Council approves new social care charges

Plans for new social care charges in East Renfrewshire have been given the go-ahead.

The council approved the £20 per hour fees for non-residential care, which include social supports, day opportunities and community-based services, despite strong opposition from parents and carers.

Campaigners had previously called the fees "unfair" and immoral" and warned the charges could "reduce opportunities" for disabled people.

Council leader Owen O'Donnell said the charges, which could impact about 500 residents from July, were required due to "significant financial charges" and were being implemented with a "really heavy heart".

The charges do not affect personal care or services for children.

More than 1,000 people had backed a petition from Tracey Campbell which asked health chiefs in East Renfrewshire to drop the proposed charges.

The Netherlee mum, whose 18-year-old daughter Leia needs 24-hour support, previously told the BBC she was worried about the impact of the charges.

Ms Campbell said her daughter, who has Angelman syndrome, relies on trips out and hobbies such as horse riding to avoid social isolation and keep her feeling safe and well.

Leia's condition means she has severe physical and learning disabilities and she receives a self-directed support budget which is "mainly spent on support workers to keep her safe".

Ms Campbell fears that the new charge will mean her daughter will not be able to pay for hobbies such as horse riding, which she does three times a week, and still be financially independent.

She is worried her daughter could become socially isolated and is concerned about the impact these charges could have on her future.

The council said financial assessments would be carried out to determine how much each affected person would have to pay towards their care.

Officials had recommended would pay up to 60% of their disposable income - the amount that's left over after all costs of living, including any specific disability or condition related expenditure.

However, councillors have now decided on 40% instead.

It is hoped the charges would raise £1m to help plug a £7m gap in East Renfrewshire's health and social care partnership (HSCP) budget for 2025/26.

An upper limit on the weekly payable charges will be set to recognise "that the more complex a person's needs are then generally the higher the cost of care", according to the council.

Cllr O'Donnell said: "This is clearly an extremely difficult decision for the IJB - a partnership between the council and NHS which runs health and social care services - to consider recommending.

"This is a decision that the IJB has managed to defer successfully for a number of years, but finances are now finally catching up with us.

"It is clear that the IJB has significant financial challenges to sustainably balance its budget and has run out of alternative choices."