Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on people placed in residential care as a full cost client.

The Board was advised that the Care Act stipulated that a person with assets above the upper capital limit was deemed as able to afford the full cost of their care; such persons were referred to as self-funders. The report set out details of how local authorities identified those people who were required to self-fund alongside Halton’s policy on commissioning services for those that met the criteria.

It was reported that a task and finish group had been established to look at current practice in relation to self-funders which considered whether any adjustments need to be made in light of a number of issues. Members noted details of a legal challenge to the Council’s policy regarding self-funders and recent internal audit findings.

It was reported that the Task and Finish Group required the Board to decide on future provision and support to self-funders. The report provided information on the Council’s obligations under the Care Act, a summary of current practice in Halton and information on current practice in other areas with an overview of the local and national context.

 RESOLVED: That

1)    the report be noted; and

2)    the Board approves implementation of the suggested practice improvements outlined in option (ii) in paragraph 3.6 of the report.