Item 8-Appendix 3
West Dunbartonshire Council · 5 March 2025
Back to West Dunbartonshire Council — 5 March 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Some pages contain no extractable text. They may be blank, graphics or scanned pages. OCR has not been applied.
Page 1
Assessment No 1210 Owner Laura Evans Resource Health Social Care Partnership(HSCP) Service/Establishment Joint Name Julie Slavin Job title Chief Finance Officer Head Officer Julie Slavin Members Julie Slavin – Chief Financial Officer Terry Wall – HSCP Accountant Yvonne Sloan – HSCP Accountant Cheryl Taylor – Self Direct Support Manager Sheryl Harvey - HSCP Accountant Jacqueline Carson – Integrated Operations Manager(IOM) Care at Home and Reablement services Theresa Connor – IOM Adult and hospital discharge services Anne Kane – IOM Mental Health Services Bernadette Smith – IOM Residential Care Julie Campbell - IOM Mental Health Services Sylvia Chatfield – Head of Service Learning Disability, Addictions and Mental health Fiona Taylor - Head of Health and Community Care Ailsa King – Equalities Lead and Health Improvement Officer Gillian Gall – Head of HSCP Human Resources Gemma Cowie – IOM for Learning Disability services Policy Title Charging Policy Changes 2025/2026 The aim, objective, purpose and intended outcome of policy Consider if the following changes should be implemented or not. Add in different thresholds based on age Increase taper from 50% to 75% Charge Independ Living Fund (ILF) service users for social care Service/Partner s/Stakeholders/ service users involved in the Development and/or implementation of policy. Internal Stakeholders Julie Slavin – Chief Financial Officer Terry Wall – HSCP Accountant Yvonne Sloan – HSCP Accountant Cheryl Taylor – Self Direct Support Manager Sheryl Harvey - HSCP Accountant Jacqueline Carson – Integrated Operations Manager(IOM) Care at Home and Reablement services Theresa Connor – IOM Adult and hospital discharge services Anne Kane – IOM Mental Health Services Bernadette Smith – IOM Residential Care Julie Campbell - IOM Mental Health Services Sylvia Chatfield – Head of Service Learning Disability, Addictions and Mental health APPENDIX 3
Page 2
Fiona Taylor - Head of Health and Community Care Ailsa King – Equalities Lead and Health Improvement Officer Gillian Gall – Head of HSCP Human Resources Gemma Cowie – IOM for Learning Disability services Three public consultations took place held on the 21, 29 and 30 October across Clydebank and Dumbarton. The session held on the 21 was open to partner organisations and HSCP operational services only and the sessions on the 29 and 30 were open to members of the public, partner organisations and HSCP operational services. The two public consultations were promoted via Twitter and Facebook, and partner organisations and operational managers within HSCP were asked to share with their service users. The partner organisations and HSCP operational services invited to the three sessions were; Carers of West Dunbartonshire; Improving Lives; Shop Mobility; Glasgow Disability Alliance; HSCP Adult Day services Mental Health Network Greater Glasgow and Clyde; Golden Hands of Friendship; Kinship Carers; HSCP Learning Disability service; Adult Social Work team; HSCP Self-Directed Support Team; HSCP Mental Health services; and HSCP Addiction services. On the 21 October, ten service users and/or carers attended with representatives from Carers of West Dunbartonshire. HSCP staff facilitated this session. On the 29 October, six members of the public attended, with members from Improving Lives, Mental Health network and West Dunbartonshire Councilors representative their constituents attended. HSCP staff facilitated this session. On the 30 October, seven members of the public attended, with members from Kinship Carers, Shop Mobility and Glasgow Disability Alliance. HSCP staff facilitated this session. A survey was created to capture the views of those who could not attend the face to face public consultation. The survey was sent out via West Dunbartonshire Council Facebook page, HSCP Twitter page, partner organisations and HSCP operational managers. This survey closed on Monday 6 January 2025.
