Services that are chargeable

Administration charges will be applied to the arrangement or administration of some services. A full list of administration charges will be set out in the list of Social Services Fees and Charges. PCC will pass on the cost of obtaining a legal charge against an asset, such as property, whether it is as part of a deferred payment agreement or due to non-payment of care charges.

Appointeeship

PCC acts as an appointee to manage the receipt of benefits payments and payment of bills for service users who live in the community or in a care home.

Charge – This service is charged at a flat rate per week.

Community Alarms & Assistive Technology

Community Alarms and some assistive technology are provided to support people to maintain their independence is the community.

Charge – These services will be charged at a flat rate.

Day opportunities

Day Opportunities can include a range of services.

Day opportunities provided in one of the Council’s day/social activity centres will be charged at a daily rate. This will be subject to the weekly non-residential maximum charge.
Day opportunities provided in other settings will be charged based on individual circumstances and will be subject to the weekly non-residential maximum charge.
Training opportunities provided to meet assessed needs will be charged according to the programme being accessed; and will be subject to the weekly non-residential maximum charge.

Please see the PCC Day Opportunities policy for full details.

Deputyship

PCC acts as a deputy for financial matters for service users to manage all financial matters on their behalf.

Charge – This service is charged at the rates as set by the Office of The Public Guardian.

Direct payments

Direct Payments are provided to meet a range of needs. Direct Payment awards are paid net of contribution. This means that the service user must pay their contribution into the account that the direct payment award is paid into. This ensures that the service user can purchase the level of care and support required to meet their needs. Failure to pay the contribution may result in a lower award in subsequent years following a review. This is because it will appear that the person is able to meet their needs with a lower award. Financial reviews will take place to monitor appropriate use of direct payment awards and payment of contributions. Please see the Direct Payments policy for more details. This charge is referred to as a contribution. The person (or financial representative) will be liable for costs arising from directly entering into an agreement with a service provider.

These costs could include but won’t be limited to, notice periods etc.

If the Declaration of means form has not been received at the start of the Direct Payment service, payment will be made gross. The backdated contribution will be recovered once the financial assessment has been completed and the contribution amount determined. This means the service user will be invoiced for their contribution and this will be recovered either through a reduced direct payment until the balance is settled, or by payment of the balance by the service user to PCC.

Home and Community Support (also known as Domiciliary care, Home care and Supported living services)

This is provided at home, which includes supported living settings. This support includes but is not limited to personal care, background or direct support, shared support (support shared by more than one person), sleep-in or waking nights for those in supported living tenancies and replacement care. If a service user’s carer(unpaid) is unable to provide regular care for a short period replacement care may be considered as an alternative. Replacement care will be provided in the form of domiciliary care and will be charged in the same way.

Charge - This is charged per hour on a weekly basis. This will be subject to the weekly non-residential maximum charge. Rent for supported living settings, paid by PCC on behalf of the service user will be recovered in full from the service user. The service user should use housing benefit to cover this cost. The portion of rent not covered by housing benefit will be disregarded in the financial assessment.

The cost of shared hours in Supported living settings will be apportioned according to the number of service users in a shared hours arrangement. This change will only affect those who are:

Charged less than their assessed income available to pay for care. For example Mr A’s financial assessment shows he has £80 per week that may be used for care charges. His current care package cost is £50 per week and this is what he is being charged. If someone leaves his shared hours arrangement his charge will increase but if someone joins, his charge will decrease.
Charged at the level of their assessed income. For example Mr B’s financial assessment shows he has £80 per week that may be used for care charges. His current care package cost is £90 per week and he is being charged £80. If someone leaves his shared hours arrangement his charge will remain at £80 but if someone joins, his charge may decrease.
Charged the maximum weekly charge. For example Mr D’s financial assessment shows he has £135 per week that may be used for care charges. His current care package cost is £250 per week and he is being charged the weekly maximum. If someone leaves his shared hours arrangement his charge will remain the same but if someone joins, his charge may decrease.

Meals

Meals provided in residential settings, in Day centres and Pembrokeshire County Council social activity centres.

