Clear favourite in options for changes to respite care fees

Currently, Sheffield Council charges a flat rate, dependent on age, and subsidises the rest of the cost of respite care.

A consultation with those who use the service, and the organisations representing them, has now found that most are in favour of keeping this arrangement, with the added safety net of having their finances assessed if necessary.

Coun Gail Smith, Sheffield Council's cabinet member for healthy and independent living, said: "We offered four options and we're very grateful to those who told us what they want and how they want us to do it.

"They told us that they were keen to know at the outset how much they would have to pay, and did not want us to look into their financial situation unless we needed to.

"What we are proposing is not a great change to the way we work, but gives the assurance that we can offer more financial support if needed.

"The level of charges for this kind of care is never an easy issue, and as we don't live in an ideal world we will always have to balance need with the means to pay for it. It is important to get it right."

During the consultation, people were asked to look at four different options for charging for respite care.

These were Sheffield Council's current policy of charging a flat rate dependent on age, except in exceptional circumstances, or to continue with the flat rate charge, with the added safeguard that people could request a financial assessment.

The other two options were to lower the flat rate charge, or to financially assess everybody to determine their ability to pay.

The first of these would mean that there would be less money available to buy services. The second, meanwhile, could result in budget cuts to other areas of adult social services because of the need to employ additional financial assessment staff .

Coun Smith added: "We were very open with people and did not make promises that we knew we would not be able to keep, so they knew from the outset that some of the options would mean having to alter services elsewhere."

The plans to alter the charging system will be discussed at Sheffield Council's cabinet committee meeting tomorrow.