Issue - meetings

To submit the report of the Head of Adult Services.

It was RESOLVED:-

·       To approve the recommendation to increase the fee levels as follows :-

Residential Care (Adults) - £832.56 per week

Residential (EMI) - £930.37 per week

Nursing Care (Social Care Element) - £906.70 per week

Nursing Care (EMI) (Social Care Element) - £1,071.41 per week

·       To authorise Social Services and the Finance Service to respond to any requests from individual homes to explore their specific accounts and to utilise the exercise as a basis to consider any exceptions to the agreed fees. Any exceptions to be agreed with the Adults’ Services Portfolio Member, the Director of Function (Resources)/ Section 151 Officer and the Head of Adults’ Services from within current budgets.

The report of the Head of Adults’ Services seeking the Executive’s approval to set the rate for independent sector care home fees for 2025/2026 was presented in accordance with the requirements of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014.

Councillor Alun Roberts, Portfolio Member for Adult’s Services, Community Safety and Equalities presented the report which sets out the proposed fee levels for Residential, Residential EMI, Nursing and Nursing EMI Care for the 2025/2026 financial year.  The Local Authority is required to review independent sector care home fees annually to coincide with Central Government’s changes to benefits and pensions levels. The proposal is to increase the fees by 7%.

The Head of Adults’ Services reported that in setting fee levels for independent sector care homes, the Council needs to show that it has fully considered the cost of the provision in determining its standards care fees.  The increase is in recognition of the financial pressures faced by the providers due to increase in national insurance contributions and the real living wage increase.  When reviewing the fee levels, consideration is given to local circumstances, demand pressures and availability of provision, in addition to the regional formula. Individual fees can be discussed with providers when special circumstances arise. 

The Executive Members ascertained whether the Government takes into consideration the census and the change in the population with the elderly in each local authority.  Further questions raised as to the threshold where people can afford to pay for their care and whether the EMI Nursing Care has increased.  The Head of Adults’ Services responded that the level of fees is set by the financial contribution the Authority receives.  He noted that the when the income of an individual falls below the £50k threshold the Authority will contribute to the care.  He further said the EMI Nursing Care is continuing to increase, and the provision is limited across the sector.  This Authority has continued to adapt the provision with the Authority’s Care Homes sector with additional places, but as the authority is only providing residential care,  EMI Nursing Care needs to be acquired the from the independent sector. 

 It was RESOLVED:-

• To approve the recommendation to increase the fee levels as follows :-

Residential Care (Adults) - £832.56 per week

Residential (EMI) - £930.37 per week

Nursing Care (Social Care Element) - £906.70 per week

Nursing Care (EMI) (Social Care Element) - £1,071.41 per week

• To authorise Social Services and the Finance Service to respond to any requests from individual homes to explore their specific accounts and to utilise the exercise as a basis to consider any exceptions to the agreed fees. Any exceptions to be agreed with the Adults’ Services Portfolio Member, the Director of Function (Resources)/ Section 151 Officer and the Head of Adults’ Services from within current budgets.