Agenda and minutes

Please note: The Adults and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Monday 18 January 2021 at 2:00pm will not be open to the public in line with Government advice on public gatherings.

This meeting will be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWFpwBLs6MnUzG0WjejrQtQ

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2020 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 34.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

There were no declarations of the party whip.

The Chief Executive reported that no petitions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of Adults and Communities and Director of Corporate Resources which provided information on the proposed 2021/22 to 2024/25 Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) as it related to the Adults and Communities Department. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item ‘8’ is filed with these minutes. 

The Chairman welcomed Mr R Blunt CC, Cabinet Lead Member and Mrs Radford CC, Cabinet Support Member to the meeting for this item.

In introducing the report, the Director advised members of the financial challenges facing the Council and the demand and cost pressures facing adult social care services in dealing with an ageing population, an increasing number of people with complex disabilities and increased costs in meeting their assessed needs.

Arising from the comments and questions raised, the Committee was advised as follows:

Proposed Revenue Budget

(i)         The revenue budget did not take into account any pay or price inflation.  A contingency was held centrally and allocated in year when the position became clearer.  In the previous year, a sum of £7.6million had been transferred for price, pay and pension inflation. The proposed revenue budget did not include the additional revenue that would be generated were the Council minded to levy the 3% social care precept which would generate approximately £9.3million. The consultation on this and the level of Council Tax had just closed and the Cabinet would need to have regard to the outcome of the consultation before taking a decision.

Growth

(ii)        G8 – Learning Disability Demand – Members were advised that there was close working with the Children and Families Service so that the demand was reasonably well known to allow good forecasting. The work between the two Departments also focussed on ensuring that during the transition phase service users and their families were supported with opportunities for independence and elsewhere in the budget a potential saving is being forecast as a result (AC10 refers).

(iii)       G9 – Mental Health demand - Members welcomed the proposed growth to address the additional need as a result of the Covid Pandemic.

(iv)      G11 – Market Premia - The challenges in recruiting and retaining social work staff were fully recognised and the proposed growth was supported. Members requested that the position be closely monitored given the central role played by social workers in the delivery of services to the elderly and vulnerable.

(v)       G6 and G7 – Increased demand from Older People and Learning Disabilities. This growth recognised the increasing demands from demographic growth and the increasing complexity of care and fragility of some service users.  A report was due to be presented to a future meeting of the Committee on how needs were being met and the impact on carers.  It was noted that the demographics and the fact that people were living longer, but often with poorer health, required support to be provided to more people with complex needs.

Adult Social Care – Savings

(vi)      Members noted the savings proposals and commented favourably on the Department’s approach. In particular members highlighted the following saving lines in the budget which whilst delivering savings had the added benefit of improving services and outcomes: -

•    AC2 – Social Care Investment Plan

•    AC4 – Revised Target Operating Model (TOM)

•    AC5 – Digital Assistive Technology

•    AC8 – Digital Self-Serve Financial Assessments

•    AC9 – Review of Mental Health pathways.

(vii)     A commitment was given to a report being submitted on the Revised Target Operating Model to ensure that it was meeting its objectives and that all those assessed as requiring services were receiving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Adults and Communities, the purpose of which was to provide an overview of adult safeguarding activity both before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 9’, is filed with these minutes.

Arising from a question regarding repeated safeguarding alerts, the following points were noted:

(i)         Repeated safeguarding alerts were captured by the Adult Social Care Management System, which enabled staff to view enquiries related to an alert at both an individual and organisational (service provider) level.

(ii)        Where issues related to a particular provider, staff would check whether there were any individual enquiries relating to that provider to determine whether a pattern or theme was developing.

(iii)       Efforts were made to triangulate information between the Safeguarding Adults and Commissioning and Care Quality Teams to follow-up on repeated alerts to help determine whether an issue needed to be addressed at an individual or contractual level and the best course of action.

RESOLVED:

That the update on adult safeguarding activity before and during the Covid-19 pandemic be welcomed and noted.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Adults and Communities, the purpose of which was to seek comments from the Committee on progress made with the procurement of home care services following a pause in activity and re-profiling of timelines due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 10’, is filed with these minutes.

Arising from discussion the following points were raised:

(i)         In reference to the option to tender for an open framework, it was confirmed that any providers that were able to demonstrate they could meet the Council’s quality and assurance specifications would be considered and securing a range of providers would be key to service delivery.

(ii)        Some members highlighted the need to encourage and support smaller care providers interested in working with the Council to help with both managing the rise in demand for home care services since the Covid-19 pandemic began, and in maximising the availability of services, especially in rurally isolated areas.  The Director acknowledged that it could be more difficult for some smaller providers to meet all of the Council’s rigorous contractual requirements. However, there were other ways the Council could support those interested in providing care to local residents, for example through Direct Payments, so anyone interested was encouraged to make contact with the Council to explore the options available. 

(iii)       Members were assured that assessment of provider infection control techniques would form part of the tendering process.

(iv)      The Committee confirmed its support for the proposed way forward and commended staff in the Department and the Lead Member for the work they had undertaken to redesign the service. The Chairman commented that the way the Department was prepared to review and adjust its service models in light of everchanging circumstances to improve outcomes for local residents and ensure their needs remained at the forefront of its work demonstrated its strength.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the update on the progress made with the procurement of home care services following a pause in activity and re-profiling of timelines due to the Covid-19 pandemic be noted and the proposed way forward supported.

(b)       That the Director of Adults and Communities be requested to take the Committee’s comments on the updated approach into consideration as part of the forthcoming re-procurement.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Adults and Communities which highlighted the Adults and Communities Department’s performance position in 2019/20 through national benchmarking, and which also provided an update on the Department’s performance at the end of November 2020.  A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 11’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the Adults and Communities Department’s performance position in 2019/20, and the update of the Department’s performance as at the end of November 2020 be noted.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to take place on 8 March 2021 at 2.00pm.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on 8 March 2021 at 2.00pm.