Freedom of information response

In July 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care published the following provisional information about average care home fees paid by the council to external providers of care homes for older people. 
 
Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund 2023 to 2024: care provider fees - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)   (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/market-sustainability-and-improvement-fund-2023-to-2024-care-provider-fees)
 
Council with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSR)    Provisional average fee rate per week for external providers of care homes without nursing for clients aged 65+ in 2023-24    Provisional average fee rate per week for external providers of care homes with nursing for clients aged 65+ in 2023-24
Thurrock Council    £622.24    £1136.3
 
We note that the difference between care homes with and without nursing is > £400, which is higher than would usually be expected. One potential reason may be that the council’s return did not follow DHSC guidance, which was to EXCLUDE NHS Funded Nursing Care, 3rd party top-ups, and any other source of funding other than the Council.
 
Please either:
 
a)    Confirm that the above figures correctly follow the DHSC guidance and do not include NHS Funded Nursing Care, 3rd party top-ups, or any other source of funding other than the Council
 
OR, IF NOT
 
b)    Provide revised figures for the average fee rates paid to external providers, from April 2023 to date, which do not include NHS Funded Nursing Care, 3rd party top-ups, or any other source of funding other than the Council:
 
Council with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSR)    Provisional average fee rate per week for external providers of care homes without nursing for clients aged 65+ in 2023-24    Provisional average fee rate per week for external providers of care homes with nursing for clients aged 65+ in 2023-24
Thurrock Council