Self-Funding Arrangement Set up Fee

Update - July 2024

Following thorough consideration of the responses to the consultation and the views of Members of the Adult Social Care and Public Health Cabinet Committee, the Cabinet Member has taken the decision to introduce the new Self-Funding Arrangement Set up Fee for all new self-funders.

The new charging arrangement is expected to be implemented for new self-funders from late July / early August 2024.

Update - May 2024

Thank you to everyone who took part in this consultation. The Consultation Report is now available in the Documents section on this page.

The report will be presented to the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 15 May 2024 for their consideration and recommendation. Following this meeting a decision is expected to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health. We will publish details of the decision on this webpage.

Original text:

Kent County Council (KCC) is proposing to introduce a new Self-Funding Arrangement Set up Fee for all new self-funders (people who have over the £23,250 capital threshold) who would like KCC to negotiate, arrange and manage care and support services with care providers on their behalf.

It is proposed that the new fee would be £352. This would be a one-off fee and would not be charged to existing self-funders supported by KCC.

This one-off set-up fee would be in addition to the existing annual Arrangement Fee paid by all self-funders.

Arrangement Fees charged by councils must cover only the costs that the council incurs in arranging and managing care and support. They should take account of the cost of negotiating and/or managing the contract with a provider and cover any administration costs incurred. Currently KCC charge an annual fee to cover the ongoing costs but unlike many other councils, we have not charged to cover the cost of the initial administration and set-up costs for arranging care on behalf of someone who self-funds.

How will I know if this proposed change could affect me?

The proposed one-off administration fee would only apply to new self-funders who wish KCC to arrange their adult social care support on their behalf.

All new self-funders would be able to decide if they wish to pay the proposed set-up fee or make their own arrangements for their care and support that do not involve KCC, meaning that the fee would not be required. This could include arranging care and support directly with their care provider or asking a relative or friend to do this on their behalf.

There will be a certain number of people with over the capital threshold, that would not pay the proposed initial set up - these are outlined in the consultation document.

How to have your say

We want to know what you think of the proposed change and how it could impact you.

The consultation document provides information on:

• Why we are proposing this change
• The existing Arrangement Fee
• More detail on the proposed change
• How we think people could be impacted by this change.

Please complete the consultation questionnaire below to tell us your views.

If you cannot complete the online questionnaire a Word version is available to download from the Consultation documents section on this page. You can complete and return either by email or post.

This consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 7 April 2024.

The responses provided to this consultation are expected to be reported to Members at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee in May 2024 and taken into consideration before a decision is taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health.

If you have questions about the proposal or need any support to take part in the consultation, you can contact KCC via the contact details under the 'Who's listening' section on this page. The email and telephone number are monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.