Charge – Meals are charged at a flat rate, per meal. This will not be subject to the weekly non-residential maximum charge

Permanent residential care

A permanent residential/nursing care placement is one that is expected to last longer than 12 months. Everyone who takes up a permanent residential/nursing placement will have to pay towards the cost, with the exception of someone subject to s117 (see "who will not be charged" for more details). A financial assessment will determine how much a person will have to pay. The person will be left with at least the weekly minimum income amount set out in regulations.

Charge - Permanent residential/nursing care will be charged under residential care rules. Please see the paragraphs relating to ordinary residence, financial assessments, additional cost contributions, self-funding, full cost charge and choice of accommodation for more details.

Reablement

Reablement is short term support to maintain or regain independence. It is provided for up to a maximum of 6 weeks in a person’s home in the community. This period may be affected by the provision of intermediate care [also known as reablement bed service] immediately preceding reablement in the community. This means if a person has two weeks in a reablement bed and then continues reablement at home, only up to four weeks of reablement at home will be free of charge.

Charge - After the initial period (as stipulated in the care plan) reablement will be charged at the same rate as home and community support, per hour on a weekly basis; subject to the weekly maximum.

Shared care

Shared care refers to a package of support that will include more than one type of support. This care package is used to help someone transition from one type of support to another. For full details on shared care please refer to the Shared care policy.

If the care package is a combination of non-residential and residential care, the charging rules that will be applied will depend on the % split between these service types. A charge for each service will be assessed and the % split applied. It will be the responsibility of the service user or their financial representative to ensure Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) are informed which services the person receives on which days.

Shared lives (adult placement)

Shared lives services include:

Long term arrangements - in a home with approved carers who provide care and support for a period greater than 6 months.

Charge - Flat rated charge for full board and lodging will be the responsibility of the service user or their financial representative. These charges are funded by housing benefit and therefore outside of the social services charging regulations and code of practice. Typically ordinary living costs such as food are the responsibility of service users.

Short Term Arrangements - in a home with approved carers who provide care and support for a period between 1 and 6 months.

Charge - Shared Lives administrators will ensure service users are provided with relevant financial forms to complete so that a non-residential financial assessment can be done to determine their charge. Short breaks and short term arrangements should last no longer than 8 weeks. If the arrangement must continue then the long term charge will be applied.

Short Breaks - with approved carers who provide care and support for a period.

Charge – Shared Lives administrators will ensure service users are provided with relevant financial forms to complete so that a non-residential financial assessment can be done to determine their charge. Short breaks and short term arrangements should last no longer than 8 weeks. If the arrangement must continue then the long term charge will be applied.

Urgent Arrangements - for the provision of accommodation or support at short notice for a period [what period].

Charge – Flat rated charge for full board and lodging arrangements will be the responsibility of the service user or their financial representative. These charges are funded by housing benefit and therefore outside of the social services charging regulations and code of practice. Typically ordinary living costs such as food are the responsibility of service users.

Sessional Support - for the provision of support on an hourly basis.

Additional Personal Care/Support - for the provision of support on an hourly basis in support of any of the other Shared Lives support arrangements.

Short breaks

This is the continued provision of care and support in settings other than registered care homes, including but not limited to hotels. These services may be provided for those in receipt of care and support in the community who require a short break. These will not exceed one week in length. These are provided to meet assessed needs of service users and/or unpaid carers.

Charge - These will be charged based on individual circumstances in accordance with non-residential charging regulations.

Short term residential/Nursing care beds

This is a stay in a registered residential setting (e.g. Care Home) that typically does not exceed 8 consecutive weeks. If a service user’s carer(unpaid) is unable to provide regular care for a short period a short term bed placement may be considered as an alternative. This will be chargeable under the relevant charging rules.

Charge - A nightly rate will be applied based on the weekly rates of individual care homes. This will be subject to the weekly non-residential maximum charge. The night care rate of any benefits the person is receiving will be used in the financial assessment to determine a charge for short term residential stays. If a consecutive stay lasting for 7 nights or less, falls across two weeks then the service user will be charged per night and also be subject to the weekly non-residential maximum charge or their assessed charge whichever is lower.

