AQW 12162/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 17/05/2024
Answered On Date: 28/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health when he plans to undertake a review of third-party top-up fees for care homes, as recommended following the consultation on the Reform of Adult Social Care.

Answer:

Following the publication of the Evaluation and Summary Report on the Reform of Adult Social Care Consultation my Department established the Social Care Collaborative Forum to implement the proposals arising out of the consultation.

The Forum provides a formal mechanism for officials and representatives of the Social Care Sector (statutory, voluntary/community and private sectors), to work together as partners to build shared values and deliver improvements that will support and sustain social care now and into the future.

The work of the Collaborative Forum is being taken forward through a number of workstreams, one of which will consider future charging arrangements for nursing and residential care homes as well as third-party top-up fees.

The timeline for the work of the Forum is expected to continue into 2025.

All of the proposed reforms are subject to confirmation of funding and will therefore require prioritisation and planning, and the outlining of a long-term budget to ensure realistic delivery.