Issue - meetings

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

The Council is required to set a standard cost of care for charges for residential and nursing care. In doing so, the Council must have a clear consultation process, play due regard to the cost base information detailed by providers and ensure a reasonable and robust methodology is used.

The report details the arrangements for agreeing the charges for 2014/15 and the longer term intent to move to a multi-year settlement with providers. The financial evaluation outlines an updated baseline of the standard cost of care and inflationary uplifts for 2014/15 to address the key concerns raised by Providers in the consultation. The overall increase in charges ranges from 3.28% to 3.84% and has a full year cost impact of £0.796m. Although this is a significant increase at a time when the Council is under very significant financial challenges, it is essential the provider market for residential and nursing care in Stockport remains healthy and financial sustainable. The proposals incorporate the removal of the “No Top-Up Guarantee” which has over a number of years served its purpose well but has become legally unsustainable.

The Executive is asked to:

·         approve the standard costs of care detailed in the table at 4.4.1. as the basis for 2014/15 charges with an effective implementation date of 7^th April 2014;

·         endorse the intention to move to a multi-year settlement in future years;

·         within the above proposal, remove the “No-Top Up Guarantee” scheme with effect from 7^th April 2014.

Officer contact: Vince Fraga, 0161 474 4401, vince.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider the outcome of the 2014 consultation with Care Home providers in relation to the charges for care, and to approve the charges structure for 2014/15.

The Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services) emphasised that the proposals in relation to the removal of the “No Top-Up Guarantee” would have no impact on any existing service users, but that the situation would continue to be monitored.

RESOLVED – That in relation to residential and nursing care for older people and adults with a mental health disorder

·                the standard costs of care detailed in the table at 4.4.1 of the report be approved as the basis for 2014/15 charges with an effective implementation date of 7 April 2014;

·                the intention to move to a multi-year settlement in future years be endorsed; and

·                the “No Top-Up Guarantee” scheme be removed from within the above proposal with effect from 7 April 2014.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report details the outcome of the 2014 consultation with providers and outlines proposals for the standard cost of care and charges structure for 2014/15.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider and comment on the proposals to:-

·         approve the standard costs of care detailed in the table at 4.4.1. as the basis for 2014/15 charges with an effective implementation date of 7th April 2014 ;

·         endorse the intention to move to a multi-year settlement in future years; and

·         within the above proposal remove the “No Top-Up Guarantee” scheme with effect from 7th April 2014.

Officer contact: Vincent Fraga on 0161 474 4401 or email: vincent.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the outcome of the 2014 consultation with providers and outlining proposals for the standard cost of care and charges structure for 2014/15.

The Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There was not an expectation that the proposals would affect residents’ ability to gain a place in the residential care home of their choice as the widespread use of top-ups would adversely affect the business models of a significant proportion of those care homes with which the Council currently did business.

·         It was considered that the removal of the ‘no top-up guarantee’ would mitigate against the potential for legal challenge in the future in terms of parity and fairness to providers.

·         The risk associated with users defaulting on their financial obligations as part of their agreement with care home providers was discussed.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive be recommended to:-

·         approve the standard costs of care detailed in the table at 4.4.1 of the report as the basis for 2014/15 charges with an effective implementation date of 7 April 2014; and

·         endorse the intention to move to a multi-year settlement in future years.

(2) (1 against) That the Scrutiny Committee expresses its concern with regard to proposals to remove the ‘no top-up guarantee’ scheme and that the Corporate Director for People be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee detailing how the proposals had been implemented.