Issue details

The current charging policy for non-residential care generates c£14.3m of annual recurring income. The policy does, however, not go as far as most other local authorities, and there is scope to generate additional income but based on an individual's ability to pay, as identified by a detailed financial assessment.

S18 of the Care Act 2014 ["The Act"] places a duty upon the County Council "to meet needs for care and support in relation to an adult who is ordinarily resident in the authority's area or is present in its area but of no settled residence".  S14 of "The Act" provides the County Council with the power to charge most service users for meeting the needs referred to in s18.  Statutory Guidance issued by the Department of Health relating to "The Act" establishes a requirement that "local authorities should develop and maintain a policy, setting out how they will charge people in settings other than care homes".

This report and related appendix therefore present an updated and revised Non-Residential Care Charging Policy, which complies with the provisions of "The Act" and its associated statutory instruments & guidance.

The policy, once consulted upon and approved in its final form by the County Council, crucially establishes a policy platform which provides authority to act for officers and clarity of intent and operation for the affected service users.