Charges for adult care are set to be considered by county councillors – as the authority looks at ways to plug a funding gap of £11.3m in the coming financial year.

Reports to be put before a meeting of Dorset County Council’s cabinet recommend a public consultation before the means-testing proposals are introduced in April.

A forecast for the next three financial years also reveals that the authority is facing a budget gap of £11.3m for 2017/18 and a gap of £8.5m for 2018/19. More than £4m is set to come out of the adult and community services budget during both years to help close the funding gap.

Proposed changes to adult care charges include:

  • Scrapping the automatic 25 per cent discount on disability-related income
  • Adopting direct debit and upfront payment for residential and non-residential charges
  • Introducing ‘top up’ payments if a person’s accommodation costs exceed the personal budget granted
  • Administration charges
  • Withdrawing discretionary transport payments or simplifying the price structure
  • Finding a way to make the Service Users Financial Affairs (SUFA) team cost effective.

This team manages the financial affairs of those who do not have the mental capacity to do so themselves. Demand is growing but the fee income covers only around 60 per cent of the team’s costs.

The county council said that charging those who can afford it will be a policy which is fair to everyone, and it may help avoid further cuts to services.

The subsidies of services within the scope of the review cost the authority £1.3m.

Cllr Jill Haynes, cabinet member for adult social care at Dorset County Council, said: “The proposed review will help us to take further steps towards putting people in control of their own care and support, just as the Care Act 2014 expects us to do.

“It is good to be able to decide our own policy for Dorset locally, but we will also be guided by principles in the Care Act that promote affordability; consistency; wellbeing; and making sure that we give good support to people who care for others.”

In the report, the risk assessment over the issue is judged to be 'high' as there is ‘inadequate finance to meet legislative, political and public expectations’.

The policy was last considered in early 2015 when a consultation was carried out.

The cabinet is set to discuss the issue of charges, and the medium-term financial plan at a meeting at County Hall in Dorchester next Wednesday.

Helen Coombes, Director for Adult and community services said: “Client contributions are an important part of the adult social care budget, and the additional income that will be achieved through the proposed changes will be spent on providing care.

"If approved, there is likely to be a phasing in of the new policies.

"Any additional income will help to offset the savings of £4.1million in 2017/18 and £4.3million in 2018/19 and therefore reduce the level of service reductions we have to make. It is currently anticipated to be in the region of £1.3million additional per year by year three.”