Decision details

Approve changes to the financial assessment methodology and maximum weekly charge.

The Director of Adult Social Services submitted a report presenting the reasons for the review of charging for non-residential adult social care services and providing details of the consultation process and the outcomes arising from it. The report set out the implications arising from the proposals for service users and for the Council's income, and also made recommendations for changes to charging for non-residential adult social care services for the Board's consideration.

In presenting the report, the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adults outlined the demands on social care services which continued to increase and made clear that the Council would face substantial reductions in government funding over the next five years in addition to those incurred over the last five years.

It was noted that Adult Social Care customers in Leeds continued to pay less than in many authorities, but that within the challenging financial context the Council needed to consider changes to charging to help fund the adult social care services that people relied upon.

A schedule of the proposed changes was attached as Appendix 3 to the report with Appendix 7 setting out the report of the service expert advisory group on the proposals.

During discussions, the Board recognised the work undertaken by officers during the consultation process to engage with members of the public and service users

RESOLVED -

a)  That the outcomes of the consultation and the way in which they have been addressed as set out in sections 4 and 5 of the submitted report be noted.

b)  That the outcomes of the equality impact assessment and the way in which they have been addressed as set out in section 7.2 of the submitted report be noted.

c)  That the proposed increase in charges from April 2016 and future years as set out in section 6.5 of the submitted report be noted

d)  That approval be given to the changes to charges for non-residential services as set out in section 5 of the submitted report to be implemented starting from April 2016.

e)  That approval be given to a sum of £100k being set aside from the additional income generated to support those customers who need help with making their money go further.

f)  That it be noted that the Head of Finance (Adult Social Care) will be responsible for implementing these recommendations.

A comprehensive consultation process is taking place from 21^st September to 11^th December 2015. All customers in receipt of Adult Social Care services have been sent copies of the consultation documents and contact details for any assistance they require. The consultation documents have also been sent to voluntary organisations, health partners, staff and members and consultation events are being held covering these groups.

The consultation is available on the Council’s Talking Point consultation portal. A service user focus group is engaged in the consultation process, including the equality impact assessment and reviewing the consultation feedback.

Adult Social Care customers using non-residential services, Adult care sector voluntary organisations, Health partners, Adult Social Care Staff and Members.