Residents consulted on proposed social care changes

All members of the public are invited to give their opinions before Monday, September 29.

Services which previously were offered for no extra cost, Take a Break, Night Support, and 24 Hour support would be charged under the new system.

There would be increased costs for some residential respite care and changes to the charging method for learning disability and day opportunity services.

A decision will be made in November with at least four weeks' notice being given before the changes. The earliest date for implementation is Thursday January 1 2015.

Warwickshire County Council maintains the proposed charges will offer a consistent and fair charging policy for adult social care services by modernise charging arrangements to better reflect how customers use the services.

Alcester Councillor Lennox Cumberbatch, lead on health and social care matters, said: “At this stage in the process I am concerned about how many individuals and their carers, in particular people with disabilities and also those with learning disability, may miss out on this consultation exercise which ends in September 2014 and is followed by a Warwickshire County Council decision in November 2014.

“The impact of the proposed changes and the charging structure needs careful thought, and also needs to reflect responses from many rather than a few.

“The matter will be raised at the next full council meeting of Alcester Town Council in a few days time.”

Under the proposals those paying maximum contributions could see costs lowered. Customers already charged for other services would have this taken into account.

Those unable to pay will be unaffected.

Respite care and learning disability day services charges may lower as a result of the review.

For a breakdown of the areas affected by the changes visit warwickshire.gov.uk/ask.

Comments can be posted on the webpage or emailed to chargingconsultation@warwickshire.gov.uk