New care charging policy in Cheshire East

 

Service charges for social care customers across Cheshire East are to change following an extensive consultation.

As part of social care redesign and in keeping with the Government’s Personalisation agenda, Cheshire East is working to modernise the way care is provided and to give users the opportunity to choose their own solutions.

But the Council is also faced with a higher than average ageing population and, consequently, a soaring demand for social care services, combined with a severe economic climate.

Now, the Council’s Cabinet has unanimously agreed to set charges at a suitable level to remove significant subsidy from care prices. This will include Council overhead costs and collecting additional income from customers – but only those who can reasonably afford to pay.

However, the Council has listened to consultees and has decided not to apply the charging policy to carers’ services and will not increase the cost of a delivered hot meal.

More than half of the 4,000 people supported by Cheshire East will feel no impact of the changes as they are not able to contribute towards their care.

The 280 people currently paying the full cost of their care are likely to see a seven per cent increase in their charges and the 1,416 who are paying an assessed contribution will likely see an average four per cent increase, which equates to £1.58 per person.

There was a general acceptance from consultees that user charges had to increase but there was also a strong feeling that retrieving 100 per cent of disposable income as a contribution to care was not right.

Customers also generally accepted that flat rate fees for transport would have to increase to protect valued services.

Some of the changes and implications are as follows (more can be viewed on the Council’s website, details below):

· Moving to 97 per cent of disposable income as a contribution to care (up from 90 per cent);

· A one-off administrative charge will be made to those moving from their home into long term care and wishing to defer charges until their property is sold (approximately £400 to cover the costs of admin and legal time);

· Encouraging the use of direct debit for income collection as the preferred payment option in new cases;

· Maximising the use of the Empower card as the main method of receiving a direct payment.

Customers will continue to have the freedom of choice to meet their needs in the open market through a personal budget where required, provided for by the council.

Phil Lloyd, Director of adult, community health and wellbeing services, said: “It is with regret that these changes have had to be made. But we know they are the right way forward and will provide us with a sound and fair base to meet future challenges; which we know we will be faced with.

“We have tried to limit the impact on what is a vulnerable group of people as much as we are able to in the current climate. Many other councils have moved to 100 per cent of disposable income but we want to show that we do listen to our residents.

“We firmly believe that these changes will leave the council much better placed to provide a high-quality service at a fair price.”

Full details of the consultation can be found at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/yoursayoncare