Why we have to charge for some services

We provide and arrange social care services for a wide range of people in the county. Many of these services are free but in some cases we ask people who use services to make a contribution towards the cost of those services.

  • We never charge more for a service than it costs us to deliver that service.
  • In most cases, the charges we raise are much less than the cost of the service.

It is important for us to make these charges as the income helps us ensure we can provide high quality support.

When setting charges, we consider:

  • Ability to pay
  • Maximum charge
  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Equity
  • Transparency
  • Compliance with national guidance
  • Discretion for exceptional circumstances