Support services in the community
The Council will charge for care and support delivered in community settings up to an agreed maximum weekly amount set by the Council and uplifted in April each year.
Community settings include a person’s home or a community facility such as a day centre. The person’s home includes tenancies within Extra Care, Supported Living and Shared Lives accommodation. All non- residential community-based support services and transport fall within the scope of this policy including:
- personal care support delivered to the person in their home.
- sitting Services
- day services and activities, both building based and in the community.
- transport, including, but not exclusively, to day services and activities.
- respite breaks that are not in a residential care home setting
- daily living support such as shopping, laundry and cleaning delivered to the person living at home.
- joint funded services – people in receipt of services will be required to contribute towards the cost of the services provided by the Council but not those provided by the NHS as part of a joint package of support.
- other - Meals in day centres are not included within charging for care services in the community. A charge will be made by the day centre for meals on a ‘Pay as you use’ basis as meals are not included in the unit cost of a day centre session unless otherwise stated. This ensures people only pay for the activity and support provided at the centre.
Should the person receive more than one service, charges will be calculated up to the maximum assessed charge and listed on the same statement for ease and efficiency.
Assistive Technology: The Council offers an assistive technology service to help people to live independently in their own home. The service can provide access to a 24-hour monitoring service offering a timely response at the touch of a button from anywhere in your home. Telecare is provided as a stand‑alone service and is charged for separately. People who choose to use telecare independently of a wider support plan will continue to access and pay for this service directly. Where telecare is provided as part of a package of care to meet an assessed need, and the person is eligible, the cost of telecare may be considered as Disability Related Expenditure (DRE) as part of the financial assessment. In these circumstances, evidence of expenditure will be required in line with DRE guidance.
Shared Lives: This is a scheme (similar to fostering) where adults with support needs can live with a family who provide board, lodgings and support. The Shared Lives recipient is responsible for making payments in respect of board and lodgings directly to the accommodation provider, they may be able to get help with the lodgings element through the Housing Benefit system. The Shared Lives recipient will be financially assessed for the cost of the placement (care and support element).