Devon’s Resource Allocation System (RAS) is designed to be as fair and transparent as possible. We adopt the following principles, rules and cost rates. This, together with the assessment and a breakdown of the estimated budget shows how the estimated budget is determined.
Principles
- We use a single approach for everyone.
- This approach follows consistent rules to determine a person’s estimated budget.
- We use a defined set of cost rates. These rates only vary where there is variability in market provision (for example, market costs differ for older and younger people’s residential care).
- We do not reduce any final estimated budget due to affordability.
- Rules and cost rates are published on Devon County Council’s website.
Rules
These rules apply to the estimated budget process only. They are not intended as definitive statements of personal budget offer or to imply eligibility or non-eligibility to services or funds.
Residential and nursing home care
Where the person’s needs result in them living in a residential home or nursing home, the weekly budget will be calculated based on the amount of care needed. These amounts are determined by the level of need recorded in the person’s assessment.
- The fee model used is based on evidence following extensive market testing and consultation with care providers.
Note: For cases where nursing care is relevant, any amount funded by DCC will be supplemented by NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC) of £219.71 (2023/24) per week.
Impact of social isolation
An amount is included to address social isolation if there is high impact on the person’s wellbeing and enduring concern about the person’s mood and behaviour. This is when the impact is assessed as ‘high’ or ‘very high’.
The amount included is:
- determined according to evidence of the cost of day activities in Devon in April 2019
- based on the cost of one day’s activities (for high impact of social isolation) or two days (very high impact)
Note: The cost of ‘day care’ is considered only for the purpose of informing the estimated budget calculation. The person’s individual circumstances and wishes may lead to this need being met in a different way.
Replacement care for carer(s)
The estimated budget will include an amount for replacement care or ‘carer respite’ where all of the following apply:
- A carer has eligible needs for support (following a carers assessment)
- A carer is meeting some of the social care need.
- The impact of providing that support is assessed as ‘significant’ or more.
- The carer states that they require a break.
- A carer break is appropriate to the expected normal living situation.
The amount included is based on the amount of support being provided and the impact to the carer(s) of providing that support (as recorded in the cared-for person’s assessment).
The minimum amount will be equivalent to 1.5 hours of replacement care per week.
The amount included will depend on the amount of support being provided and the impact to the carer – up to a maximum amount that is equivalent to eight weeks’ worth of replacement care in a residential setting spread over a year, plus an additional 1.5 hours of care per week.
For the purposes of this estimate, a week of replacement care is defined as the expected cost of a week of residential care for the cared-for person.
Medication visits
No amount is estimated for care visits needed solely to administer medication or meet health care needs. Generally, this need will be met by the NHS. This does not mean that this type of activity cannot be carried out as part of a social care visit that is primarily for other (social care) purposes.
If we believe that you have mixed health and social care needs which may be met best by jointly funded care provision, we will carry out an assessment with health colleagues to explore how these arrangements can best be put in place.
Engagement in work, training, education and volunteering activities
An amount is included for individuals requiring support with work, training, education and volunteering activities.
Individuals in full-time education
An amount may be allocated for individuals in full-time education who are not able to stay safe alone. This will consider other support provided to you (for example, by the education setting).
Transport
An estimate for transport (for example, to a day activity) is not included in the estimated budget. Before adding any allocation for transport, we will need to explore all possible other options. More information can be found in our transport policy.
Shared care
If someone is living in (or going to live in) supported accommodation, they may share accommodation with others who receive care from the same carers. Where this occurs, we would expect the hourly cost of care to be reduced. This is because the hourly rates used by the RAS for care are based on both travelling to an address and providing care.
The RAS will take this into account and adjust the estimated budget accordingly based on the number of people living in the accommodation.
Rates
The model uses the following evidence-based standard rates within its calculations. These rates apply to the estimated budget process only. They are not intended as definitive statements of personal budget offer or to imply eligibility or non-eligibility to services or funds.
These rates apply for the financial year 2023/24:
| Type of care | Categorisation | Rate used |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care home | Fixed costs | £396 |
| Hourly rate for care | £14.16 | |
| Nursing care home | Fixed costs | £414 |
| Hourly rate for care | £14.16 | |
| Home care | Hourly rate | £22.00 |
| Night support sleep-in/awake (all night) | £192.86 | |
| Social participation | Cost of day activity | £64.82 |
| Day safety | Weekday daytime rate | £64.82 |
| Safety hours outside of standard working hours | £22.00 | |
| Work, training and volunteering activities | Maximum weekly allowance | £64.82 |
| Individuals in full-time education | Maximum weekly allowance | £64.82 |