A new charging policy is set to be introduced for a number of non-residential social care services later this year (November) in an attempt to protect more vulnerable service users from the impact of growing demand and costs of providing care.

A meeting of Falkirk Council today heard how services such as day care, care at home, meals on wheels and home shopping delivery as well as continuing budget overspends in recent years had led to the decision to introduce new charges and amend existing ones.

A wide ranging independent consultation was carried out earlier this year with service users and carers where views expressed included:

• Charging is generally accepted as being appropriate given the financial climate;
• Any policy should be fair, open and transparent;
• Those receiving services should make a contribution but not meet all the costs;
• No-one pays more than they can actually afford and;
• Dialogue should continue during the implementation of any policy.

Cllr Craig Martin, Leader of Falkirk Council said: ‘This is clearly not a desirable situation to be in however we are facing a big increase in demand for some of these services and this, coupled with the rise in the cost of these services has made it impossible to continue to provide a quality social work service or to reduce other core services to more vulnerable groups of users.

‘While we have maintained a high priority with our social work budgets in the past few years by allocating an additional £6m, it is clear we simply can't compete against the difficult economic choices to be made in today's harsh financial climate.

‘The response to the consultation accepted that users saw the introduction of some new charges as almost inevitable and the charges are in line with the majority of other Scottish local authorities who have already introduced similar schemes based on national guidance.

‘We will monitor progress of this scheme very closely to ensure that only those who can afford the charges are eligible to pay and that we communicate effectively with all our service users and carers to keep them fully informed of the progress being made.'

A number of protections will be put in place such as capped charges, protection for those on low and minimum incomes and links to income thresholds as provided by the Department for Work & Pensions.

For example, a couple over 65 would pay nothing unless their income was over £236 per week. The capped charge for older people would be a maximum of £13 per week, based on someone receiving a shopping service, house work service and MECS. The capped charge for adults under 65 would be a maximum of £23.90, payable only where the person is receiving middle or higher rate Disability Living Allowance.

It is expected that approximately £690,000 will be accrued as a result of the scheme.

A further report will be brought to elected members in February 2011 that will provide an update on implementation.