Agenda item

The Strategic Director for Social Care and Education submits a report to provide Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission Members with a Year 2 update on progress against the actions in the Leicester City Joint Health and Social Care Learning Disability Strategy 2020 – 23.

Members of the Commission are Recommended to note the report and pass any comments to the Strategic Director for Social Care and Education.

The Deputy City Mayor for Social Care and Anti-Poverty took the opportunity to praise the team who had led on the work. it was also noted that the strategy had proved to have a positive impact on people’s lives.

The Strategic Director for Social Care and Anti-Poverty introduced the item and drew Members attention to the groups of people who draw on Adult Social Care services and noted that although 2/3 of the people were older people half of the ASC budget funded support to working age adults who had more complex needs including those with learning disabilities and that this group drew on services at an earlier stage in their lives.

It was further noted that the Learning Disability Strategy was particularly important as it was half of the budget with a smaller number of people and also that due to the length of time people of a working age with learning disabilities draw on services, and this had an effect on their life experience as much it was influenced by the quality of the engagement with the service providers over a long period of time, further highlighting the importance of the strategy.

The Lead Commissioner provided an overview of the report. It was noted that the this was a joint strategy with health colleagues and that the original strategy ended in December 2023.

It was further noted that the intention to extend the existing strategy for 2 years (2024-26) was to ensure continued delivery on the commitments outlined for the strategy as listed below:

·         Healthy Lifestyles

·         Equal Healthcare

·         Social care

·         Housing and accommodation

·         Access and inclusion to leisure, recreation, and public transport

·         Work, college, and money

·         Moving into adulthood

·         Support for carers

As part of the discussions, the Chair noted that the report was encouraging and requested info on how the data and information was gathered. In response to the Chair it was noted that, there were many groups in the city that were made up of people that had learning difficulties, this helped to identify priorities that were key to people with learning disabilities and helped identify what actions could be taken to improve the service and what works well for service users. The Chair further suggested that this continued effort with support and guidance for those with learning difficulties could lead to positive and successful outcomes.

The Lead commissioner further added that the Learning Disabilities Partnership Board (LDPB) chaired by the We Think Group, met regularly with stakeholders where groups participated and contributed.

As part of the discussions it was noted that the Disability Confidence Scheme was a nationally accredited scheme, which was supported by local employers with hopes that more join in the future, there was support available from the DWP for organisations that signed up to the scheme to prepare systems and processes to support people appropriately and the Lead Commissioner was pleased to note that Leicester City Council was part of the scheme. 

Members of the Commission thanked Officers for an easy read document and queried how the Oliver McGowan Training produced alongside Health Education England could be used to train everyone who works in a public facing role. In response it was noted that the training had not yet launched, and the government had announced that everyone that worked in the field would be mandated to take the training which was a 2-part course including an interactive session with someone with learning disabilities and more information would become available in the future.

Members of the Commission further suggested that, the training would be useful to Elected Members and council staff across the authority and should be included as part of the induction programme following the election.

AGREED:

1)    That the Commission supported the extension of the Learning Disabilities Strategy for an additional 2 years,

2)    That the Strategic Director for Social Care and Education and the team be thanked for the easy read document, and

3)    That all Elected Members be encouraged to take up the Oliver McGowan training when this is available and for public facing council staff to be encouraged to also take this training.