Agenda item

The Executive Board considered the report which sets out the revised policy, bringing together the previous policies and the interim policy adopted in 2016.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:-

1.         Carmarthenshire will continue to charge for placements into a care home other than for those which are excluded by the Act.  Carmarthenshire will charge for all placements into a care home from the first day of placement

2.         The charge will be based on recovering the cost of the placement in full subject to the resident being financially assessed in accordance with the legislation, regulations, code and local policy to pay less than the full cost, in which case the resident will be charged their assessed charge according to their means 

3.         The charge per night for all short term placements (including respite care) will be based on recovering the cost of the placement in full. For placements into a Local Authority care home the charge will be the standard charge and for placements into an Independent Sector care home it will be the contracted amount. Service users would pay up to the maximum charge as set by Welsh Government per week, with many paying far less or having the service free depending on the financial assessment. (2018-19 is set at a maximum charge of £80)

4.         That the non-residential assessment rules be applied to stays which are assessed at the outset as not exceeding 8 weeks on any one occasion and does not apply to temporary placements and permanent placements

5.         That short term stays that extend beyond 8 weeks on any one occasion will be charged as though the resident is temporary or permanent as appropriate from the first day of the 9th week and in line with definitions within the Act, Regulations and Code

6.         Carmarthenshire will apply its charges from the first day of service for all services with a charge. This will apply to non-residential services and placements into a care home

7.         That choice of Accommodation offered to a service user is based on two care homes of the same type anywhere in the County and not restricted geographically unless there are specific geographical needs included in the Care and Support plan

8.         That where a service user, who is not assessed to pay the full cost of the placement, chooses accommodation which is more expensive than the options offered at the time of placement then the additional cost will be calculated from the higher of the rates charged by those two care homes offered

9.         That where a service user is able to pay for the full cost of their placement then in accordance with the legislation they can choose any care home and will be required to pay the full cost of their placement

10.       Carmarthenshire does not charge for assessed care and support to a service user where it is provided to the service user in an educational setting and whilst attending a recognised educational course.

11.       That the new Act, Regulations and Code has been applied to existing service users from the 6th April 2016

12.       That the existing policies are retained except for those elements of the policies and practices which are changed as the result of decisions stemming from this report and those elements which are now not compliant with the new legislation