Agenda item

To submit a report by the Interim Head of Adults’ Services.

The report of the Interim Head of Adults’ Services seeking the Executive’s approval to increase independent sector care home fees for 2021/22 as proposed was presented for consideration.

As he had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item, Councillor Richard Dew withdrew from the meeting when the matter was discussed.

The Chair and Portfolio Member for Social Services presented the report stating that as from 6 April, 2016 the framework for financial assessment has come under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. The Local Authority is required to review independent sector care home fees annually to coincide with Central Government’s changes to benefits and pension levels and, in setting levels for independent sector care homes, the Authority needs to show that it has fully considered the costs of the provision in determining its standard care fees. As in previous years this is done in collaboration with the other Authorities in North Wales and the Health Board by utilising a Regional Fee Methodology.  The Authority proposes to continue to use this model for 2021/22 which has reflected legislation changes in terms of pensions, national living wage and inflation as well as costs attributed to cover agency staff costs. The North Wales Methodology recommendations are set out in Table 1 of the report and are based on 10% ROI for 2020/21 and 2021/22.

The Chair clarified that for the reasons set out in the report, the Authority is proposing that a slightly amended ROI is adopted for 2 categories (Residential Adults and Nursing EMI –Social Care Element) and is therefore recommending that the rates set out in Table 2 are approved for Anglesey. It may be necessary to consider individual submissions from providers regarding the fees proposed. Exceptions to the fee rates will be considered if there is clear evidence to indicate that the fee set is not sufficient in any individual case.

The Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer advised with regard to the implications for the Council’s budget that in setting the 2021/22 budget additional provision for inflation was made on the basis of the number of clients in Anglesey’s independent care/nursing homes historically. Although the increase in fee levels is higher than the provision made for inflation, the number of clients in the homes has since reduced and if that number remains constant, expenditure should remain within budget. The number of clients to whom the fees apply tends to fluctuate each year in any case leading to variances in the budget as the number falls or rises so the fact that the fee increases exceed the provision for inflation is not considered a cause for concern.

It was resolved –

•           To acknowledge the North Wales Fee Methodology as implemented hitherto by the Authorities in North Wales as a basis for setting fees in Ynys Môn during 2021/22.

•           To approve the recommendation to increase the fee level as noted in Table 2 of the report.

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