Agenda and minutes

To issue a welcome to those present, and to confirm if there are any apologies for absence.

It was noted that apologies for absence were received from Councillors Joannou, Batool, Kaur Saini and Sahu with substitutions as above.

Members will be asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

Members were asked to declare interests.

The Chair advised that she had responded to the Carer’s survey in her work capacity.

Cllr Russell declared that she had Carer responsibilities.

The minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission held on Thursday 12^th March have been circulated and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The minutes from the meeting on Thursday 12^th March were agreed as correct.

The following matter was noted:

The minutes of the 12^th March had seen an action arising during the Leicester City Council Reablement Service: Care Quality Commission Inspection item. The action had noted:

Scrutiny of the Integrated Care Service could be added to the next agenda. 

 The action should have read:

Scrutiny of the Integrated Cris Response Service be added to the next agenda. 

The Chair is invited to make any announcements as they see fit. 

The Chair explained that there were some technical issues with the microphones.

Any questions, representations and statements of case submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures will be reported.

It was noted that there were none.

Any petitions received in accordance with Council procedures will be reported.

It was noted that there were none.

The Strategic Director for Social Care and Educations submits a report providing the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission with the Care Quality Commission’s inspection outcome for the Leicester City Council Integrated Crisis Response Service (ICRS).

Please see item 1 for supporting report.

The Strategic Director for Social Care and Educations submitted a report providing the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission with the Care Quality Commission’s inspection outcome for the Leicester City Council Integrated Crisis Response Service (ICRS).

The Service Manager for Independent Living Services and the ICRS Manager gave an overview of the report. Key points to note were as follows:

·       Each of the five domains assessed had received a rating of Outstanding.

·       The service operated 24-7, offering critical care. The inspection outcome was a true reflection of the work of each member of staff and both the internal and external partnerships.

·       The team of 55 staff, served the region, supporting 500 people per month, over 6,000 people per year. Nearly 80% of service users would continue to live at home after a crisis.

·       An excellent culture of psychological safety had been cultivated amongst staff.

·       Key themes of the report included the noting of; a proactive and positive culture, comprehensive assessment of need a person centric approach.

The Chair acknowledged the report and commended the team for their work. Member questions followed, key points to note were:

• Members agreed this was an excellent report and recognised the service for flexibility in responding to care needs.
• The culture of promoting staff welfare was noted.

The Director for Adult Social Care and Commissioning submits a report providing an update on carers work in the city and setting out key priorities over the next 9 months.

The Director for Adult Social Care and Commissioning submitted a report providing an update on carers work in the city and setting out key priorities over the next 9 months.

The Head of Strategic Commissioning gave an overview of the report, key points to note were as follows:

• There were around 6500 Carers working in the city.
• The new Carers strategy was being co-produced.
• A structured improvement scheme had been put into place to address the key issues during the CQC inspection.
• A range of initiatives were delivered under the Accelerating Reform Fund including; emergency planning, discharge grants and staff training
• The Carer’s Week would take place in June.

In response to member discussion, the following was noted:

• Members noted the latest feedback from the CQC inspection and peer review and highlighted the importance of an effective strategy.
• Carer definitions could be problematical.
• Some Carers did not know that they would be eligible for assistance. A follow up would be raised with the Carer’s Delivery Group.
• There was a considerable diversity of carers within the city and strategy needed to reach all, including those of working age. Members suggested raising awareness of Carer support via the school networks, to inform younger carers.
• The Citizen’s Space online survey would help to capture relevant evidence to build a robust strategy.
• Work on Short Breaks was ongoing, including joint work with the Learning Disability and Autism (LDA) Collaborative.
• More data could be provided to the Commission on numbers supported by the Age UK Contract.
• More data could come back to the Commission on the Accelerating Reform fund. The fund had supported the Shared Lives offer as well as carers.
• The Hospital Discharge Grant for Carers had come to an end. Age UK had supported several people. .
• It was noted that support for diverse communities was vital with traditional family care arrangements dwindling.

AGREED:

1)    For the report to be noted by the Commission.

2)    To follow for the report from Age UK.

3)    To follow the work on Short Breaks.

4)    For a break of the Reform spending figures to be provided to the Commission.

5)    More data could be provided to the Commission on numbers supported by the Age UK Contract.

6)    For the Carer’s Strategy to come back to Scrutiny, including a reflection on the diversity of carers.

The Director for Adult Social Care and Commissioning submits a report updating the commission on progress made, highlighting key developments, outcomes achieved, and next steps.

The Director for Adult Social Care and Commissioning submitted a report updating the commission on progress made, highlighting key developments, outcomes achieved, and next steps.

