To ask the Minister of Health whether he intends to reform the third party contribution system for residential and nursing homes.

Arrangements for charging for personal social services provided in residential care homes and nursing homes, including third party top ups is detailed in Departmental guidance ECCU 1/2010 ‘Care Management, Provision of Services and Charging Guidance’ (https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/dhssps/hsc-eccu-1-2010.pdf).

My Department’s Social Care Collaborative Forum provides a formal mechanism for officials and representatives of the Social Care Sector (statutory, voluntary/community and private sectors), to work together as partners to build shared values and deliver improvements that will support and sustain social care now and into the future.

As part of its remit, the Forum will review proposals arising out of the consultation on the Reform of Adult Social Care which included future charging arrangements within the sector. Progress against all aspects of the Forum’s work will be reported on and where specific proposals are being made in respect of charging for care these will be subject to public consultation.