Brecon and Radnor Community Health Council

Consultation - Proposed Domiciliary LCO Committee - The National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (No.4) Order 2008 relating to  charging for Non-Residential Social Care (Domiciliary Care)

General comments: this report is welcomed as it is a positive move forward, towards equality and inclusion.  People should not be debarred from a service because they are unable to afford it.   

Question 1.   It is right and proper that the Welsh Assembly has this Legislative Competence Order.   There are many differences in English legislation when compared with Welsh legislation, this is why it is crucial that the Welsh Assembly has this power.  The ability to initiate the process and follow through provides an informed insight into the whole procedure as it affects the people of Wales.   Fully supportive of this.

Huge problems have arisen from people moving or being "placed out or County”: authorities reluctant to speak with one and other, arguments over who pays, who supports and so on.  

Voluntary organisations are often left to pick up the pieces and provide support for vulnerable people.    A National framework would help resolve these issues and end the postcode lottery which exists.   A standard sliding scale (with guidelines) would ease this problem.   Individuals living in one Authority should not be charged differently for the same service in another Authority.

Paragraph 11 is very true.   Clarity with clear guidelines would end this anomaly.     One example of this when I was working for a voluntary organisation this issue arose:

A young boy who lived near the border of an Authority had been placed in a supported workplace where he was content.  It was then 'found’ that he was actually being placed out of county and letters were sent to his home explaining that he would now have to attend a different venue for a completely different programme with people he did not know - all this was beyond his comprehension.    Apparently he had attended an out of county school and then been assessed with his peers and placed accordingly.  When this was identified the disruption began.

Question 2.   Paragraph 13 and 14 explain the restrictions which hamper the Assembly government in ensuring a fairer and more consistent system throughout.

As outlined in paragraph 15 it is important to assist vulnerable people and continue to provide valuable services at an affordable price.  Increasing prices for service delivery can be stressful for people and often may result in them having no option but to opt out of the system as they become too costly.

Paragraph 17 explains succinctly why new powers would assist the Welsh Assembly in providing a fair consistent approach to charging.     

Question 3.   Paragraph 18 explains the issue that arises with the limited scope the Welsh Assembly have in relation to private care providers, they are able to charge what they like!

One concern in relation to paragraph 19: who will be responsible for overseeing this and how will be monitored?

Another concern relating to the geographical what happens if a person receives a service from England and lives in Wales? And vice versa?