The Lead Commissioner of Adult Social Care and Commissioning gave an overview of the report. Key points to note were as follows:

• The plan had been strengthened following feedback from the previous year’s Scrutiny Commission.
• The overall aim was to bring accessibility to clear and consistent information.
• Early progress had been made since the launch of the plan in January 2026.
• A project delivery group had been established.
• A programme of community engagement sessions was in place under the Leading Better Lives scheme.
• Work had included visits to community groups.
• The ADHD support service had been mobilised and benchmarking was in place.

In response to member comment and discussion, the following was noted:

• Further work was planned with community groups such as the African Heritage Group.
• Regarding the health services, ADHD Solutions had ceased trading. A commissioned service was in place and there was close work with the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT).
• The aim was to create a neurodiverse supportive environment across the city.
• Following the recent mobilisation of the ADHD service, a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to see 40 people per month was set.
• The Local Supported Employment programme supported people with a learning disability or Autism into work.
• Members noted the benefits of mental health cafes and local support groups.

AGREED:

1)    For the report to be noted by the Commission.

2)    For Councillors to work with Officers to broaden the scope of support, considering community groups and mental health cafes.

The Director for Social Care and Commissioning submits a report to update the Commission on new legislation.

The Director for Social Care and Commissioning submitted a report to update the Commission on new legislation.

The Assistant City Mayor for Adult Social Care introduced the item noting significant changes in employment protections, with key legislative changes.

The Head of Quality and Contracts, and the External Workforce Lead for Inspired to Care gave an overview of the report. Key points to note were as follows:

• The Employment Rights act represented one of the most significant changes to employment protections in recent years.
• The report focussed on the anticipated upcoming challenges.
• The creation of a new Fair Works agency would strengthen enforcement activity. 
• By October 2026 several further reforms would come into effect to shape employment practices over the Adult Social Care (ASC) sector, including The ASC negotiating body and the Fair Pay Agreement.
• Leicester was currently experiencing  difficulties with recruiting for employment.
• There was a diverse market of providers, often with limited HR facilities.
• Inspired to Care had commissioned a specialist HR company to support local providers in adapting their HR practices.
• For Leicester City Council quality and contracts, the aim was to strengthen the risk matrix and quality assurance framework.

In response to member comment and discussion, the following was noted:

• The Quality Assurance Framework was being redrafted.
• A QR code was in development for frontline staff to feed back.
• Plans were in place to strengthen the position for staff on work visas.
• Members suggested the potential care work shadowing opportunities for those on long term sickness leave.

AGREED:

1)    For the report to be noted by the Commission.

2)    For the Commission to follow up on the Fair Pay agreement.

3)    For the Commission to follow up on the Social Care Academy.

4)    For an item on modern day slavery to be added to come to Scrutiny.

5)    For consideration of the GR code and whether it could go to a form that could be translated online.

The Director for Adult Social Care and Commissioning submits a report to brief the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission on the findings of the LLR LeDeR programme and their work to date to learn and prevent premature deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people in our area.

The report also includes a sense of the initiatives being undertaken to support the child death overview process (CDOP) for children and young people with a learning disability.

The Director for Social Care and Commissioning submitted a report to update the Commission on new legislation.

The Assistant City Mayor for Adult Social Care introduced the item noting significant changes in employment protections, with key legislative changes.

The Head of Quality and Contracts, and the External Workforce Lead for Inspired to Care gave an overview of the report. Key points to note were as follows:

• The Employment Rights act represented one of the most significant changes to employment protections in recent years.
• The report focussed on the anticipated upcoming challenges.
• The creation of a new Fair Works agency would strengthen enforcement activity. 
• By October 2026 several further reforms would come into effect to shape employment practices over the Adult Social Care (ASC) sector, including The ASC negotiating body and the Fair Pay Agreement.
• Leicester was currently experiencing  difficulties with recruiting for employment.
• There was a diverse market of providers, often with limited HR facilities.
• Inspired to Care had commissioned a specialist HR company to support local providers in adapting their HR practices.
• For Leicester City Council quality and contracts, the aim was to strengthen the risk matrix and quality assurance framework.

In response to member comment and discussion, the following was noted:

• The Quality Assurance Framework was being redrafted.
• A QR code was in development for frontline staff to feed back.
• Plans were in place to strengthen the position for staff on work visas.
• Members suggested the potential care work shadowing opportunities for those on long term sickness leave.

AGREED:

1)    For the report to be noted by the Commission.

2)    For the Commission to follow up on the Fair Pay agreement.

3)    For the Commission to follow up on the Social Care Academy.

4)    For an item on modern day slavery to be added to come to Scrutiny.

5)    For consideration of the GR code and whether it could go to a form that could be translated online.

Members of the Commission will be asked to consider the work programme and make suggestions for additional items as it considers necessary.

The chair highlighted the work programme.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 19:38