Information on Loughborough

Residents set to have say on care charging

Posted on 21/07/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Cabinet Office

21 July 2009

Residents set to have say on care charging

Leicestershire residents are set to be asked for their views on social care charging ahead of radical future changes.  

To give people more choice, control and power, the County Council is 'personalising' its social care.

This fundamental change also involves giving residents individual budgets which they can use to tailor the services they receive and a direct cash payment to pay for this support.

To make sure these alterations are reflected in the charging policy, a consultation is due to take place allowing adults who use social care services at home or in the community, as well as carers and members of the public, to have their say.

The County Council's Cabinet will discuss the idea as well as a proposed review at a meeting next Tuesday (28th July).

If approved, the consultation would run from 3rd August to 30th October and people would be able to take part by completing questionnaires and attending meetings.

David Sprason, Cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: "We carry out means-tests to make sure that no-one has to pay more than they can afford but the policy needs to be reviewed to ensure that it covers personalised care and is still fair.

"Money received from charging for services is used to help pay for the services we provide -  if we didn't charge it would not be possible to give as much help as we do now."

Key principles for charging are below:

•People should be charged a realistic amount for the service they receive

•People should only be charged what they can afford to pay – the policy should protect those least able to pay

•The Council’s Fairer Charging Policy will not place people’s independence at risk

•Charges should be reinvested and used to improve the service

•Where people can provide a service themselves (such as transport) they should be encouraged to do so in order to support their sense of independence

Further information is available at:

www.leics.gov.uk/socialcare

www.leics.gov.uk/charges_social_care_leics.htm

www.leics.gov.uk/finance_assess_social_care.htm