the flat rate charge in Extra Care Housing with a financially assessed charge within Extra Care Housing and Housing with Care; and

 

(iv)  increase the Taper rate from 65% to 70%.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Prior to consideration of the above item, there was a 15 minute adjournment of the meeting to discuss a proposed amendment by Councillor H. Anderson regarding a deferral of the decision which was ruled by the Convener as not competent.

 

MEMBERS

Councillor Jardine joined and Councillor Marshall left the meeting during consideration of the above item.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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