Self-funders Consultation
- This consultation has now ended - thank you to everyone who took part
In November 2019, cabinet took a decison to introduce a management fee for self funders.
What we consulted on
The consultation relates to the proposed introduction of administration fees for arranging care for clients who are self-funders as it needs to make the service of arranging care for self-funders cost neutral.
What is being proposed?
The Care Act 2014 introduced a new duty for local authorities to meet the needs of self-funders and the power to charge an arrangement fee. This was introduced in April 2015 and applies to people who ask the council to meet their needs for most types of care and support.
The Care and Support Statutory Guidance to the Care Act, published in October 2014, sets out that the fee should include the cost of negotiating and managing the contract with the provider and cover administration costs. We have followed this guidance and we are proposing an annual fee of £650, which we would introduce in Winter 2019 and apply to self-funders receiving care and support.
Why?
The council must make vital savings owing to significant reductions in its budgets. Given these pressures, the council held a borough-wide consultation in December 2018 to refresh its Medium-Term Financial Strategy to cover the period up to 2023/24. The consultation included ideas on how to meet the budget challenges, including charging for managed accounts for adult social care.
We expect an increase in the numbers of self-funders who approach the council and are particularly aware that it is necessary to introduce an arrangement fee to cover the costs of administration.
What is currently offered?
The council currently arranges care on behalf of self-funders but does not charge for this service.
What will change?
The council is proposing to introduce an annual administration fee where it arranges care and for payment of care charges for self-funders who have assets and properties and savings over £23,250.
The council will recover the cost of administration of this service and the charge will be £650 per annum for the current year. This fee is payable either in a lump sum or by instalments.
We would like to hear your views
The consultation began on Monday 22 July 2019 and ended on Sunday 8 September 2019.
People were able to respond to the consultation using the online questionnaire, or by attending one of the drop-in sessions:
- Monday 29 July 2019, 12–3pm at Hornsey Library, Haringey Park, Crouch End, London N8 9JA
- Wednesday 7 August 2019, 10am–1pm at Wood Green Library, 187-197A High Rd, Wood Green, London N22 6XD
- Monday 12 August 2019, 2.30–4.30pm at Marcus Garvey Library, 1 Philip Lane, Tottenham, London N15 4JA