Scottish Borders Council Non-Residential Charging Policy for 2021 - 2022

Overview

The Social Care Charging Policy explains how the Scottish Borders
Council (SBC) works out what people should pay towards the cost of
their council-funded care and support, based on their ability to pay.

People can either use their benefits to arrange and pay for their care and support privately or they can use them to pay for care and support arranged for them by the Council.

Why is the Policy Changing? 

SBC wants to continue to help people to live at home as independently as possible for as long as possible. To enable this SBC must consider and calculate how service users contribute towards the cost of their care and support.

The income generated from contributions enables SBC to continue providing a service to all of those who have an assessed need through the delivery of high quality services.

There are national rules about charges for non-residential care and support services. SBC complies in every regard to those rules whilst considering the impact on people through changes to the charging policy.

We realise that implementing these changes in the context of COVID 19 requires a greater need to consult and involve stakeholders with regards to that impact. 

A copy of the draft policy can be downloaded from the bottom of this page.

Why your views matter

Having a consultation means that we can reflect your views in any final recommendations that are presented to Councillors before changes, if any, are made.

SBC is considering five key changes to the Non Residential Charging Policy.

• The level of funding that you will receive will not exceed the cost of the equivalent local authority arranged services
• Chargeable housing support services within Extra Care Housing will be proportionate to the level of assessed support and subject to financial assessment
• The implementation of an Upper Capital Threshold in line with COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) guidance
• Extended short breaks will be charged in line with Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG) regulations
• Taper rate increased to 100%

As well as undertaking specific consultation with people who use our services, we are also asking the general public to share their views about our proposals.

Paper copies of the Consultation and Easy Read versions are available by emailing: 
socialworkconsultation@scotborders.gov.uk or by calling
Customer Advice and Support on 0300 100 1800.

The easy read version is also available here.

What happens next

Following the consultation a report on the  Non Residential Charging Policy will be considered by Council.

At this meeting Council will take into account the feedback given throughout the consultation and make adjustments to the Policy.

If a decision is made to make changes to the Non Residential Charging Policy individual letters will be sent to everyone who is directly affected by the changes. If accepted, the proposed changes will be implemented from 1st April 2021.