Issue - meetings

The Board was introduced to the new Policy for ‘Additional Payments for Accommodation in Residential Care’ (Top-Up Fees); this was appended to the report.

The Board was advised that the Care Act now included a framework for the implementation of Care Home top-up fees.  A ‘top-up fee’ was described as being the difference between what the local authority would usually expect to pay (depending on a person’s care needs) and the extra cost of a specific care home.  The additional cost was reflected in an additional service or added value.  The top-up fees could apply if a person chose a care home that was more expensive than the Council agreed rate, including circumstances where a person had been paying for their own care under a private arrangement.

The report outlined the procedures relating to top-up fees and a person’s right to choose between providers.  It also advised of the 9 providers in the Borough who had implemented top-up fees so far.

It was noted that the Policy would be reviewed in the Summer of 2018 in light of the expected Government Green Paper on care and support for older people.

Following presentation of the paper, the following points were made in response to Member’s queries:

·       The amounts referred to in the table in paragraph 3.7 were weekly payments;

·       The top-up payments could be made by a third party, e.g. a family member;

·       There were 15 care homes for older people in Halton and 7 specialist care homes with individually agreed fees;

·       The care homes could increase their fees on a yearly basis, following consultation with the Council;

·       Before a person’s funding reduced to £23,500, relatives were encouraged to request a review of care of the resident; and

·       Out of Borough placements were still funded by the Council as they were the responsible authority.

Members also requested to know whether the funding available affected the accommodation choices the Council made; and whether there were any interest and administration charges applied and if so, at what point were they applied.  Officers would respond once this information was available.

RESOLVED:  That the Board notes the report and appendix.