Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Willmott.

Councillor Joshi disclosed an ‘other disclosable interest’ as his wife was employed at an Elderly Persons Home (Minutes 9 refers) and he worked at a voluntary organisation that provided help and support (Minute 9 refers).

To note the membership of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission for the year 2013/2014

RESOLVED:

that the membership of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission for 2013/2014 be noted as follows:-

Councillor Dr. Lynn Moore (Chair)

Councillor Chaplin (Vice-Chair)

Councillors Alfonso, Fonseca, Grant, Joshi, Wann and Willmott.

To note the dates of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission for 2013/2014 as follows:-

2013 (all at 5.30pm)

Thursday 11^th July

Thursday 5^th September

Thursday 10^th October

Thursday 7^th November

Thursday 5^th December

2014

Thursday 9^th January

Wednesday 12^th February

Thursday 6^th March

Thursday 3^rd April.

RESOLVED:

that the meetings of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission for 2013/2014 be noted as follows: -

2013 (all at 5.30pm)

Thursday 11^th July

Thursday 5^th September

Thursday 10^th October

Thursday 7^th November

Thursday 5^th December

2014

Thursday 9^th January

Wednesday 12^th February

Thursday 6^th March

Thursday 3^rd April.

The minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social Care and Housing Scrutiny Commission, held on 2^nd May 2013 , have been previously circulated and members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

the minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social care and Housing Scrutiny Commission, held on 2^nd May 2013, as previously circulated, be confirmed as a correct record.

The Director of Corporate Governance to report on the receipt of any petitions submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no petitions had been received.

The Director of Corporate Governance to report on the receipt or any questions, representations or statements of case.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no questions, representations or statements of case had been received.

The Scrutiny Commission to receive a brief presentation on the Adult Social Care portfolio.

Councillor Rita Patel, Assistant City Mayor (Adult Social Care), Ruth Lake, Divisional Director for Adult Social Care and Safeguarding and Deb Watson, Strategic Director for Adult Social care, Health and Housing attended the meeting and spoke to the report that had been circulated.

The report identified the remit of the Adult Social Care and Safeguarding Division and the Care Services and Commissioning Division, together with the relevant structure charts. A separate report identified the Public Health structure and portfolio, following the transition of the Public Health function from NHS Leicester City to Leicester City Council that had been formally completed on 1^st April 2013.

Members welcomed the presentation and commented on the following topics. Responses are also summarised: -

·         Direct Payments – some 25-30% of people cared for by the City Council had opted to take Direct Payments. The department were in the process of commissioning a third party organisation to provide support to these people. Members requested information on the numbers of people opting for Direct Payments and an indication on how the scheme was working.

·         Benefits and Welfare Advice – what provision had been put in place by the City Council to meet the extra demand following recent changes. Officers stated that a small front facing service was operated by the City Council but other provision had also been commissioned from other third party organisations.

·         Locally based Social Care Teams – were other teams e.g Benefits Team based locally. Officers stated that Benefits Team were based centrally

·         Safeguarding – Members commented that when cases were reported progress and outcomes were never fed back. Officers stated that they would look into this with a view to achieving some consistency. Members suggested that some form of flowchart would be helpful following the process from referral to closure

·         Provision of Services – members commented that it appeared that some one-third of Social Care services were provided by the Independent and Voluntary Sector. Officers stated that following changes in legislation there had been huge shifts in the nature of provision. A significant range of services were no longer provided by the City Council

·         IT and Transformation project – members questioned whether officers were confident that the new systems would work. Officers stated that they were confident that the systems in place would be effective

·         Income Support Allowance – members stated that they were aware of cases of people intending to move from Incapacity Benefit to Income Support Allowance and having their claims being turned down. Officers stated that the Benefits system was administered by the Department for Work and Pensions

·         Blue Badge Scheme – Members expressed concerns around the re-assessment of applicants and of the process whereby applicants medical conditions are not being taken into account. Officers stated that the Blue badge Scheme was currently managed by the Corporate Administration Service, with Adult Social Care providing an Occupational Therapist to assist the process.

Both Ruth Lake and Deb Watson were thanked for their presentations.

Councillor Rita Patel, Assistant City Mayor to give a verbal update on the consultation process and the outcomes of discussions held with the Trade Unions.

A timetable detailing the consultation process will be tabled at the meeting.

Councillor Rita Patel, Assistant City Mayor attended the meeting and gave a verbal update on the current phase of the consultation process.

Members were informed that the consultation process had not yet been completed and no decisions had yet been made regarding the future of elderly persons homes in the City.

The Scrutiny Commission were of the opinion that a timetable should be planned to enable comments to be fed into the consultation process and agreed that the scheduled 11^th July meeting be devoted to this topic enabling evidence to be drawn together. It was suggested and agreed that, whilst the current consultation was around Phase 1 of the process the Scrutiny Commission should look at both Phases 1 and 2 of the consultation process. A large amount of information had already been gathered as part of the previous review undertaken by the Adult Social Care and Housing Scrutiny Commission. Between now and the 11^th July meeting members might wish to visit elderly persons homes and arrange to speak with residents and families. It would also be beneficial to gather evidence from the Trade Unions. It was further suggested that the views from other local; authorities be sought.

