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STATES OF JERSEY
PROPOSED BUDGET (GOVERNMENT PLAN) 2025-2028 (P.51/2024): FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT (P.51/2024 AMD.(14)) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 22nd November 2024 by the Council of Ministers
STATES GREFFE
2024 P.51 Amd.(14) Com.
COMMENTS
Members are urged to reject this amendment but can be reassured that Ministers will work with Jersey Cheshire Homes and other care providers during 2025 to ensure that all care home residents receive appropriate financial support to ensure that their assessed care needs are fully met.
As set out on pages 90 and 91 of the proposed Budget 2025-28, the Island faces a significant challenge in meeting the growing cost of health and care services. Immediate action is being taken in the highest priority areas and work has already started on a review to identify options for the future funding of our health and care system. During 2025, Ministers will bring options to the Assembly to identify how these funding challenges should be addressed.
Ministers are always open to discussions with States Members and community representatives to understand the needs of Islanders and how government can play a role in meeting those needs. However, the government also bears a heavy responsibility to use public funds appropriately and it is important that any new funding decision is justified following proper scrutiny, firm evidence and a clear business plan. The nature of Budget amendments can make it very difficult for one-off bids for funding to be presented with sufficient evidence to justify the proposed spend against the many other equally worthy demands for public funding. As such, Ministers cannot accept this amendment based on the information provided but, as set out below, Ministers commit to working with Jersey Cheshire Homes and other care providers to ensure that public funding is available to support the assessed care needs of care home residents
Health and care services are delivered through a wide range of providers, including 52 registered care home providers (residential and nursing care). Jersey Cheshire Homes plays a unique role in the care home market in supporting residents with significant physical disabilities and Ministers recognise and appreciate the valuable services Jersey Cheshire Homes is providing for Islanders with highly complex needs.
Ministers are in support of ensuring that all care home providers receive the appropriate funding based on their residents' care needs. Ministers do not support a generic one-off payment as proposed by Deputy Gardiner but can reassure Members that funding will be provided based on the assessed care needs of the individual residents.
The Long-Term Care (LTC) Fund provides the majority of funding to support Jersey Cheshire Home residents. These individuals often need high levels of care for many years and the LTC Fund ensures that families are not faced with what could otherwise be catastrophic care costs. Individuals receive up to £1793.47 a week to support their care needs and living costs. For 2024, it is forecast that LTC payments to Jersey Cheshire Homes residents will total £2.109 M. For 2025, LTC rates will increase by 6.4%, which represents around £135,000 in additional benefit payments to JCH residents.
To ensure that Jersey Cheshire Homes receive the appropriate amount of funding for providing care to their residents, additional funding from the HCS budget will also be made available in 2025 to support the residents' individual care needs assessments conducted by the professional social care team in HCS.
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P.51/2024 Amd.(14) Com.
This will ensure funds are allocated based on individual care needs, rather than as a generic top up. It is vital that public money is allocated fairly and that overall costs can be met from available government income.
Support provided in 2024 to increase service capacity
The HE Le Seelleur Gift Fund, administered by MHSS, also recently supported Jersey Cheshire Homes with £640,000 to increase the service capacity of the charity. This will be done by increasing the bed base of the charity by three and enhancing the therapeutic spaces to provide increased specialist rehabilitation according to a specific programme of work.[1] The additional bedrooms are expected to be completed in 2025.
Conclusion
In summary, whilst supporting the good work undertaken by Jersey Cheshire Homes, Ministers are concerned that the amendment from Deputy Gardiner requests "bridging funding" for a single year set at a specific figure of £200,000 with no explanation of the breakdown of grant required nor the future funding needs of Jersey Cheshire Homes or other care providers.
Ministers can reassure Members that they will work with Jersey Cheshire Homes and all other care providers during 2025 to ensure that appropriate funding is available through the Long-Term Care scheme and HCS to meet the assessed needs of all care home residents in the Island.
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[1] MD-HSS-2024-183 H.E. Le Seelleur Gift Fund: Gift to Jersey Cheshire Home
P.51/2024 Amd.(14) Com.