Page 3
Does the proposals involve the procurement of any Goods or services? No If yes please confirm that you have contacted our procurement services to discuss your requirements. No SCREENING You must indicate if there is any relevance to the four areas Duty to eliminate discrimination (E), advance equal opportunities (A) or foster good relations (F) Yes Relevance to Human Rights (HR) Yes Relevance to Health Impacts (H) Yes Relevance to Social Economic Impacts (SE) Yes Who will be affected by this policy? All citizens of West Dunbartonshire who could be prospective users of a HSCP service, current users of a HSCP service will be affected by this policy. Who will be/has been involved in the consultation process? Meeting held on the 14/03/2024 with the following group: Julie Slavin – Chief Financial Officer Terry Wall – HSCP Accountant Yvonne Sloan – HSCP Accountant Cheryl Taylor – Self Direct Support Manager Sheryl Harvey - HSCP Accountant Jacqueline Carson – Integrated Operations Manager(IOM) Care at Home and Reablement services Theresa Connor – IOM Adult and hospital discharge services Anne Kane – IOM Mental Health Services Bernadette Smith – IOM Residential Care Julie Campbell - IOM Mental Health Services Sylvia Chatfield – Head of Service Learning Disability, Addictions and Mental health Fiona Taylor - Head of Health and Community Care Ailsa King – Equalities Lead and Health Improvement Officer Gillian Gall – Head of HSCP Human Resources Gemma Cowie – IOM for Learning Disability services Three public consultations took place held on the 21, 29 and 30 October across Clydebank and Dumbarton. The session held on the 21 was open to partner organisations and HSCP operational services only and the sessions on the 29 and 30 were open to members of the public, partner organisations and HSCP operational services. The two public consultations were promoted via Twitter and Facebook, and partner organisations and operational managers within HSCP were asked to share with their service users. The partner organisations and HSCP operational services invited to the three sessions were;
Page 4
Carers of West Dunbartonshire; Improving Lives; Shop Mobility; Glasgow Disability Alliance; HSCP Adult Day services Mental Health Network Greater Glasgow and Clyde; Golden Hands of Friendship; Kinship Carers; HSCP Learning Disability service; Adult Social Work team; HSCP Self-Directed Support Team; HSCP Mental Health services; and HSCP Addiction services. On the 21 October, ten service users and/or carers attended with representatives from Carers of West Dunbartonshire. HSCP staff facilitated this session. On the 29 October, six members of the public attended, with members from Improving Lives, Mental Health network and West Dunbartonshire Councilors representative their constituents attended. HSCP staff facilitated this session. On the 30 October, seven members of the public attended, with members from Kinship Carers, Shop Mobility and Glasgow Disability Alliance. HSCP staff facilitated this session. A survey was created to capture the views of those who could not attend the face to face public consultation. The survey was sent out via West Dunbartonshire Council Facebook page, HSCP Twitter page, partner organisations and HSCP operational managers. This survey closed on Monday 6 January 2025. Please outline any particular need/barriers which equality groups may have in Relation to this policy list evidence you are using to support this and whether there is any negative impact on particular groups.
Page 5
Protected Characteristic Needs Evidence Impact Age There is a clear relationship between long-term health conditions or disability and increasing age. In 2020, the Scottish Health Survey found that the prevalence of any long-term condition increased with age, from 32% among those aged 16-44, to 68% among those aged 75 and over. The ageing population nationally and within West Dunbartonshire mean that there will be expected increase in demand on a HSCP services. The Adult Strategic Needs assessment http://www.wdhscp .org.uk/media/2521 /sna-aop-june- 2022.pdf https://www.gov.scot/binaries/c ontent/documents/govscot/pub lications/research-and- analysis/2022/06/national-care -service-adult-social-care- scotland-equality-evidence- review/documents/adult-social- care-scotland-equality- evidence-review/adult-social- care-scotland-equality- evidence- review/govscot%3Adocument/ adult-social-care-scotland- equality-evidence-review.pdf Service Users Negative Adding in different threshold for those who are at retirement age and those who are not, means those who haven’t reached retirement age have a lesser threshold to meet and have a higher chance they will need to pay a charge. The Equalities act states age as a protected characteristic meaning that no one should be discriminated based on their age. COSLA state HSCPs should consider this if there will be different thresholds based on age. A service user may cancel the service if they cannot afford it. Service Users – Positive The revised Area Resource Group process, requires every service user to have a completed My Life Assessment and financial assessment. These documents allow a discussion with the service user if they wish for their benefits to be maximized and a referral to be made. The process allows practitioners to think that non critical services such as social support, day service, are services which service users can use their benefits to pay for. HSCP negative impact If HSCP implemented different thresholds for those who are retired or not, there is a risk of reputational damage, as the thresholds were removed in 2022 because of the equality impact on age. Disability In 2019 29% of West Dunbartonshire adults had a limiting long-term physical or mental health Condition. Learning disability rates are above the Scottish Average. Individuals with learning disabilities have some of the poorest health outcomes of any group in Scotland. A large proportion of the current service users would be classified as having a disability The adult Strategic needs assessment - http://www.wdhscp.org.uk/med ia/2521/sna-aop-june-2022.pdf Service user – positive Those who receive Independent Living fund are typically a service user of the Learning and physical disability service. Currently those receiving ILF are not required to pay any charges for a HSCP service as they already contribute towards their services via their ILF. On the 1st April 2024, the ILF fund was open to everyone. This means there will be a higher amount of people who will have access to this fund and be eligible for a free service. Service User negative impact ILF service user pay the ILF fund an amount for services they receive. If ILF service users were to be charged, this mean they would need to pay the maximum HSCP charge minus the charge they pay ILF, which would equal the charge ILF service users would be charged by HSCP. HSCP negative impact In 2022, HSCP decided not to pay ILF service users, if ILF service users were to be charged there is a risk of reputational damage to HSCP. Gender reassign There is no national data about gender reassignment and people who access social The adult Strategic needs assessment Positive and negative impact - included in cross cutting section.
