February 19, 2018 2.26 pm This story is over 86 months old

Increasing Lincolnshire care costs to be covered by the council

A new model has been introduced for people with learning disabilities.

Lincolnshire County Council has committed to pay more to cover the increasing costs of care in the county.

The increase in costs reflect increased investment in social care by Lincolnshire County Council to ensure that care homes are able to provide a good quality service and they are able to pay their carers at least the National Living Wage.

The only change to contributions made by Lincolnshire residents will be based on individual financial assessments.

The council has set what it calls weekly ‘usual costs’ for residential accommodation up to and including the 2020-21 financial year.

Usual costs for older people in residential accommodation will increase, as will costs for people with physical disabilities and people who require support for mental health problems.

A new model has been introduced for people with learning disabilities.

Below is a breakdown of the increase in weekly usual costs:

Older People Standard Residential

  • 2017-18: £456
  • 2018-19: £483
  • 2019-20: £502
  • 2020-21: £521

Older People Nursing

  • 2017-18: £485
  • 2018-19: £531
  • 2019-20: £552
  • 2020-21: £573

Older People Higher Dependency

  • 2017-18: £497
  • 2018-19: £531
  • 2019-20: £553
  • 2020-21: £574

Physical Disability

  • 2017-18: £588
  • 2018-19: £623
  • 2019-20: £647
  • 2020-21: £671

Mental Health Standard

  • 2017-18: £475
  • 2018-19: £503
  • 2019-20: £522
  • 2020-21: £542

Mental Health Nursing

  • 2017-18: £485
  • 2018-19: £531
  • 2019-20: £552
  • 2020-21: £573

The changes were agreed by the council’s Adults and Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, with Councillor Patricia Bradwell, deputy council leader, set to give the final green light.

A Lincolnshire County Council spokesperson said: “The increase in weekly usual costs reflects the projected increase in demand, implementation of national living wage and inflationary increases, helping to ensure the market remains sustainable for Lincolnshire residents.

“The introduction of the learning disability model is to provide clear and transparent costs so residents and families are able to make a full and informed choice at the point of their placement. The model reflects the different levels in complexity of need balanced with the sustainability of the market.”