Prices Paid to Independent and Voluntary Sector Homecare Providers - Find a freedom of information request

We ask you to provide the information described below, including the prices paid to independent and voluntary sector Homecare Providers for the provision of regulated Homecare services delivered to people aged 65 years or above in their own home during the seven-day Reference Period which includes Monday, 19 April 2021.

Your attention is drawn to the interpretation and definitions described in questions 2 and 3.

The information requested is:

1. The lowest rate per hour paid to any individual Homecare Provider during the reference period, expressed in pounds and pence per hour.

2. The highest rate per hour paid to any individual Homecare Provider during the reference period, expressed in pounds and pence per hour.

3. The average ('arithmetic mean') price per hour paid to all Homecare Providers for all hours of homecare services purchased during the reference period, expressed in pounds and pence per hour.

4. The total hours of Homecare purchased from all Homecare Providers during the reference period.

5. The total hours of Homecare purchased from all homecare providers during a seven-day period which includes Monday, 20 April 2020 (i.e. the figure which provides a like-for-like comparison with item (4), above, for the previous year).

6. Your organisation's total spend on Homecare Services purchased from all Homecare Providers during the reference period.

7. In relation to contracts held with independent and voluntary sector homecare providers:

a. Whether your organisation has imposed a contractual requirement that any Homecare Provider pay their workers an hourly rate above the prevailing rate of the statutory National Minimum Wage (including the statutory National Living Wage).

b. The minimum pay rate specified, in pounds and pence per hour, if the answer to question (7)(a), above, was 'Yes'.

8. In relation to how you have calculated the price(s) you pay for Homecare:

a. Whether, in the financial years 2019-20, 2020-21 or 2021-22, you have undertaken a numerical calculation of the hourly cost of a homecare service to assure yourself that the price(s) you pay to independent and voluntary sector Homecare Providers covers their costs and expectations of a profit or surplus.

b. If your answer to question (8)(a) was 'yes', please supply a copy of the most recent numerical calculation referred to in your answer, including the financial year to which it relates. For the avoidance of doubt, this question asks you to supply a numerical calculation, rather than a narrative description of the factors which you have considered in setting the prices paid.

For the stated period(s) Lincolnshire County Council have provided hourly rates paid to Homecare Providers, number of hours paid, total spend and numerical calculation of hourly cost.

1. £16.27.

2. £17.39.

3. £16.85.

4. 21,528.

5. 22,540.

6. £363,135.37.

7.

a. No.

b. N/A.

8.

a. Yes.

b. Please see table attached.

If you would like to see a copy of this attachment, please request it from CustomerInformationService@lincolnshire.gov.uk quoting the reference number 1785517.