Rates

The request was successful.

Dear Hertfordshire County Council,

All questions below are related to the support of people with disabilities, learning disabilities, autism and/or acquired brain injuries - adults only. Furthermore, all questions relate to provision of domiciliary and residential care without nursing.

The questions do not relate to situations where a person's health/abilities has decreased and additional funding is needed for increased support. Rather, the questions relate to the general hourly rate paid by the Local Authority, to a provider for the delivery of support and care.

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the last 4 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you agreed to?

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the last 2 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you agreed to?

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the last 1 year as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you agreed to?

If the Council has, at any point, agreed to increase their paid rates, what are the main reasons the Council may be willing to do this? I.e. How do you make the decision to agree to increase the rate versus maintain the rate even though it is financially unviable for a provider.

I very much appreciate the Council shedding light on this.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Hansen

Information Governance, Hertfordshire County Council

Dear Alex Hansen

 

 

Reference number: FOI/ACS/05/19/17469

 

 

Thank you for your correspondence of the 10/05/ 2019 requesting the
following information:

 

All questions below are related to the support of people with
disabilities, learning disabilities, autism and/or acquired brain injuries
- adults only. Furthermore, all questions relate to provision of
domiciliary and residential care without nursing.

 

The questions do not relate to situations where a person's
health/abilities has decreased and additional funding is needed for
increased support. Rather, the questions relate to the general hourly rate
paid by the Local Authority, to a provider for the delivery of support and
care.

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 4 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to?

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 2 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to?

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 1 year as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to?

 

If the Council has, at any point, agreed to increase their paid rates,
what are the main reasons the Council may be willing to do this? I.e. How
do you make the decision to agree to increase the rate versus maintain the
rate even though it is financially unviable for a provider.

 

 

Your request for information is being considered under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. We will respond to your request as quickly as
possible, and by close of 11/06/ 2019 at the latest.

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us, quoting
the reference number above.

                              

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Information Access Team

Postal Point  CHN 305

Hertfordshire County Council,

Pegs Lane

County Hall

Hertfordshire  SG13 8DE

t: 01992 555848

 

****Disclaimer****

The information in this message should be regarded as confidential and is
intended for the addressee only unless explicitly stated. If you have
received this message in error it must be deleted and the sender notified.
The views expressed in this message are personal and not necessarily those
of Hertfordshire County Council unless explicitly stated. Please be aware
that emails sent to or received from Hertfordshire County Council may be
intercepted and read by the council. Interception will only occur to
ensure compliance with council policies or procedures or regulatory
obligations, to prevent or deter crime, or for the purposes of essential
maintenance or support of the email system.

Information Governance, Hertfordshire County Council

Dear Alex Hansen

 

Reference number: FOI/ACS/05/19/17469

 

On 10/05/ 2019 Hertfordshire County Council received the following request
for information from you:

 

All questions below are related to the support of people with
disabilities, learning disabilities, autism and/or acquired brain injuries
- adults only. Furthermore, all questions relate to provision of
domiciliary and residential care without nursing.

 

The questions do not relate to situations where a person's
health/abilities has decreased and additional funding is needed for
increased support. Rather, the questions relate to the general hourly rate
paid by the Local Authority, to a provider for the delivery of support and
care.

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 4 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to?

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 2 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to?

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 1 year as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to?

 

If the Council has, at any point, agreed to increase their paid rates,
what are the main reasons the Council may be willing to do this? I.e. How
do you make the decision to agree to increase the rate versus maintain the
rate even though it is financially unviable for a provider.

 

 

 

Your request for information has been considered under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations 2004. I can
confirm that Hertfordshire County Council does hold the information you
have requested. Our response is as follows.

 

. Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 4 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to? Yes, as of 21/05/2019 The Council has agreed to increase fees
for 53 providers during the last 4 years, with the minimum amount being a
1% and the maximum increase being 11.8%.

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 2 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to? Yes, as of 21/05/2019 The Council has agreed to increase fees
for 53 providers during the last 2 years, with the minimum amount being a
1% and the maximum increase being 11.8%.

 

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 1 year as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to? Yes, as of 21/05/2019 The Council has agreed to increase fees
for 41 providers during the last year, with the minimum amount being a 1%
and the maximum increase being 11.8%.

 

 

If the Council has, at any point, agreed to increase their paid rates,
what are the main reasons the Council may be willing to do this? I.e. How
do you make the decision to agree to increase the rate versus maintain the
rate even though it is financially unviable for a provider.

 

In the past 2 years The Council has instigated a Fee Panel (now Service
Review Panel) process wherein providers can request an inflationary
increase. This process involves service providers providing qualitative
information around the company’s current financial situation and 3 years’
worth of audited accounts. The accounts are reviewed by The Council’s
Finance Department who make a recommendation and the qualitative
information is reviewed by the appropriate commissioning officer. The
officer compiles information from a number of internal stakeholders in
order to form a recommendation to the Panel which is chaired by the
overall budget holder, the Operations Director of Adult Disability
Services.

 

The Council does not hold reliable information relating to negotiations
prior to this process.

 

The Council monitors the rationale behind each decision made and the most
common reason as to why The Council have offered an increase is that the
service being reviewed is in deficit as evidenced by financial/management
accounts.

 

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us, quoting
the reference number on this correspondence. To find out more about
Freedom of Information, please visit
[1]http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/your-cou...

 

If you are unhappy with the way the County Council has handled your
request for information you may request an internal review of the request.
This will be carried out by a member of the County Council Legal Services
Team, who has had no prior involvement with the request. Requests for an
internal review should be sent to the Information Governance Unit at the
address above (within 2 months of this correspondence) and should detail
in writing your grounds of appeal.