In conclusion it was agreed that, prior to the next meeting, some members of the Scrutiny Commission might want to undertake visits to elderly person’s homes and speak to people. This exercise represented an opportunity to undertake an exploration of what could be done by the City Council and what was achievable. It was agreed that a Special Meeting be arranged for |Monday 1^st July to gather further information from stakeholders and look to meet with the Health Scrutiny Commission to discuss issues around nursing care in homes, along similar lines to that offered by Hampshire County Council.

The Director of Finance presents a report for information that sets out procurement activity for Adult Social Care related contracts above £30k and below the EU threshold amounts and also those contracts above EU threshold figures.

The Scrutiny Commission is asked to review the content of the Plan and highlight those areas that they would like to scrutinise in greater detail.

A copy of the schedule of contracts is appended for Scrutiny Commission members only.

The Scrutiny Commission received a report that set out the planned procurement of services by Adult Social Care that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Commission.

The Scrutiny Commission noted the report and expressed the view that the schedules relating to planned procurement of services would be used as a guide when planning future reviews.

A copy of the City Mayor’s Delivery Plan 2013/2014 is attached. The attention of the Scrutiny Commission will be drawn to the relevant sections of the Plan and of how these areas link with the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

A copy of an annotated version of the Plan is appended for Members of the Scrutiny Commission only.

The Scrutiny Commission received the City mayor’s Delivery Plan 2013/14 for consideration and comment on the areas of the Plan within their remit.

The Scrutiny Commission considered the report and made the following comments: -

Page 7 – 6^th paragraph

The Scrutiny Commission suggested the removal of reference to ‘independent living’ and replace with ‘dignified living with a measure of control’.

Page 10 – A thriving City Centre

The Scrutiny Commission questioned what facilities were included for older and disabled people.

Page 11 – A confident City

Questioned whether there were any events targeted at older people.

The Scrutiny Commission were informed that each City Council department needed to identify how they were to better target their services for older people and share this information with partners.

Page 14 – Improving Access and quality of public transport

The Scrutiny Commission questioned whether there should be a separate target for ‘services for older people’.

‘Real Time’ bus information needs to be accessible by disabled persons.

A number of issues had been raised by elderly persons following the recent moving of bus stops in the City Centre resulting in some elderly persons having walk a lot further to catch their buses.

Agreed to raise with Economic Development, Transport and Tourism Scrutiny Commission.

Page 15 – Improving the quality of car parking in the city centre and neighbourhoods

The Scrutiny Commission expressed concerns over the lack of disabled parking spaces in certain areas of the City Centre with suggestion that this provision is looked at as part of the review

Page 16 – Casualties from road traffic accidents/number of people killed or seriously injured

The Scrutiny Commission questioned how many of these people were older people, younger people etc.

Page 25 – Summary of Priorities – Care Services

The Scrutiny Commission were informed that this was a joint piece of work with the Health and Wellbeing Board around health care services for elderly persons

Page 27 – Number of people referred to the exercise scheme

The Scrutiny Commission questioned how many older people were referred to the scheme

Page 31 – Ensuring people are provided with opportunities to mainytain their independence/Ensuring that people have access to quality services of their choice

The Scrutiny Commission were informed that the Council were looking at Personal Budgets and Home Living scheme

Page 35 – Social Care and Homelessness

The Scrutiny Commission were informed that there was a need to differentiate between personal Budgets and Direct Payments that were not included within the Delivery Plan.

When referring to carers in the Plan this related to informal carers, there was a need to make this clearer.

Page 42- targeted learning support for residents new to computers will continue at Central Lending Library

The Scrutiny Commission questioned why this service was only available at the Central Lending Library and why not other libraries across the City.

Page 43 – Welfare Reform

The Scrutiny Commission expressed a view that this should also relate to older people

Page 44 –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The Scrutiny Commission to receive the Draft Work Programme 2013/2014 for consideration and comment.

Updates on the following current Scrutiny Reviews are also appended:

i)          Alternative Care for Elderly Persons

ii)         Domiciliary Care

The Scrutiny Commission received the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission Draft Work Programme 2013/14 and made several amendments for inclusion in the Plan that would be reported to the next meeting.

The Chair gave an update on the following Scrutiny Commission reviews: -

i)          Alternative Care for Elderly Persons

It was reported that there would be a need for one more meeting of the Task Group with input from several areas where Shared Lives scheme is operated.

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ii)         Domiciliary Care Scrutiny Review

The Scrutiny Commission received the Scoping Document in respect of this proposed review to look more closely at the commissioning process. A date for the commencement of the review would be agreed at a later date.

iii)        Elderly Persons Homes Proposals

Access for All: Inclusive Design Action Programme                                  AOUB

Progress Report 2010-2013

This item has been referred at the request of the Overview Select Committee for information and it is suggested that the Scrutiny Commission monitor progress of the Inclusive Design Action Programme. 

A copy of the full report and Appendix is attached for members of the Scrutiny Commission only.

The following report was considered as an item of urgent business:-

Access for All: Inclusive Design Action Programme Progress Report 2010-13

The Scrutiny Commission received the report of the Director, Planning Transportation and Economic Development at the request of the Chair of the Overview Select Committee as a means of assessing the success of the Inclusive Design Action Programme, and of progress made towards meeting the agreed aims.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.27pm.