Following a public consultation earlier this year about proposals to change the charging formula for providing adult social care, Enfield Council has decided not to implement any changes at present. Instead it will "take a longer and more in depth look at how best to ensure fairness in our charging policy and use of resources".
The changes that the council was consulting on would have affected people who require overnight care, for some of whom the charges made by the council would have increased by £27.50 a week. Presumably, the council will now seek to find ways of saving money the effects of which will be more evenly spread.
The next meeting of the Cabinet, on 15 November, will note the following statement by the Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care:
I want to thank all of the local people and representatives who have engaged with and responded to the recent consultation on potential changes to the Council’s Charging Policy for Adult Social Care Services. Having listened to and considered the strength and breadth of views expressed I will not be bringing forward any recommendations for decision at this meeting.
The Council is required to meet growing demand for the care and support of older and disabled people locally with insufficient funding from Central government, this has and will continue to necessitate a number of difficult decisions. In that context it is important to take a longer and more in depth look at how best to ensure fairness in our charging policy and use of resources in future years.
Cllr Alev Cazimoglu
For more information, see this earlier report and the sources to which it links.