Example A – Mr A is receiving domiciliary care and is paying £50.00 per week. As per his financial assessment £50 is the maximum he can pay per week. He has 1 week respite at a care home from Monday to Monday, during which he receives no domiciliary care. The cost of the care home is £872.51 per week, he still pays only £50.00

Example B – Ms G is being supported by her family and receives no other social service support at home. Ms G has been allocated two weeks a year for respite as per her financial assessment £100 is the maximum she can pay per week. Ms G will be having two nights respite this week on Tuesday and Wednesday and two nights respite next week on Friday and Saturday. The nightly rate is £124.64 but Ms G will only be charged £100 for the first week and £100 for the second week.

Example C – Ms G has also booked in to have a full week’s respite from Wednesday to the following Wednesday. At a nightly rate of £124.64 this comes to £872.51 for the 7 nights. As this is a consecutive stay of 7 nights, Ms G will only be charged £100.

Intermediate care or rehabilitation/Reablement beds

Just like reablement this care could be provided where there is an assessed need, for up to 6 weeks free of charge. This care is provided to facilitate a safe discharge or to prevent a hospital admission. This care is not provided while a person is waiting for another care package to be provided at their home in the community. A person may be eligible for an extension which will be based on a review of assessed needs on a case by case basis.

Charge – Initial period up to 6 weeks will be free of charge. This period may be affected by the provision of reablement in the community immediately preceding the reablement bed placement. This means if a person has two weeks reablement in the community and then continues reablement in a reablement bed placement, only up to four weeks in the reablement bed placement will be free of charge. After the initial free period (up to 6 weeks depending on assessment), the next 8 weeks will be charged according to non-residential rules. See “short term residential/nursing care beds” for more details. After 8 weeks and up to 12 months the person will be charged according to the residential charging rules for temporary placements. After 12 months the person will be charged according to the rules for permanent placements.

Interim Support - (awaiting domiciliary care) Beds

A person who is medically optimised and ready for discharge (This will include having been assessed by social services.), but for whom domiciliary care cannot immediately be sourced, will be offered a bed in an appropriate care home.

Charge - For the first 8 weeks the charge will be based on the assessed number of domiciliary care hours the person would need. After the first 8 weeks the case will be reviewed and the person will be charged according to the residential charging rules for temporary placements. After 12 months the person will be charged according to the rules for permanent placements.

Respite

For those who have been assessed as needing respite, details in "short term residential/nursing care beds" above will apply as well as the following:

The person receiving the respite will be charged. This means that respite provided to allow an unpaid carer a break will be charged to the person receiving the service.
The number of weeks respite to be provided will be determined as part of the integrated assessment and will be included in the person’s/carer’s care plan.
A person who has been awarded a direct payment for respite will be responsible for any shortfall between their direct payment amount and the cost of the respite placement.
Additional cost contributions will need to be paid if the person chooses a more expensive option to that agreed in the care plan.
Respite Services at PCC Care Homes [Havenhurst, Milford House and Hillside]

A person who is not ordinarily resident in Pembrokeshire will be charged full cost.
A Pembrokeshire resident who has been provided with a direct payment (DP) for respite services will be charged the full cost. This means that the person will need to pay any shortfall between the full cost and their DP amount.
A Pembrokeshire resident who is not known or has not been assessed, by social services for respite services will need to refer through the first contact team to establish eligibility for respite. If this assessment identifies a need for respite then non-residential charging will apply up to the national weekly maximum charge.
A Pembrokeshire resident who does not wish to be assessed by social services for respite services and wants to purchase this service privately will be charged the full cost.

Charge – Please see "short term residential/nursing care beds"

Temporary residential stay

A temporary residential stay in a registered residential/nursing care home is expected to last longer than 8 consecutive weeks, up to 12 months. Everyone who takes up a temporary residential/nursing placement will have to pay towards the cost, with the exception of someone subject to s117 (See "who will not be charged" for more details).

Transport

Service users who do not have an assessed need for transport will be responsible for transport costs required to access services such as day centres or activities in the community.

Charge - Transport will usually be charged on a journey by journey basis at a flat rate. In most instances this will be a transaction between the service user and the transport provider.

Social Services Charging Policy