Fair Access and a Threshold of Care Policy Consultation

Why are we consulting?

Care at home is the main way in which we provide adult social care in our communities. This consultation outlines some of the challenges we have in delivering this important care and how we are proposing to respond to that.

Our challenges:

• Increasing demand for services as people live longer and with more complex needs
• Workforce shortages and in some area’s we have full employment
• Cost of social care delivery
• Not spending beyond available budget

We are consulting as a change in how we deliver care would be a change of policy. We are also making other service management improvements that will help us deliver care more effectively.

What are we proposing and how will this affect delivery of care?

In May 2025 a proposal was made that the HSCP explore the option of introducing a “ceiling of care” or a threshold level of care which was available to an individual.

We proposed a level of 25 hours of social care per week which is equivalent to the cost of a residential care placement. If this is approved:

• This means we would put a threshold or limit on the amount of care that could be commissioned of 25 hours per week
• If your assessed care need was greater than this we would put different planning and approval in place to ensure that we were prioritising need and maintaining fair access to care. This may require consideration of residential care if appropriate.
• This does not mean that you cannot access more than 25 hours per week of care at home.
• This makes sure we can still provide fair access for those with more moderate or short term care needs within the resources we have.
• We will identify as part of the policy development what the exemptions need to be in Argyll & Bute, for example when someone may quickly need end of life care or as part of public protection.

How will we consult?

• We will use this engagement hub as a central place for information and interaction between 31 July and 31 August 2025.
• We will publish dates for in person community conversations.
• We will consult with staff and ask their professional opinion on how we ensure we maintain safe, effective services.
• We will involve carers and providers of care
• We will also invite feedback in the form of a questionnaire and you can ask us questions directly here.

What will we do with your feedback?

• We want to consult to help inform the Integrated Impact Assessment this is a document which considers how people in Argyll & Bute will be impacted in relation to our public duties. It helps us understand any risks and how we will reduce risk.
• We will use your feedback to inform the policy document. Your feedback will inform and may change the policy proposal.
• We will use your feedback to report to the Integration Joint Board
• Your feedback will inform the decision of the Integration Joint Board

The final documents from the consultation will be an Integrated Impact Assessment, a policy and a final report to the Integration Joint Board.

How will we update you?

The outcomes of the consultation, the impact assessment and policy proposal will be presented to the Integration Joint Board public meeting on 17 September 2025 and will be available to view from 10 September 2025 as public papers.

You can also subscribe here to receive an update on what the feedback was and the decision of the Integration Joint Board.

Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership is a partnership between Argyll & Bute Council and NHS Highland working together to deliver health and social care services in Argyll & Bute.