AQW 31012/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 16/03/2022
Answered On Date: 25/03/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the (i) process; and (ii) information and guidance social workers provide for families regarding top up fees for care homes.

Answer:

The policy on charging top-up fees, or third party charges is detailed in Departmental guidance ECCU 1/2010 ‘Care Management, Provision of Services and Charging Guidance’ (https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/dhssps/hsc-eccu-1-2010.pdf).

This states that HSC Trusts must contract for placements at the most competitive rate available, which it considers suitable for meeting the individual’s assessed need, even where this is not obtainable at the regional rate. Where a Trust has contracted at that rate there is no top-up.

Should a service user select accommodation which is more expensive than other appropriate accommodation which the HSC Trust can secure at a lower rate (for example, because they wish to have a better room in a particular home or a more expensive care home), the HSC Trust will facilitate that choice, but the additional cost must be met by a third party such as a family member of friend. This is what is known as a top-up.

Whilst the aim should always be to facilitate choice for service users’, Trusts have a parallel responsibility to secure the best value for money and protect the public funds for which they are accountable.

Social workers are required to provide a choice of available and suitable homes to service users and their families. A choice of home must always be offered and recorded by a social worker even when a client has selected a home and does not want to consider alternative choices. Social workers will explain that should the service user and/or their families choose a more expensive home there may be a top up fee.