Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/010

Contact: Andrew Colling, Quality & Contracts Manager Tel: (01865) 323682

Report by Director for Social & Community Services (CA9).

The services that care homes provide within Oxfordshire play an important role in helping to meet the needs of vulnerable adults.  The Council has to ensure that there is sufficient capacity within the social care market to meet its current and future commissioning requirements.

The Council has stated that it is keen to ensure the sustainability of care home services in Oxfordshire to meet the assessed needs of vulnerable adults, and committed to work alongside providers to ensure that services are of the highest quality.

The purpose of this report is to describe the process the Council has undertaken to review the amount it pays for care homes this year, and to agree the Target Banding Rates to be applied for 2014-15.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED that in view of the information in the report:

(a)      for 2014/15 to:

• Revise our Target banding Rates from April 2014 and

                  (i).        Increase the Target Banding rate for the Residential-Extensive Specialist Category to £458 per week for new placements.

                 (ii).        Increase all existing weekly Residential payment rates that are currently paid below £452 per week to £458 per week

               (iii).        Increase the Nursing-Extensive Target Banding Rate to £568 per week

               (iv).        Increase all existing weekly Nursing Extensive and Substantial rates that are currently below £560 per week to £568 per week.

                (v).        Increase  the Nursing-Specialist Target Banding Rate to £639 per week

               (vi).        Increase the above rates to reflect the increase in Funded Nursing Care once this is announced later in April 2014.

              (vii).        Continue to use these rates as a guide to secure a care home placement  at a funding level as close to the Target Banding Rate as possible. 

            (viii).        The above to apply from April 2014 and for care home placements in Oxfordshire.

(b)  Cabinet are requested to approve a permanent virement of £217,000 from     corporate contingency to fund the increase in the Target Banding Rate.

Recommendations agreed.

Cabinet considered a report that described the process the Council had undertaken to review the amount it pays for care homes this year, and that sought agreement of the Target Banding Rates to be applied for 2014-15.

Mr Richard Burden, Oxfordshire Carehomes Association, spoke on the fee increase figures and the lack of response from Care Homes referred to in the report. He commented that in the past figures had been provided and that the Council had a good idea of the figures. He noted the decline in the number of homes accepting Council placements and with regard to delayed transfer of care hoped the Council would not give up an opportunity to help the situation. He called on the Council to move to a negotiated fee increase. Responding to questions from Members Mr Burden commented that it was difficult to fill out the online form in the timescale provided unless you already had figures separated out. He referred to his costs per week and commented that the Council fees were far adrift of these figures. He did not take people at the Council rates.

Councillor Heathcoat, in proposing the recommendation emphasised that her role was to support the users to ensure genuine choice. However there had been wide consultation with the Care Homes with an open process asking for information. The model used was robust and in use nationally.

RESOLVED:           that in view of the information in the report:

(a)        for 2014/15 to:

• Revise our Target banding Rates from April 2014 and:

                      (i).          Increase the Target Banding rate for the Residential-Extensive Specialist Category to £458 per week for new placements.

                     (ii).          Increase all existing weekly Residential payment rates that are currently paid below £452 per week to £458 per week

                    (iii).          Increase the Nursing-Extensive Target Banding Rate to £568 per week

                   (iv).          Increase all existing weekly Nursing Extensive and Substantial rates that are currently below £560 per week to £568 per week.

                    (v).          Increase the Nursing-Specialist Target Banding Rate to £639 per week

                   (vi).          Increase the above rates to reflect the increase in Funded Nursing Care once this is announced later in April 2014.

                  (vii).          Continue to use these rates as a guide to secure a care home placement at a funding level as close to the Target Banding Rate as possible.

                (viii).          The above to apply from April 2014 and for care home placements in Oxfordshire.

(b)      to approve a permanent virement of £217,000 from corporate contingency to fund the increase in the Target Banding Rate.