Decision details

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – People, which presented the outcome of the consultation on the full cost domiciliary care clients receiving support from two carers and being charged for both carers, thus removing the subsidy provided by the Council.

The proposals made at the June meeting of the Board were agreed and this report presented Members with the outcome / feedback from the consultation process and an outline of the next steps to be taken.  A summary of 78 responses was attached as Appendix 1 and discussed in paragraphs 3.9 and 3.10 of the report.

Reason(s) for Decision

Executive Board approval is required to enable the Council to begin charging full cost domiciliary care clients with two carers for both carers (rather than just one as is currently the case), in line with the Care Act.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Continuing to subsidise the cost of domiciliary care provision for those with two carers who are deemed able to afford the cost of their own care was neither fair nor cost effective.  It is simply not equitable that full cost domiciliary care clients with two carers were only paying for one carer, which represented half the cost of the actual package of care.

Implementation Date

New clients to be charged for both carers with effect from 11 October 2021;  existing clients to have charges increased on an incremental basis of 15% per month from October 2021 to March 2022; and with effect from 1 April 2022, all full cost domiciliary care clients receiving support from two carers will be charged for both carers.

RESOLVED:  That Executive Board

1)    note the contents of the report, particularly the outcome of the consultation process (paragraphs 3.9 and 3.10); and

2)    approve the implementation of charging full cost domiciliary care clients for both carers on the basis outlined at paragraph 3.16.