The Assistant Director for Care and Health, and Commissioning for People (Wirral Council) introduced the report of the Director of Care and Health which detailed the Social Care Charging Reforms and the implications for people who access care and support services and the considerations that were required for the Council’s Adult Social Care services. The report set out the key elements of the proposed changes to social care, which included:

·  a lifetime cap on the amount anyone in England will need to spend on their personal care

·  a more generous means-test for Local Authority financial support

·  the ability for self-funders to ask their council to arrange their care

·  moving towards a fair rate of care in respect of councils’ fees to providers

The plan announced the creation of a new Health and Social Care Levy to fund the changes and provided for a 1.25 percentage point increase to National Insurance contributions for the 2022 to 2023 tax year, however this had since been reversed and officers were awaiting further guidance about the support arrangements. The reforms were still due to come into effect in October 2023.

It was reported that in Wirral, there were approximately a further 900 people who were self-funding their own care who would come forward for assessment under the reforms, with an approximate further 1400 people receiving chargeable domiciliary care or other care in their own home who would be impacted by the changes. The full financial impact of the changes were still not fully understood, but an estimated cost of £1m was estimated to implement the changes including IT system changes and staffing.

It was reported that the report was being considered by the Place Based Partnership Board as the reforms would have an impact on the whole of the health and care system. The ongoing issues with retention and recruitment in social care were outlined, as well as the importance of engagement with the social care workforce at an early stage to assist with the implementation of the changes. The need for engagement with the third sector was also highlighted. The Assistant Director outlined that the use of online self-assessment would be encouraged and staff and the third sector would be engaged in this process as early as possible.

On a motion by Councillor Yvonne Nolan, seconded by Simone White, it was –

Resolved – That

(1)  the approach to the Council’s implementation of the charging reforms be endorsed.

(2)  the significant impact of the social care charging reforms, including on the Adult Care and Health budget and resources as well as the wider health and care system be recognised.