Agenda item

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services)

Part 1 of the Care Act 2014 comes into effect on 1 April 2015.  Part 2 of the Care Act 2014 comes into effect on 1st April 2016.  The final regulations and guidance in relation to Part 1 of the Care Act were published on 23 October 2014.  The Department of Health opened the public consultation on Part 2 of the Care Act on 4 February 2015 to run until 30 March 2015.

This report outlines the background to the Care Act.  It highlights the changes that will come about from April 2015 and April 2016 and some of the challenges this presents for Local Authorities.  This report also outlines some of the steps taken locally to ensure readiness for implementation of Part 1 of the Care Act on 1 April 2015.

This report highlights the areas of the Care Act where the Council has discretion and seeks approval in relation to recommendations outlined in section 4.2 of this report.

A suite of policies have been produced to support the implementation of the Care Act, and these are included as appendices to this report.  Approval is sought in relation to publication and use of these policies from 1st April 2015.

The Executive is asked to:

·         Consider the report and appendices

·         Approve the use of the policy documents included as appendices from 1st April 2015

·         Approve the recommendations outlined in section 4.2 and summarised below:

·         Not to charge carers for care and support

·         Approach to charging in residential care

·         The rate of interest charged in relation to Deferred Payment Agreements

·         The administration fee charged in relation to Deferred Payment Agreements

·         Alternative means of deferring payments outside of formal arrangements

·         Note the open consultation on Part 2 of the Care Act, details of which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/care-act-2014-cap-on-care-costs-and-appeals

Officer contact: Jenny Rollinson, 0161 218 1064, jenny.rollinson@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) proving the Executive with an update on the implementation of the provisions of Part 1 of the Care Act 2014 that would come into effect from 1 April 2015, and inviting the Executive to consider proposals in relation to those elements of the Act that the Council had discretionary powers over, and to agree to adopt a suite of policies produced to support the implementation of the Act.

RESOLVED – (1) That in relation to the implementation of the Care Act 2014 Part 1:-

·           the use of the policy documents included as appendices to the report be approved with effect from 1 April 2015;

·           the recommendations summarised below and outlined in section 4.2 of the report be approved for the reasons detailed in that section:

·           no charge to carers for care and support;

·           no change to the approach to charging in residential care;

·           the rate of interest charged in relation to Deferred Payment Agreements in line with the nationally set maximum rate;

·           the level of the administration fee charged in relation to Deferred Payment Agreements be set at £300 set up fee with a £100 per annum fee;

·           the current practice in relation to deferring payments outside of formal arrangements remain but subject to regular review;

·           the current practice in relation to charging for adult social care non-residential services remain.

(2) That the ongoing Government consultation on Part 2 of the Care Act 2014 be noted.