Issue - meetings

Ian Winter CBE, Care Act Programme Lead, presented the report on the consultation being undertaken by the Department of Health on the changes of the Care Act that would come into effect in April 2016.  The consultation was in two parts, the first sought stakeholders’ views on funding issues and the guidance that would introduce the cap on care costs and the second part was on an appeals policy and process.  This consultation would close on the 30 March 2015 and a draft response from the Council had been set out in Appendix 1 to the report. 

Connor Burke, Chief Accountable Officer, Barking and Dagenham, Clinical Commissioning Group, raised concern about the how we could explain the complexity of the changes and financial implications to people.  Anne Bristow commented on the risk of the pension changes to future care financing and that it was expected that pension drawdown deposited in a bank may not be looked at as a weekly pension but as a capital sum that could fund care and therefore could affect an individual’s weekly income.  Anne Bristow stressed that it was important for people to get their own professional financial advice, especially around pensions.  Ian Winter responded that the due to the number of changes in April 2016 it was intended to produce a short guide or prompt cards for staff but this would be progressed once the changes have settled down and the further guidance, due to be issued in November, was received.

Helen Jenner, asked if there was a need to obtain clarification around the working age adults especially those who, for various reasons, may not have obtained access to services before age 25.  Ian Winter advised that his understanding was that there is no retrospective award, however he accepted Helen Jenner’s point that there could be a test of that in court in the future and that the request for clarification should be part of the response.  Helen Jenner added that the changes may result in a rush for assessment for under 25s not identified so far.

Having received the report on the consultation and discussed the proposed response of the Council, as set out in the report and in particular Appendix 1, the Board:

(i)  Noted the consultation closed on 30 March 2015.

(ii)  Agreed that a request for clarification around the working age adults pre age 25 should be included in the response.

(ii)  Delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, to finalise the consultation response based upon Appendix 1 to the report.