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Council starts period of engagement on its Adult Social Care Fairer Contributions policy

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To help inform a review of its fairer contributions charging policy, Gloucestershire County Council wants to hear the thoughts and views of those who currently use it.

The council also would also like to hear from those who may use the policy in the future to make sure the council’s policy works for people now and for years to come.

Adult Social Care services are paid for by the county council with contributions from care users. Care users can be charged for their care and asked to make a contribution in line with their financial circumstances.

The council is keen to understand how the current charging policy supports individual choice, control over their care and how it could be better. It will be seeking views on the policy in terms of how accessible and fair it is, and whether it achieves its aim of empowering users.

People will be able to have their say by taking part in an online survey and by attending focus groups. These groups are being facilitated by Evolving Communities, who specialise in stakeholder engagement and insight linked to health and social care, throughout August. This feedback will then be analysed before it is published in October.

There will be no changes to the fairer contribution charging policy, and therefore no changes to how residents are assessed to pay for their care, until feedback has been received and the public has been consulted on potential changes.

Cllr Carole Allaway-Martin, cabinet member responsible for Adult Social Care Commissioning at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We want to understand how the current charging policy currently supports individual choice and control, and how it could be better.

“The aim of the review is to ensure the council has a fair charging policy that considers the views and needs of people affected by it.

“Please ensure your views and experiences are captured by completing the survey.”

To find out more and to have your say, visit the survey at https://haveyoursaygloucestershire.uk.engagementhq.com/charging-policy-engagement.

Focus groups will be held on the following dates:

  • Tuesday 8 August between 10:30am and 3pm at Coleford Library, The Main Place, Old Station Way, Coleford, GL16 8RH. Contact 01594 833351 for more details.
  • Monday 14 August between 10am and 3pm at the NHS Glos Information Bus at The Cross in Gloucester city centre.
  • Wednesday 16 August between 10am and 3pm at Stroud Library, Lansdown, Stroud, GL5 1BB. Contact 01453 751 651 for more details.
  • Friday 18 August between 10am and 3pm at Tewkesbury Library, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. Contact 01684 293 086 for more details.
  • Tuesday 29 August between 10am and 3pm at Cirencester Library The Waterloo, Cirencester, GL7 2PZ. Contact 01285 659813 for more details.
  • Wednesday 30 August between 10am and 3pm at the NHS Glos Information Bus, outside M&S on Cheltenham High Street.