Care Charging Policy Consultation

Purpose of the consultation

The intention was to update Cyngor Gwynedd's care charging policy (opens in new tab) to ensure that the policy continued to comply with the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which requires that no one pays more than they can reasonably afford.

The Council is required to review its fees in a timely manner to ensure that the fees charged reflect the actual costs of providing services.

Consultation period

November 2024 - 23 December 2024

Consultation Results and Next Steps

The main findings are as follows:

• There were 73 responses to the consultation.
• 38% of respondents were family members of a care service user, 33% were ‘other’, 25% were unpaid carers, and 4% were care service users.
• 55% were aware of Cyngor Gwynedd's care charging policy, and the care services for which a fee is currently charged, while 45% were not aware.
• 15 respondents provided comments to accompany this question; the most common theme was that the Council had not contacted families or carers, or that they had heard about it from others.
• 72% of respondents selected ‘no’ when asked whether the care charging policy makes it clear what fees unpaid carers must pay, while 28% selected ‘yes’.
• 14 respondents provided comments to accompany this question; the most common theme was that the policy was unclear or difficult to understand.
• 71% of respondents felt that the current policy — where the Council does not charge a fee for direct care to unpaid carers (where the service is in the carer’s name) — should continue, 14% felt it should not, and 15% had no strong opinion.
• 17 respondents provided comments to accompany this question; the most common theme was that charging would financially penalise carers or that carers would be unable to afford to pay.
• 71% of respondents answered that the Council should not charge a fee for Mental Health support services for individuals who do not fall under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act, with 21% stating that it should and 8% having no strong opinion.
• 15 respondents provided comments to accompany this question; the most common theme was that the service should be free.
• In response to the question, ‘if the Council charges a fee for attending day services, the fee should be charged through:’ 42% chose a nominal flat fee payable by everyone, 39% chose a fee that covers the full cost of the service but with an assessment to determine each person’s contribution (up to the current maximum of £100 per week), and 18% had no strong opinion.
• 26 respondents provided comments to accompany this question; the most common theme was that the service should be free or disagreement with charging a fee.
• 51% of respondents selected that the Council should not charge a fee for transport that is not eligible under parts 4 and 5 of the Code of Practice (2014), while 32% selected that it should, and 17% had no strong opinion.
• 14 respondents provided comments to accompany this question; the most common theme was that they already provide their own transport.
• 48% of respondents felt that the changes would have a negative or slightly negative impact on the Welsh language, opportunities to use the language, and its status in the community, while 44% selected no impact, and 7% selected a positive or slightly positive impact.
• A majority of 69% felt that the changes would have a negative or slightly negative impact on people facing socio-economic disadvantage, while 17% selected no impact, and 14% selected a positive or slightly positive impact.
• Where appropriate, further analysis has been carried out to show responses to survey questions according to answers to the question ‘Are you:’. This analysis is included in Appendix A. As the number of respondents in some groups is low, caution should be exercised when considering this analysis.

The results of the consultation will feed into recommendations of modifications to the policy which will go before the Council's cabinet in 2025.