THE finances of 144 vulnerable adults could be transferred from Worcestershire County Council to external providers under plans to save around £175,000 a year.
The county council is considering closing its in-house Appointees and Deputies Service, which manages benefits, care payments and other financial affairs for people who lack the mental capacity to manage their own money and have nobody else able or willing to do so.
Cabinet will be asked on Thursday, October 22, to permanently close the service to new referrals and approve a consultation on what should happen to its existing clients.
The service has already largely stopped accepting new clients, with referrals restricted to exceptional circumstances since June 2024 because of capacity issues and long-term staff sickness.
Only four exceptional cases have been accepted since then, with other people directed to external providers.
Cabinet papers say the external market already supports around 2,700 Worcestershire residents.
The in-house service costs £304,663 a year to operate, including almost £285,000 in staffing costs, but generates around £130,000 in income.
This leaves the county council subsidising it by £174,663 a year, with fees recovering only around 43 percent of the cost.
The report says continuing the discretionary service requires “careful review and consideration” at a time of “significant financial challenge” and increasing demand for statutory adult social care.
Three options have been considered – maintaining the existing service, transferring clients over two years or completing an accelerated transfer within 12 months.
The 12-month option could deliver the full annual saving of around £175,000 from 2028/29.
But the council cannot simply give up responsibility for its existing clients.
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Alternative arrangements would have to be put in place for each individual and approved through the relevant legal processes.
The report says “no individual will be left without representation”, adding that the council would remain responsible for managing each person’s financial affairs until that responsibility was lawfully transferred.
Around 100 Court of Protection applications could be required, at an estimated cost of £42,000.
Six employees could also be affected by the closure, although the council says redeployment opportunities would be sought.
If approved, a 12-week consultation would run from November 2 until January 25.