Page 6
care. However, given the prevalence of social care needs in the population and across the life course, it is likely that some trans people will require social care support. http://www.wdhscp.org.uk/med ia/2521/sna-aop-june-2022.pdf Marriage and Civil Partnership Those who are married or in a civil partnership may be a service user of the HSCP Care at Home service. Evidence of relationship status can be found on the My Life Assessment Service user – Negative If a service user has a partner who lives in the same household, then their finances need to be reviewed collectively even if only one person receives social care support. If the threshold is split based on age, then the partnership threshold will be different based on the age of the service charge. For example, if you are a couple and are below the retirement age then the threshold is lower. Service user positive impact If one of couple are of retirement age, then the higher threshold will be used. Positive and negative impact - included in cross cutting section. Pregnancy and Maternity There is no national data about pregnancy and maternity and social care. However, there is a substantial cohort of women of child-bearing age who are receiving social care, and many of this group are likely to experience pregnancy and maternity. There are 22,710 women aged 18-64 receiving social care in Scotland. Within the general population, there are around 50 live births per 1,000 women of childbearing age79 in Scotland. Evidence of status can be found on the My Life Assessment Positive and negative impact - included in cross cutting section. Race Research by the ALLIANCE and Self-Directed Support Scotland (SDSS), which explored people's experience of Self-directed Support and social care in Scotland, highlighted barriers to support for Black and minority ethnic people, including: access to information and advice; and cultural awareness and understanding. This was particularly the case for Black and minority ethnic women, and the report suggests that this could be associated with women having less fluency in English in home communities. https://www.gov.scot/publ ications/race-equality- framework-scotland-2016 -2030/documents/ Evidence of race can be found on the My Life Assessment Positive and negative impact - included in cross cutting section. Religion and Belief There is no national data on religion or belief for people who access social care, although NRS analysis of population data suggests that Scotland is becoming more ethnically and religiously diverse. Evidence of religion/belief can be found on the My Life Assessment Positive and negative impact - included in cross cutting section. Sex Life expectancy is lower than the Scottish average for both men and Women within WDC. Evidence of sex can be found on the My Life Assessment Positive and negative impact - included in cross cutting section.
