Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Broadwell, Councillor Govind and Councillor Joshi.

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

Councillor March  declared that she was the next of kin for someone who the received care payed for by the Council.

The minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission held on 29 June 2021 have been circulated and the Commission is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

AGREED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission held on 29 June 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Monitoring Officer to report on any petitions received.

The Monitoring Officer noted that none had been received.

The Monitoring Officer to report on any questions, representations or statements of case.

The Monitoring Officer noted that none had been received.

The Strategic Director for Social Care and Education will provide a verbal update to the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission.

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

The Director for Adult Social Care and Safeguarding updated the Commission on the latest information.

It was noted that:

·         The vast majority of services were running as usual with continued limitations in communal settings

·         Social Care Staff were continuing visits and engaging in new ways based on risk assessments

·         There was a demand on catch up work, but the general position was business as usual.

Mandatory Vaccinations

·         22 July Covid19 deployment for staff

·         16-week grace period which would be enforceable by 11 November 2021

·         The mandatory vaccination was not just exclusive to care home staff but all members of staff that cross the threshold

·         The roll out of the mandatory vaccination came with its own complexities but the service were working in partnership with LLR

·         The current position of staff vaccinations stood at 85% of staff had received their first dose of vaccinations and 75% of staff had received both doses

·         50% of homes were considered to be in the green, 30 in amber and 11 in red status. Members of the Commission were assured that contingency planning was in place.

·         Targeted communications were in place to support staff to be vaccinated, with letters being distributed and support helplines being set up

·         Work was in progress on the logistical approach with care homes including pop up vaccination sites in the build up to the deadline date

·         A request had been made to Council staff that fall into the threshold to keep their vaccination status updated and managers were invited to attend workshops to help signpost staff.

As part of the discussions it was noted that there were a few scenarios that could take place to the 11 care homes in the red status but there was ongoing work to avoid this. Members of the Commission welcomed the front foot approach.

It was suggested that the current position was of staff vaccinations were in the bottom 10 of all authorities in the country and that this was not a good position to be in. Work with other organisations was ongoing to help support the increase of staff vaccinations.

It was suggested that although there was a possibility of non-urgent needs becoming urgent, the service were in a position to recruit, should this be required and comparatively the overall waiting times were not excessive.

AGREED:

1)    That the report be noted;

2)    That the ongoing work to increase staff vaccinations continue;

3)    And that, Officers be thanked for their efforts.

The Strategic Director for Social Care and Education presents the Annual Report for 2020/21 produced by HealthWatch Leicester and Leicestershire.

Members of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission are recommended to note the content of the report and pass any comments/feedback to the Strategic Director for Social Care and Education.

A representative from HealthWatch Leicester and Leicestershire presented the annual report to the Commission.

As part of the discussions it was noted that:

·         Healthwatch Leicester and Leicestershire was jointly funded by both the City Council and the County Council

·         A report on the findings from research carried out by sitting in on CAMHS Services to get an understanding of patient experiences was sent to the Health Overview Select Commission with its findings.

·         Members of the Commission requested that reports put together by HealthWatch be circulated to Members of the Commission.

·         Reports were sent to Leicestershire Partnership Trust along with the recommendations with an expectation that the recommendations were delivered, with a follow up after three months on the recommendations.

·         This year work included work on Men’s Mental Health, Rough Sleepers and work on Covid19 was ongoing.

The Chair suggested that, as Healthwatch Leicester and Leicestershire were funded by the local authority, they should work alongside the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission and a representative should be in attendance at all Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission meetings.

AGREED:

1)    That Healthwatch Leicester and Leicestershire be invited to all future meetings of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission;

2)    That Healthwatch Leicester and Leicestershire consider any reports that can come to the adult social care scrutiny Commission

3)    And that, reports produced by HealthWatch Leicester and Leicestershire be circulated to Members of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission and the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Commission.

The Strategic Director for Social Care and Education submits a report to provide the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission with an update on key aspects of domiciliary support delivered in Leicester.

Members of the Commission are recommended to note the content of the report and pass any comments/feedback to the Strategic Director for Social Care and Education.

The Deputy City Mayor for Social Care and Anti-Poverty presented the report on Domiciliary Care update.

As part of the discussions it was noted that:

·         Officers be thanked for providing the information

·         With the quantitative data now available the Commission required the qualitative data

·         Members of the Commission were interested in the staffing and how the service monitored the care that was payed for is at the high-quality standards that was required

·         The challenge the service faced going forward was to provide a higher level of support at an earlier stage and ensuring assessments are carried out adequately, taking into account the increased financial cost

AGREED:

1)    That the report be noted;

2)    That Members be invited to participate in the task group;

3)    And that, an item on Carers Tech be added to the work programme.

The Strategic Director for Social Care and Education will update the Commission on the Procurement Plan.

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

The Deputy City Mayor for Social Care and Anti-Poverty introduced the item. It was suggested that the additional information provided would allow for items to be added to the Commissions Work Programme.

As part of the discussions it was noted that:

·         Concerns were raised with risk ratings that were high as these had an impact on a large number of people

·         Contracts were agreed following deep considerations on their viability.

Members of the Commission suggested that the information be categorized from high to low risk and be produced again at the next Commission meeting.

AGREED:

That Officers be requested to provide the information from high to low risk at the next Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission.

The current work programme for the Commission is attached.  The Commission is asked to consider this and make comments and/or amendments as it considers necessary.

It was noted that the work programme was a work in progress and suggested items were being considered.

Evidence gathering sessions for the Task Group review were arranged for September.

There being no other items of urgent business, the meeting closed at 6:55pm.