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Fair Cost of Care Reports

February 2023

The Government white paper, People at the Heart of Care ​outlined a 10 year plan for the reform of social care with the aim of ensuring people: 

  • Have choice, control and support to live independent lives
  • Can access outstanding quality and tailored care and support
  • People find adult social care fair and accessible 

Part of these reforms required local authorities in England to complete a Fair Cost of Care Exercise​ to support the identification of the costs associated with sustainable and quality care in the Borough

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) consider ‘fair’ to mean the median actual operating costs for providing care in the local area. ‘Fair’ also relates to what is sustainable for the local care sector. The DHSC expect local authorities to move towards paying providers of care a sustainable cost of care in the future.

This information will form part of the Market Sustainability Plan that all local authorities in England are expected to publish in March 2023 ( https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/market-sustainability-and-fair-cost-of-care-fund-2022-to-2023-guidance/market-sustainability-and-fair-cost-of-care-fund-2022-to-2023-guidance#market-sustainability-plans ).

The ‘fair cost of care’ exercise is one of many areas of consideration local authorities will take into account when setting fee rates with care providers over the next three years

The ‘fair cost of care’ exercise was limited to: 

  • Residential Care establishments for people 65 years and above
  • Residential Care establishments for people 65 years and above with ‘enhanced needs’
  • Nursing Care establishments for people 65 years and above
  • Nursing Care establishments for people 65 years and above with ‘enhanced needs’
  • Domiciliary Care provision in people’s own homes who are 18 years and above

Halton Borough Council’s Fair Cost of Care Exercise is published below in line with the guidance and requirements of the DHSC. These are known as ‘annex B’ reports and covers how the exercise was undertaken and the results.

Download Reports

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