Page 7
Research by the ALLIANCE and Self-Directed Support Scotland (SDSS), which explored people's experience of Self-directed Support and social care in Scotland found some variation in men and women’s experiences. For participants in this study, women had generally received less information about Self-directed Support options and budgets than men, and were less content with the quality of information that they received The adult Strategic needs assessment - http://www.wdhscp.org.uk/med ia/2521/sna-aop-june-2022.pdf Sexual Orientation LGBTQI+ identities are associated with poorer health and wellbeing. The adult Strategic needs assessment - http://www.wdhscp.org.uk/med ia/2521/sna-aop-june-2022.pdf Positive and negative impact - included in cross cutting section. Human Rights Right to equality Fairness Respect Equality Dignity Autonomy The right for respect for private and family life, dignity and autonomy protected by the HRA (Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights) and by Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Human Rights Act Positive and negative impact - included in cross cutting section. Health The longstanding impacts of poverty, poor employment and multiple deprivation have led to a less healthy population in West Dunbartonshire. The adult Strategic needs assessment - http://www.wdhscp.org.uk/med ia/2521/sna-aop-june-2022.pdf Positive and negative impact - included in cross cutting section. Social and Economic Impact Overall, substantially higher proportions of people in the most deprived areas in Scotland receive home care support; 26% of people receiving home care lived in the most deprived areas, compared to 13.9% in the least deprived. However, this varies by age; 36.2% of those aged 16-64 receiving home care lived in the most deprived areas, compared to 7.5% in the least deprived, while there was little difference in the age 85 and over age group The adult Strategic needs assessment - http://www.wdhscp.org.uk/med ia/2521/sna-aop-june-2022.pdf Positive and negative impact - included in cross cutting section. Cross Cutting Impacts on all protected characteristics and external impacts. The adult Strategic needs assessment - http://www.wdhscp.org.uk/med ia/2521/sna-aop-june-2022.pdf Service User - Positive impact Personal care is a free service within Scotland. Personal care will continue to be provided and be free to all ages and to service users who are eligible for the service. Removing the maximum charge, means service users who can afford to pay for services will do so.
Page 8
The revised ARG process, requires every service user to have a completed My Life Assessment and financial assessment. These documents allow a discussion with the service user if they wish for their benefits to be maximized and a referral to be made. The process allows practitioners to think that non critical services such as social support, day service, are services which service users can use their benefits to pay for. Those who receive Independent Living fund are typically a service user of the Learning and physical disability service. Currently those receiving ILF are not required to pay any charges for a HSCP service as they already contribute towards their services via their ILF. On the 1st April 2024, the ILF fund was open to everyone. This means there will be a higher amount of people who will have access to this fund and be eligible for a free service. Service user – Negative Impact If a service user has a partner who lives in the same household, then their finances need to be reviewed collectively even if only one person receives social care support. If the threshold is split based on age, then the partnership threshold will be different based on age. For example, if you are a couple and are below the retirement age then the threshold is lower. Adding in different threshold for those who are at retirement age and those who are not, means those who haven’t reached retirement age have a lesser threshold to meet and have a higher chance they will need to pay a charge. The Equalities act states age as a protected characteristic meaning that no one should be discriminated based on their age. COSLA state HSCPs should consider this if there will be different thresholds based on age. Currently service users pay 50p for every £1 of means tested services. By increasing the taper to 75% this means service users would pay 75p for every £1. This means service users will be paying for the same service they receive now. This could lead to cancelling the service and not meeting their required outcomes. A service user may cancel the service if they cannot afford it. ILF service user pay the ILF fund an amount for services they receive. If ILF service users were to be charged, this mean they would need to pay the maximum HSCP charge minus the charge they pay ILF, which would equal the charge ILF service users would be charged by HSCP.
Page 9
Issue Description Action Description Actioner Name Due Date Ownership of supporting service users with benefit forms. Consider who should be helping service users complete benefit forms. Currently a social worker should refer to Working4u or help the service user complete the form Julie Slavin TBC Under-utilisation of Attendance Allowance. Currently in WDC. Promote the under- utilisation of Attendance Allowance. Currently 15% of eligible citizens receive attendance allowance, meaning 85% should be, but aren’t. Julie Slavin TBC Policy has a negative impact on an equality group, but is still to be Implemented, please provide justification for this. The charges are for non-critical services, service users who use these services are eligible for attendance allowance, and can use these benefits to pay for these services. Will the impact of the policy be monitored and reported on an ongoing bases? HSCP positive impact Other Local Authorities will be increasing their taper, therefore WDC HSCP would be implementing a similar change. HSCP negative impact If HSCP implemented different thresholds for those who are retired or not, there is a risk of reputational damage, as the thresholds were removed in 2022 because of the equality impact on age. In 2022, HSCP decided not to pay ILF service users, if ILF service users were to be charged there is a risk of reputational damage to HSCP.
Page 10
Yes – the charging policy is reviewed on a yearly basis. Q7 What is you recommendation for this policy? Implement the following changes: Add in different thresholds based on age Increase taper from 50% to 75% Charge ILF service users for social care Please provide a meaningful summary of how you have reached the Reviewing the feedback from consultation and feedback from staff.
Page 11
No embedded text on this page.