Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

This report outlines the approach that has been taken to reviewing care home fees for 2017/18 and proposes fee uplifts for this financial year. It also refers to the approach to be taken in preparation for implementation in 2018/19.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

·      Consider and comment on the contents of this report;

·      agree the proposed fee uplift as detailed in Section 5.2 of the report for the current financial year, with an effective implementation date of 3 April 2017.

·      be advised that the current framework Pre-placement Agreement contract expires in March 2018 and that this will require consideration and earlier agreement for fee uplifts in 2018/19.

Officer contact: Vincent Fraga, 0161-474-4401, vincent.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider a review of care home fees for 2017/18 and a proposal for fee uplifts for the current financial year. The report also outlined the approach to be taken in preparation for implementation in 2018/19.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Residential & Nursing Care Home Fee Review 2017/18:-

(i) the report be noted;

(ii) approval be given to the proposed fee uplift as detailed in Section 5.2 of the report for the current financial year, with an effective implementation date of 3 April 2017;

(iii) the current framework Pre-placement Agreement contract expiring in March 2018 and the requirement for consideration and earlier agreement for fee uplifts in 2018/19 be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

This report outlines the approach that has been taken to reviewing care home fees for 2017/18 and proposes fee uplifts for this financial year. It also refers to the approach to be taken in preparation for 2018/19 implementation.

Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·      Consider and comment on the contents of this report;

·      Note the recommendations in 8.2 that will be made to the Cabinet at their meeting of 15 August 2017.

Officer contact: Vincent Fraga, 0161-474-4401, vincent.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the approach and outcome of a review of care home fees for 2017/18 and proposals for an uplift in the fees in the current financial year. The report also set out the approach to be taken in preparation for the 2018/19 implementation.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care (Councillor Wendy Wild) attended the meeting to respond to questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Clarification was provided in response to questioning that the categories of provision used by the Council were at its discretion but followed a pattern used by many other local authorities.

·         Concerns were expressed that there was insufficient capacity available in those categories of provision most needed, and capacity in that provision that was rated as inadequate. Comment was made that greater consideration should be given to remunerating providers on the basis of quality. In response it was stated that this approach was being explored in conjunction with other Greater Manchester authorities.

·         Concerns were expressed that as resources were reduced and providers sought to minimise costs that staff roles were being lost that had previously been dedicated to support residents’ wellbeing to the detriment of residents.

·         Comment was made that the lack of engagement from providers was disappointing given that these businesses were not engaging with their single largest block customer.

·         The report was commended for its clarity and for building on previous work in this area.

·         There was no direction correlation between the cost and quality, with some of the highest cost providers being rated poorly by the Care Quality Commission. This was an indication that good quality service could be provided with relatively modest revenue.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for People be requested to submit a further report to the Scrutiny Committee on work to increase capacity in the residential and nursing home sector.