Council To Review Charging For Non-Residential Social Care

Herefordshire Council is to consult on changes in the way it charges for a range of services to adults needing non-residential social care. These services include the provision of care in people’s homes, attendance at day centres, adaptations to buildings and the provision of transport and meals.

The changes will affect around 400 people in Herefordshire and are essential to allow the authority to provide a wider range of services in the face of a massive increase in the number of older people in the county.

“By 2020 the number of older people in Herefordshire is set to rise by 50 per cent,” said Cllr Olwyn Barnett, Cabinet Member (Social Care Adults and Health). “On top of this the recent White Paper Our Health, Our Care, Our Say requires us to give individuals a wider choice of services and more control over the way their needs are met,” added Cllr Barnett.

“This all adds up to the only option; a review of the way we charge for services which will iron out inequalities – this is the first time the charging policy has been reviewed since April 2003 – while ensuring that individuals are left with sufficient money to meet their day-to-day spending needs.”

The council acknowledges that there will be winners and losers as a result of the changes. It is therefore arranging a consultation during which time people will be given the chance to have a say over the changes.

A report to be considered by Cabinet on Thursday, June 7, outlines the proposed changes to the system of charges, and recommends an eight-week  period for consultation.
 
“The vast majority of our older people are on fixed incomes and we appreciate that changes may worry them,” said Cllr Barnett. We’d like to assure them that we will do all we can to minimise the impact these changes will have. In the meantime, we will continue to improve the quality of services and expand the variety of services we offer,” she added.

Broadly, the proposed changes include:

• The full inclusion of occupational and private pensions in the financial assessment
• The inclusion of savings and capital between £13,000 and £21,500 in the financial assessment
• Increase charges to reflect the actual cost of providing the service
• Changes to the maximum weekly charge
• Charging for major adaptations
• Continue to charge a flat rate for meals and transport
• Continue to provide services for carers free of charge