                    

If you are unhappy with the outcome of the internal review you are
entitled to ask the Information Commissioner to investigate your
complaint. You should write to: FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution, Information
Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Information Access Team

Postal Point  CHN 305

Hertfordshire County Council,

Pegs Lane

County Hall

Hertfordshire  SG13 8DE

t: 01992 555848

 

****Disclaimer****

The information in this message should be regarded as confidential and is
intended for the addressee only unless explicitly stated. If you have
received this message in error it must be deleted and the sender notified.
The views expressed in this message are personal and not necessarily those
of Hertfordshire County Council unless explicitly stated. Please be aware
that emails sent to or received from Hertfordshire County Council may be
intercepted and read by the council. Interception will only occur to
ensure compliance with council policies or procedures or regulatory
obligations, to prevent or deter crime, or for the purposes of essential
maintenance or support of the email system.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/your-cou...

Information Governance, Hertfordshire County Council

Dear Alex Hansen

 

Further to our email below we have been asked to advise that these
response only apply to working age adults with disabilities in residential
care, supported living and day opportunities.

 

Regards

 

 

Information Access Team

Postal Point  CHN 305

Hertfordshire County Council,

Pegs Lane

County Hall

Hertfordshire  SG13 8DE

t: 01992 555848

 

 

 

 

From: Sue Mitchell On Behalf Of Information Governance
Sent: 31 May 2019 15:10
To: [FOI #575561 email]
Subject: Request for information FOI/ACS/05/19/17469

 

Dear Alex Hansen

 

Reference number: FOI/ACS/05/19/17469

 

On 10/05/ 2019 Hertfordshire County Council received the following request
for information from you:

 

All questions below are related to the support of people with
disabilities, learning disabilities, autism and/or acquired brain injuries
- adults only. Furthermore, all questions relate to provision of
domiciliary and residential care without nursing.

 

The questions do not relate to situations where a person's
health/abilities has decreased and additional funding is needed for
increased support. Rather, the questions relate to the general hourly rate
paid by the Local Authority, to a provider for the delivery of support and
care.

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 4 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to?

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 2 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to?

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 1 year as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to?

 

If the Council has, at any point, agreed to increase their paid rates,
what are the main reasons the Council may be willing to do this? I.e. How
do you make the decision to agree to increase the rate versus maintain the
rate even though it is financially unviable for a provider.

 

 

 

Your request for information has been considered under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations 2004. I can
confirm that Hertfordshire County Council does hold the information you
have requested. Our response is as follows.

 

. Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 4 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to? Yes, as of 21/05/2019 The Council has agreed to increase fees
for 53 providers during the last 4 years, with the minimum amount being a
1% and the maximum increase being 11.8%.

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 2 years as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to? Yes, as of 21/05/2019 The Council has agreed to increase fees
for 53 providers during the last 2 years, with the minimum amount being a
1% and the maximum increase being 11.8%.

 

 

Has the Council agreed to increase the rate to any provider during the
last 1 year as a consequence of the provider initiating a negotiation? If
yes, how many providers did you agree to increase their fee? What is the
maximum fee increase you agreed to? What is the minimum fee increase you
agreed to? Yes, as of 21/05/2019 The Council has agreed to increase fees
for 41 providers during the last year, with the minimum amount being a 1%
and the maximum increase being 11.8%.

 

 

If the Council has, at any point, agreed to increase their paid rates,
what are the main reasons the Council may be willing to do this? I.e. How
do you make the decision to agree to increase the rate versus maintain the
rate even though it is financially unviable for a provider.

 

In the past 2 years The Council has instigated a Fee Panel (now Service
Review Panel) process wherein providers can request an inflationary
increase. This process involves service providers providing qualitative
information around the company’s current financial situation and 3 years’
worth of audited accounts. The accounts are reviewed by The Council’s
Finance Department who make a recommendation and the qualitative
information is reviewed by the appropriate commissioning officer. The
officer compiles information from a number of internal stakeholders in
order to form a recommendation to the Panel which is chaired by the
overall budget holder, the Operations Director of Adult Disability
Services.

 

The Council does not hold reliable information relating to negotiations
prior to this process.

 

The Council monitors the rationale behind each decision made and the most
common reason as to why The Council have offered an increase is that the
service being reviewed is in deficit as evidenced by financial/management
accounts.

 

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us, quoting
the reference number on this correspondence. To find out more about
Freedom of Information, please visit
[1]http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/your-cou...

 

If you are unhappy with the way the County Council has handled your
request for information you may request an internal review of the request.
This will be carried out by a member of the County Council Legal Services
Team, who has had no prior involvement with the request. Requests for an
internal review should be sent to the Information Governance Unit at the
address above (within 2 months of this correspondence) and should detail
in writing your grounds of appeal.

                    

If you are unhappy with the outcome of the internal review you are
entitled to ask the Information Commissioner to investigate your
complaint. You should write to: FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution, Information
Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Information Access Team

Postal Point  CHN 305

Hertfordshire County Council,

Pegs Lane

County Hall

Hertfordshire  SG13 8DE

t: 01992 555848

 

****Disclaimer****

The information in this message should be regarded as confidential and is
intended for the addressee only unless explicitly stated. If you have
received this message in error it must be deleted and the sender notified.
The views expressed in this message are personal and not necessarily those
of Hertfordshire County Council unless explicitly stated. Please be aware
that emails sent to or received from Hertfordshire County Council may be
intercepted and read by the council. Interception will only occur to
ensure compliance with council policies or procedures or regulatory
obligations, to prevent or deter crime, or for the purposes of essential
maintenance or support of the email system.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/your-cou...