A report by the Director of Adult Social Services informed the Cabinet that the Council commissioned a range of community based social care services and the primary aim of commissioning was to support vulnerable people to be as independent as possible.  The Council’s Commissioning Strategy had, therefore, been focused on supporting people more effectively in their own homes.  Members noted in relation to care homes in Wirral, that the Council’s intention for 2013/14 was to set fees that maintained capacity in the nursing sector, whilst recognising that there was a need to reduce reliance on general residential provision.  The Strategy promoted a shift towards more specialist dementia care provision, and the development of extra care housing and alternatives such as intermediate and domiciliary care.  This approach was reflected in the Council’s market position statement and in its Commissioning Strategy.  Care home fees were, however, set with due regard to providers actual costs as well as commissioning intentions.  The Council’s duty to achieve best value was a factor.

The Director’s report set out the outcome of consultation with care home providers on 2013-14 care home fees and proposed the fees for 2013-14.  The rates offered in the proposal were summarised in the report and the detailed calculations were provided in Appendix 1 to the report.  The Director informed that the proposal was calculated using the Efficient Wirral Care Home model.  The model aimed to make due allowance for actual costs and market returns.  The model was intended to calculate a fair and reasonable weekly rate for the four different categories of care home placement.

The Director reported that all comments received during the consultation period had been carefully considered by officers and a response had been provided to consultees as quickly as possible.  A general log of comments and responses had been maintained and circulated to all providers as and when updated.  The log did not set out the source of comments.  In some cases the comment had been a request for further information or clarification of the Council’s fee proposal.  This information or clarification had been provided.

The Cabinet noted that other comments had suggested amendments to the proposal.  The suggested amendments had been considered and providers had been informed whether or not the suggested amendment had been accepted and the reason for the officers’ decision.

The Cabinet noted that a number of homes had made comments through a firm of solicitors which was representing them.

Appendix 2 to the report set out all the comments received, and officers’ responses that had informed the final 2013-14 proposal.  Where detailed working papers were relevant, these had been referenced in Appendix 2 and detailed in Appendix 3.

A summary of the main issues raised in the consultation was also set out in the report.

Mr Lawson Stebbings was invited to address the Cabinet on the consultation process and the proposed care home fees for 2013-14.  He informed Members that he was of the view that if the fee proposal was implemented  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56