The Cabinet of Oxfordshire Council is scheduled to consider proposed changes to the Adult Social Care Contributions Policy, which includes adjustments to Disability Related Expenditure (DRE) allowances, transport charges, and telecare fees. Additionally, the meeting will address the re-negotiation of a project agreement with the Oxfordshire Care Partnership (OCP).

Proposed Changes to Adult Social Care Contributions Policy

A significant portion of the meeting is expected to focus on proposed alterations to the Adult Social Care (ASC) Contributions Policy. This review aims to modernise, align, and consolidate charging arrangements across three key areas: Disability Related Expenditure (DRE), Transport Charging, and Telecare Charging. The stated goal is to enhance fairness, transparency, sustainability, and financial viability for both the council and service users.

The report outlines several specific recommendations for the Cabinet to consider:

• Reducing the initial Disability Related Expenditure (DRE) allowance from 35% to 25%. This allowance is intended to help individuals cover extra costs associated with their disability. The proposed reduction would bring the council's allowance closer to the level in place before April 2022 and aligns it more with the practices of other local authorities. The report notes that while this change may increase assessed contributions for some, individual assessments will still be available for those with higher disability-related costs.
• Introducing an Adult Social Care Transport Policy with a flat rate of £10 per day for transport arranged by Adult Social Care. The policy aims to encourage the use of active transport options and public transport where possible. The charge would apply when the council arranges transport, with provisions for considering individual circumstances and potential waivers in exceptional cases. Young people attending educational placements will be exempt from this charge.
• Charging all users of the telecare service the actual cost of the service, which is £9.87 per week. Telecare services are not legally mandated for councils to provide, and many already charge for them. The proposal suggests that everyone using telecare will pay the full cost, with a free 6-week trial offered for those being discharged from hospital as part of a reablement package. For existing ASC service users, the telecare cost would be treated as Disability Related Expenditure.

The report details the findings of a public consultation on these proposals, which received 512 responses. Overall, 52% of respondents felt the proposed changes would have a negative impact, citing concerns about increased financial pressures, social isolation, and personal safety. However, 9% of respondents found the changes reasonable. The report also includes an Equality and Impact Assessment, which identifies potential negative impacts on certain groups, particularly older people and disabled individuals, but outlines mitigation measures such as individual financial assessments and hardship provisions.

The Cabinet is also scheduled to receive and consider the report and recommendations from the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the Adult Social Care Charging Policy.

Re-Negotiation of the Project Agreement with Oxfordshire Care Partnership (OCP)

The Cabinet will also consider an exempt item concerning the re-negotiation of the Project Agreement with the Oxfordshire Care Partnership (OCP). This is a joint venture between Order of St Johns Care Trust and BPHA, responsible for maintaining council-owned care homes and providing care services. The current agreement began in 2001 and was extended to 2032. Options for service delivery and home management from April 2027 are to be considered, with approval sought to complete negotiations and vary the existing contract. Due to the sensitive nature of this item, the public will be excluded from the discussion.