Adult social care bills to rise in Northamptonshire

A disabled rights campaigner has criticised county council proposals to raise £600,000 by increasing the cost of social care services, branding them “immoral”.

The authority wants to increase charges for adult social care services it provides in people’s homes and is asking people where the rise should be incorporated.

Among options are the introduction of a charge for the 24-hour, seven-day emergency call response provided to tenants living in supported accommodation, a rise in the price of the meals on wheels service and an increase in charges for transport to day centres and respite units.

The county council is also looking at a rise in the amount of certain disability payments taken into account when asking people to pay for services. This is where it hopes to raise the £600,000.

Disability rights campaigner, Chris Kinsey, criticised the format of the consultation questionnaire, saying it was difficult to understand. She said: “The questionnaire gives tick boxes which include the option to say ‘none of the above’ and directly under that states the council must save £600,000, which is putting pressure on people to tick one of the other boxes.

“It has come as no surprise to me that, when you want to balance the accounts, the elderly, disabled and vulnerable can be seen as an easy target.

“To make someone pay more because they are disabled is, to my mind, an immoral act. These people didn’t choose to be disabled so whatever kind of caring society are we that demands they pay for their disability?”

Councillor Robin Brown (Con, Braunston), cabinet member for health and adult social services, said many councils charged more than Northamptonshire. He said the money raised would be put back into social care services and warned that without an increase in charges these could have to be reduced. He said: “We recognise any decision regarding charging for non-residential social care services affects vulnerable people in the county so we are carrying out this extended consultation to ensure everyone gets the chance to have their say and influence any proposals developed.”

The consultation ends on August 6. Papers are available at council day services, libraries and on the council’s website.

The results will form the basis of a cabinet report in the autumn.