Consultation set to be launched on fairer adult social care living costs
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Senior Wakefield councillors will be asked to approve a consultation on financial contributions by people supported by the Shared Lives service.
Wakefield Council provides both long and short-term placements for adults with additional needs in the homes of approved Shared Lives carers. It is now considering charges for board and lodgings to bring arrangements in line with other adult social care services.
“The proposed consultation is about how we make sure Shared Lives arrangements are consistent with what other residents who are supported by adult social care experience.
“The aim is for people in similar circumstances to make similar contributions. We want how we work to be fair for everyone, regardless of the place where they live. We want to hear from people across our adult social care system to make sure any changes we make will work.”
Cllr Ansar Hayat
Cabinet Member for Adults and Health
At the moment there is difference in adult social care services in Wakefield between people who access care via Supported Living and Shared Lives services.
In most Supported Living services, people pay their own board and lodging costs from their benefits, while rent is covered through housing benefit.
In Shared Lives placements, board and lodging costs are included in the placement fee, meaning people can retain a larger proportion of their benefits than those living in other community-based care settings.
Wakefield's arrangements differ from those used by many other Councils. For example, a study in 2023 completed by Shared Lives Plus recommended that commissioners in Yorkshire and the Humber better align their charging arrangements with other areas.
The Council wants to explore whether the current board and lodging arrangements remain fair, affordable, and equitable. The consultation would consider the potential impact of different approaches.
Cabinet members will decide at their meeting on Tuesday 20 October at 5.30pm whether to go ahead with the consultation. The meeting can be watched live or later from 5.30pm at https://www.youtube.com/@WakefieldCouncilWMDC/streams
If approved, a three-month consultation would take place to gather the views of people who are supported by Shared Lives services, families, carers, and other stakeholders.
Following the consultation, the findings, equality impacts, financial implications, and any options for change will be reported back to Cabinet before a final decision is made.