Agenda item - Care Act Policy Framework (Finance)

This report provides Cabinet with a financial policy framework for consideration in respect of the Care Act. The policies requiring approval are deferred payment, direct payment and a revised charging policy.

Resolved: That Cabinet agree:

(i) The three policies for Deferred and Direct Payments, and Revised Charging set out at Paragraph 5 – 17 and set out at Annex A, B and C of the report;

(ii) The administration fee for self funders set out at Option 3 and paragraph 16;

(iii) The deferred payment fee set out at Option 4 and in detail within Annex D of the report;

(iv) The delegated power to make minor policy amendments in line with the Care Act to the Council’s Chief Financial Officer in consultation with the Director of Adult Services (Paragraph 18);

(v) That the Council does not adopt the universal opportunity to charge carers but reserves the right to do so in certain cases (Para 17 & Option 6).

Reason: (i) To provide a policy framework to comply with the Care Act 2014 and the Acts objectives for the residents of York.

(ii & iii) To cover the costs of the council carrying out this work.

(iv) To ensure the policies are kept up to date and are accurate.

(v) The administrative cost would likely be higher than any gain and it may send a negative message to carers.

Members considered a report which provided Cabinet with a financial policy framework in respect of the Care Act, which would come into force on 1 April 2015.

The report confirmed that the Care Act was intended to make a difference to the most vulnerable people and was intended to make the care and support system clearer and fairer for those that required it.

Consideration was given to the following policies, reference was made to the Deferred Payment policy which would provide support so that qualifying customers may not have to sell their home during their lifetime to pay for care. Details of he following policies and the recommended fees were set out in the report and Annexes:

· Deferred Payment – Annex A

· Direct Payment – Annex B and

· Revised Charging – Annex C

The following options were considered:

Option 1 - Approve the revised policies set out at paragraph 5 - 17 and Annex A, B & C of the report;

Option 2 - Do not approve the revised policies set out at paragraph 5 – 17 and Annex A, B & C;

Option 3 – Implement an administration fee for self funders who request that the council administer their personal account £280 (Paragraph 16);

Option 4 – Implement a deferred payment fee as set out in detail at paragraph 7 and Annex D of £221;

Option 5 – Implement a charge for support to carers (Paragraph 17)

Option 6 – Do not implement a charge for support to carers but reserve the right to consider a charge in certain circumstances based upon a means tested approach (Paragraph 17)

The Cabinet Member highlighted the need to have a scheme in place for 1 April, pointing out that although York was one of the few authorities who already had a deferred payment scheme in place it was recommended that this should continue alongside the universal scheme.

Following discussion it was