Issue - meetings

The Director of Health and Wellbeing and the Operational Manager, Revenue and Payments, presented the Debt Management and Recovery Policy for Adult Social Care Debt, a high level Policy for how debt would be pursued.  It ensured that staff and customers were clear as to how the Authority took a fair and firm approach to the recovery of money owed to the Council for the provision of Adult Social Care Services.

At present the Council did not have any overarching policy framework for the management of Adult Social Care debt.  The Policy set out to formalise best practice and included guidance to ensure that there was a transparent, consistent and proportionate approach to the recovery of money owed to the Council having due regard to minimising arrears whilst not causing undue hardship or consequences to the customer as a result.

Discussion ensued on the Policy with the following issues raised/clarified:-

-          It may result in an increase in concerns from families where no payment had been made but hopefully it would see an increase  in debt recovery

-          When signing the Social  Care Assessment, a Service user was acknowledging that they knew there would be a charge. 

-          When visited by the Financial Assessment Officer, those receiving non-residential care would be asked to sign a declaration with regard to charges

-          Any debt owed by a deceased Service user was passed onto their estate and handled very sensitively

-          If it was felt that a carer was misusing a Service user’s funds, a referral would be made to Safeguarding.  There were various options open to the Authority if a carer did not feel that any charges should be paid

-          Before any formal legal action, a referral would be made to the Director for Health and Wellbeing

-          Every case was considered on its own merits

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Debt Management and Recovery Policy for Adult Social Care Debt be referred to Cabinet for adoption by Council.

(2)  That the forms used be reviewed to ensure clarity of the charges applicable once consent had been given.