Chargeable and non-chargeable services
The Council operates four categories:
- Exempt services or care and support provided free of charge.
- Mean tested charging and full cost service following a financial assessment.
- Flat rate charges for services such as assistive technology.
- Full cost charges for customers who do not wish to disclose their finances.
The Council is not allowed to charge for some types of care and support, and the following services are currently exempt from charging:
- community equipment (aids and minor adaptations): where a person is supplied with equipment or a minor adaptation to their property to support daily living so they can stay in their home. An adaptation is minor if the cost is £1,000 or less.
- reablement services can be provided to support people to become as independent as possible in their homes; this can be for one day up to a maximum period of six weeks. This could be after a stay in hospital, an illness or to prevent a hospital admission.
- services provided to people suffering from Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease
- any service or part of service which the NHS is under duty to provide. This includes Intermediate Care, Continuing Healthcare and the NHS contribution to Registered Nursing Care.
- services which local authorities have a duty to provide through other legislation, including any specific services provided as After Care Services under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983. There will be occasions when chargeable services are also provided to people who are subject to Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This is usually when a service is in place that is not specifically related to their Section 117 status. If this is the case the person will be advised of this in writing, and a financial assessment will need to be undertaken in relation to such services.