At last night’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, Cllr Steve Stubbings was reported as saying that the biggest issue facing the Isle of Wight council is the success of Adult Services, adding that it was critical to get it right.
As readers will know, the council is facing a £28m budget gap over the next three years due to a reduction in the Government grant.
Budgets available for Adult Social Care (ASC) do not seem to be ‘clear cut’ at the moment. Additional funding is likely through the transfer from Health, but it’s yet to be negotiated how much the council will receive from the pooled budget.
Utilising the Continuing Health Care scheme
The council are however, are hoping to reduce ASC costs by up to £1,000,000 in 2016/17 through the use of the NHS Continuing Health Care scheme.
This is a care package that is funded by the NHS and covers healthcare in the home or at a care home for those with ‘primary health needs’.
Staff will be encouraged to ensure that residents who are entitled to CHC receive it rather than the council be burdened with the costs of the care.
It’s hoped the changes could also save £350,000 in 2014/15 and £750,000 in 2015/16.
Reduction in Personal Budgets
Readers may remember the opposition to the introduction of Personal Budgets back in 2010. The changes resulted in centres such as Medina House closing.
The Island Independents are considering reducing the Personal Budget payments by £250,000 in 2014/15, followed by a reduction of £500,000 for 2015/15 and 2016/17.
They say,
The Island has made good progress with the implementation of Personal Budgets and Direct Payments and we now have several years’ worth of experience in identifying people’s needs and agreeing a personal budget which his designed to meet their unmet social care needs.
A confirmation and challenge panel meets on a weekly basis to agree the level of both new care packages and those being reviewed. Where appropriate this will be done gradually through the review process. These are high cost, low turnover cases; some degree of challenge (possibly legal) to change is possible.
Through the review process gradually reduce higher than average personal budget
payments.
Residential Care
Papers also reveal the Island Independents may reduce the number of admissions into residential care and instead invest in intensive home care.
They forecast this will bring savings of £350,000 in 2014/15, £750,000 in 2015/16 and a whopping £1,000,000 by 2016/17.
The papers state,
The IW has long standing high use of residential care for older persons. This is expensive and often fails to deliver the best possible outcomes for residents.
The My Life Programme has identified the need for a more person centre approach to the delivery of care and support. This coupled with the ongoing prevention focused integration programme with health, is designed to deliver the cultural change which will be required in the community, partners and Adult Social Care (ASC) employees to reduce the reliance on Residential placements.
The plan will be to invest in intensive home care as new clients enter the system, in the region of 15 hrs. may be appropriate. All new placements in a
residential setting are now being authorised by the challenge and confirm panel.
Charging for Respite Care
The importance of respite care for those living with long term conditions (and their carers) was highlighted by OnTheWight back in 2010 when the former Conservative council planned to close Westminster House.
The Island Independents have announced in their Medium Term Budget Strategy that they may consider increasing the charges for respite care.
A flat rate of £12.33 per day is currently charged to residents making use of the Respite Care services on the Island. An increase could bring savings of £150,000 pa for 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17.
The papers say,
The Council is able to make a charge for the respite services it provides to residents. This is currently charged at a Flat rate of £12.33 per day. The charge has not been increased for several years and although further modelling and consultation is required it is envisaged that additional income of £150k per year can be generated without deterring residents from taking advantage of the service.
For full details of all proposed cost savings see the document embedded below.
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Article edit:
Under respite care section: Changed from “A flat rate of £12.33 per day could be charged to residents” to “A flat rate of £12.33 per day is currently charged to residents making use of the Respite Care services on the Island. An increase could bring savings”
