Press Release: LABOUR MINISTER SEEKS TO END POSTCODE LOTTERY FOR HOMECARE CHARGES

- Deputy Minister Gwenda Thomas outlines plans for Assembly power over homecare charging

OLDER people and vulnerable adults who rely on social care in the home will be charged based on their circumstances and not where they live, Neath AM and Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas announced today.

Plans outlined today in the National Assembly by Welsh Labour's Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas will see the power to set maximum charges for social care in the home and to exempt groups from charges being devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government from the UK Government.

Currently, charges for homecare and other social services are decided by locally by each of the 22 local authorities in Wales. This has resulted in wide variations across Wales. With new legal powers over charging for these services, the Assembly Government will be able to deliver a fairer and more consistent charging policy for all adult users of homecare services.

Neath AM and Deputy Social Services Minister Gwenda Thomas said:

"Welsh Labour is committed to helping the most vulnerable people in our community.

"The Labour-led Assembly Government fully recognises the need to end the postcode lottery that exists for the charges for homecare, and that's why I'm leading the Assembly Government’s effort to deal with this issue so that people in my constituency and throughout Wales who rely on homecare get a far fairer deal.

"A fairer charging policy will help older people and the disabled to get the services they need to help them in their day to day lives.

"The Labour-led Assembly Government wants to shift social care away from residential care so that more people can remain in their own home and still get the day-to-day support they need.

"Access to personalised care gives older people and the disabled who use these services more independence in their daily lives even when they have to rely on support from others.’’

-Ends-

Notes to editors

The charging for homecare and other non-residential social services is currently at the discretion of individual local authorities. This has resulted in significant variations in charging policies for similar services across Wales.

The Legislative Competence Order (LCO) - Charging for Non-Residential Social Care (Domiciliary Care) - will enable the Assembly Government to legislate against such disparity.

LCOs are an Order in Council made under section 95 of the Government of Wales Act 2006. The Order is submitted by the Assembly in draft to Parliament for approval. Once granted it will extend the scope of the Assembly to pass an Assembly Measure at any time within the subject matter of the Order.

The Order is restricted to charges imposed by local authorities in respect of non-residential social care. It would not enable the Assembly to legislate in respect of charges levied by private care providers for non-residential social care. A significant amount of research and consultation with stakeholders will be undertaken in order to determine how best to achieve a fairer and more consistent approach.