To approve the Self-Funder Policy for people who use social care services, providers of social care services and social care professionals, aligned to the Adult and Communities directorate. The policy is compliant with the Care Act 2014 and its associated regulations and statutory guidance and seeks to provide clear information and available options in regard to the self-funder journey, to inform decision making.

That:

(a)       The Adult Social Care Self-Funder Policy, at appendix 1, is approved.

1.         No overarching policy is adopted in relation to Herefordshire Council’s approach to Self-Funders of social care services. This is not recommended, as the addition of a Self-Funder Policy aligns to the councils “Meeting Your Social Care Needs” Policy and the “Charging, Deferred Payments and Top-Up” Policies into one document with a specific focus on the self-funder cohort, and also offers guidance and advice and signals responsibilities of all including providers and self-funders, as well as the council. In addition it provides specific guidance for practitioners in meeting the council’s legal obligations under the Care Act 2014. In addition it sets out the expectations of care providers and the responsibilities of self-funders.