Issue - meetings

Review of Shared Lives - Client Living Expenses

 

 

Meeting: 08/03/2016 - Cabinet (Item 5)

5 Review of Shared Lives Client Living Expenses pdf icon PDF 186 KB

Minutes:

Background:

 

This report provided Cabinet with an overview of proposed changes to the charging arrangements for Shared Lives Clients in Adults Social Care.

 

The report explained that the Shared Lives scheme provided care and support to adults with a learning disability that meet the Care Act 2014 eligibility criteria. Support was provided in the homes of approved Shared Lives carers and this provided an alternative choice to traditional residential care and enabled the individual to share in family and community life, promoting independent living.

 

The report explained the existing charging arrangements. It was noted that Shared Lives clients did not make any contribution for normal living expenses, which was inconsistent with other clients in receipt of Adult Social Care and Support Services. The implications of this and options were explored in the report.

 

The proposal was to introduce the normal living expenses charge for Shared Lives clients. This would represent a change to current practice and policy and therefore it was also proposed that consultation be undertaken. Details of the consultation process was set out in paragraph 6 of the report and it was noted that the outcome would be reported back to Cabinet.

 

Decision number:

Decision:

31/2016

The Cabinet agreed to a public consultation being carried out which would propose the introduction of the normal living charge for clients in receipt of a Shared Lives Service.

32/2016

The Cabinet agreed that the outcome of the consultation is returned to Cabinet to enable the consideration of consultation responses and decisions to be made in respect of:

a)    the introduction of the proposed charge;

b)   the amendment of the current charging policy to include this charge.

Reasons:

 

The public consultation will provide feedback to Cabinet and enable an informed decision about the proposed charge and change to the policy to be made. This will, in turn, minimise risk of challenge and enable the authority to respond to potential complaints appropriately.

 

Furthermore, it is imperative that to enable care and support services to be provided to Medway’s most vulnerable people that income is maximised and additional costs avoided.  The proposed change in charging Shared Lives Clients will reduce the overall cost of the Shared Lives Service to Medway Council.