The York Council is likely to agree changes to home care and other charging arrangements at a meeting on Wednesday.
They form part of a plan to persuade more elderly and disabled residents to accept “direct payments” to cover their care needs. These payments involve clients receiving an agreed cash amount based on an assessment of their requirements. In turn they are able to decide whether to purchase help from the Council or the private sector. The scheme has the advantage of giving clients customer choice on their care arrangements.
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Take up of the scheme has been relatively low (20%) so far with the complexities and the uncertainties, of the payment process, being partly to blame.
Now a new simplified system is set to be introduced.
As part of the change those getting the assistance of a second carer may have to contribute more for the service.
More details are available at http://tinyurl.com/York-direct-payments
There is some concern that those most affected by the scheme have failed to respond to consultation – or perhaps fully understand what so being proposed.
As of Monday 22/10, the Council had 1540 customers in receipt of a chargeable service. Under the proposals:
• 984 customers will not see a change in their current contribution (428 of these are nil charge)
• 496 customers will see a reduction – the average reduction is £10.07 per week
• 60 customers will see an increase – the average being £107 per week (primarily self funding double up customers)