northlincs.gov.uk

9  (9) FAIRER CHARGING POLICY – The Director of People submitted a report seeking approval to publish the updated Fairer Charging Policy: Financial Framework for Adults Receiving Community Services, and seeking approval of the local discretionary elements contained within the policy.

The current Financial Framework for Adults Receiving Community Services was published in August 2014.  It provided the detail on how the council would provide a subsidy for people based on their assessed financial means to help meet the cost of care.

The existing policy had now been reviewed and updated to ensure that it fully reflected the Care Act Statutory Guidance, an updated version published in March 2016.

The revised Fairer Charging Policy: Financial Framework for Adults Receiving Community Services was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The main discretionary elements outlined in the statutory guidance for care other than in a care home were:

·   Setting an upper capital limit
·   Additional income sources to be disregarded
·  Set a maximum charge
·   Charge a percentage of disposable income

Resolved – (a) That the updated Fairer Charging Policy: Financial Framework for Adults Receiving Community Services, be approved, and (b) that the discretionary elements set out in Option 1, paragraph 3.1 to the report, be confirmed.

10(10) COURT OF PROTECTION AND DEPARTMENT OF WORK AND PENSIONS BENEFIT APPOINTEE – The Director of People submitted a report seeking approval to create a post of Managing People’s Affairs Senior Officer, within the Customer Finance Team.

The council had a statutory duty to manage the property and financial affairs for vulnerable adults who did not have capacity to manage their own affairs where there was no alternative DWP appointee or Deputy available.

The functions of a Department of Work and Pensions appointee involved acting on behalf of individuals to ensure their state benefits were maintained and the income was used to support their living expenses and care costs. For some people, the council was required to act as Court of Protection Deputy (CPD) to manage all their financial and property affairs. Under the direction of the CPD, an officer within the Customer Finance Service carried out the administration and operational duties required.

The service provided and the requirements of the CPD role were specified within Office of Public Guardianship standards. This included annual financial plans, monitoring of expenditure, maximising income and benefits and provided evidence to the Court of Protection where there were any challenges made in respect of an individual’s affairs.

The demand for this function had increased over the past year with the number of Court of Protection Deputyships the council managed increasing from 56 in April 2015 to 75 in December 2015 with a further increase to over 100 during 2016.

The increased number and level of complexity of casework in preparation for the decision making and assurance by the CPD led to a review of duties within the service being undertaken.

The council was entitled to charge an administration fee from the Service User to assist the council in managing their financial affairs under Rule 167 of the Office of Public Guardianship.  Rule 156 provided that these costs should be paid by the service user or charged to their estate if they had passed on.

Resolved – That the creation of the post of Managing People’s Affairs Senior Officer, as set out in Option 1 of the report, be approved.

11 (11) INTERMEDIATE CARE CENTRE INSPECTION OUTCOME – The Director of People submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member of the outcome of the Care Quality Commission inspection of the Intermediate Care Centre.

The council had a brand new purpose built, Intermediate Care Centre. The service provided short term residential rehabilitation services for up to 30 people at a time. This was the first inspection.

The Centre assisted people to recover their independence and confidence to return home. The service contributed to enabling timely hospital discharge, and preventing unnecessary admission to hospital and to long-term care.

The Care Quality Commission was the national regulator for health and social care services. This was a new inspection regime and the inspection was carried out by asking the following five questions.

·   Was the service safe?
·   Was it effective?
·   Was it caring?
·   Was it responsive?
·   and was it well led?

The overall outcome awarded at inspection could be one of four judgments, inadequate, requires improvement, good and outstanding.

The report gave details of the inspection findings.

Resolved – (a) That the Inspection Report for North Lincolnshire Council Immediate Care Centre be received, and (b) that the Cabinet Member write to the Registered Manager regarding the outcome of their inspection.

12(12) COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM INSPECTION OUTCOME – The Director of People submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member of the outcome of the Quality Care Commission inspection of the Community Support Team.

The service provided short term Domiciliary Care service and was registered to provide personal care services to people who lived in their own homes. This was the first inspection since Community Support Team moved into the purpose built centre at Winterton in March 2015; the service was last inspected in September 2013.

The aim of the service was to provide a short period of time limited rehabilitation and reablement support to help people remain living in the community and be as independent as possible.  The service contributed to enabling timely hospital discharge, and preventing unnecessary admission to hospital and to long-term care.

The Care Quality Commission was the national regulator for health and social care services. This was a new inspection regime and the inspection was carried out by looking at the following five key lines of enquiry.

·  Was a service safe?
·    Was it effective?
·    Was it caring?
·    Was it responsive?
·    and was it well led?

The overall outcome awarded at inspection could be one of four judgments, inadequate, requires improvement, good and outstanding.

The report gave details of the inspection findings.

Resolved – (a) That the Inspection Report for North Lincolnshire Council Community Support Team be received, and (b) that the Cabinet Member write to the Registered Manager regarding the outcome of their inspection.