Issue - meetings

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Adults and Communities which sought its views on the draft Adult Social Care Strategy 2016-2020, together with the associated draft overarching commissioning intentions. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 9’ is filed with these minutes.

Mr Dave Houseman MBE CC, Lead Member for Adult Social Care commended the report in the light of the changing demographic makeup of the population and rising demand for services, emphasising that prevention, reducing and delaying need played a vital role in managing demand for adult social care services.

In response to questions raised members were advised as follows:

(i)     The current model of social care delivery reduced the independence of service users, when used for long periods of time as once in receipt of the services the needs tended to grow. The aging population and reduced financial envelope did not allow for services to be provided if unnecessary. The new model aimed to promote independence by focusing on the outcomes for the users. To that end the relationship between providers and commissioners would be reconsidered to allow for more responsive and flexible care delivery, so that need for on-going care could be prevented, reduced, delayed and met as appropriate;

(ii)    Members expressed concern that although there was a capacity in the communities to deliver services, not every community would be able to do so to the same extent and the expectations placed on volunteers could be too great. The Committee was advised that the strategy was to develop support, focused on prevention and self-help and that building resilient communities was important in achieving that objective. Members were advised that collaborative work also was underway with Public Health Department, Clinical Commissioning Groups, districts and borough councils to identify additional positive community initiatives, for example Community Library Services or Local Area Coordination. The experience from other authorities, such as Sheffield City Council building community capacity was also looked at;

(iii)  The Committee was advised that it was hoped more could be done to support carers to continue provide their services. Members were assured that better support for carers was envisaged as part of this strategy.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.