(An opportunity for Committee Members to receive a response to prior notified questions from the relevant Director/ Assistant Director, relating to pertinent, topical issues affecting their Directorate – maximum of 10 minutes allocated ).
Minutes:
None received.
Jane Wood, Strategic Director of Community and Wellbeing, brought to Members attention the following recent developments:
The Dilnot Report
Members were informed that the Dilnot Commission Report had been completed on how to reform the funding system for adult social care. One of the key proposals was to share the costs of care in later life between individuals and the state, with individuals paying for their own care until they reached a ‘cap’, after which the state would pay for their care.
At present, an individual’s contributions towards their care costs was potentially unlimited. The Dilnot Report was proposing to cap the contributions at £35,000, after which the individual would be eligible for full state support. The key points about the practicalities of implementing the proposed funding system were outlined.
Once the Government’s response to the report was known and whether the recommendations were going to be accepted, a further report would be submitted to the Committee for consideration and the potential impacts for those affected within the Borough.
Southern Cross
It was brought to Members’ attention that Southern Cross, one of the largest care providers within the private market, had recently announced that due to financial sustainability issues, it would be withdrawing its services from the care market.
It was noted that two residential care homes in Slough were currently in receipt of services from Southern Cross. The Director stated that as the Local Authority, the Council had a responsibility to ensure that the individuals who were affected by these changes continued to receive the appropriate level of care. A number of meetings, with various partner organisations including the PCT and neighbouring authorities had been scheduled to examine in detail the process of the transition of services.
Members asked a number of questions regarding staffing levels at the two affected residential homes and how the suitability of any future care providers would be ascertained. The Committee was advised that any care provider would need to be registered with the Quality Care Commission and a business assessment would be made prior to any decision being made.