Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dawood.

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

As a Standing Invitee to the Commission, Mr Philip Parkinson (Healthwatch invited representative) declared an Other Disclosable Interest in the general business of the meeting in that he had a relative in receipt of a social care package from the City Council.

Councillor Willmott declared an Other Disclosable Interest in agenda item 10, “Elderly Persons’ Homes Update”, in that since the last meeting of the Commission he had been asked by the applicant for a judicial review of the decision to close elderly persons’ homes to provide a witness statement.

Councillor Kitterick noted that a report would be made to the Planning and Development Control Committee, of which he was Chair, on the proposed intermediate care provision, for the discussion of material planning matters, (agenda item 11, “Provision of Intermediate Care and Short Term Residential Beds Facilities”, referred).  Councillor Kitterick confirmed that he would not prejudice his consideration of those matters through consideration of the report now before this Commission.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, these interests were not considered so significant that they were likely to prejudice the respective people’s judgement of the public interest.  They were not, therefore, required to withdraw from the meeting.

Members are asked to note the membership of the Commission for 2014/15:-

Councillor Chaplin (Chair)

Councillor Riyait (Vice-Chair)

Councillor Alfonso

Councillor Cutkelvin

Councillor Dawood

Councillor Kitterick

Councillor Willmott

1 vacancy for a non-grouped Member

NOTED:

That the membership for the Commission for 2014/15 is:-

Councillor Chaplin (Chair)

Councillor Riyait (Vice-Chair)

Councillor Alfonso

Councillor Cutkelvin

Councillor Dawood

Councillor Kitterick

Councillor Willmott

1 vacancy for a non-grouped Member

Members are asked to note the meeting dates of the Commission for 2014/15 (all to start at 5.30 pm):-

Thursday 26 June 2014

Thursday 14 August 2014

Thursday 25 September 2014

Thursday 20 November 2014

Thursday 8 January 2015

Thursday 13 February 2014

Thursday 5 March 2015

NOTED:

That meetings of the Commission are scheduled to be held at 5.30 pm on the following dates for 2014/15:-

Thursday 26 June 2014

Thursday 14 August 2014

Thursday 25 September 2014

Thursday 20 November 2014

Thursday 8 January 2015

Thursday 13 February 2014

Thursday 5 March 2015

The minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission held on 15 May 2014 are attached and the Commission is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission held 15 May 2014 be approved as a correct record.

None received to date

The Monitoring Officer reported that no petitions had been received since the last meeting.

None received to date

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

It is proposed to hold an induction session to introduce / refresh major issues under consideration by this Commission over the coming year.  Suggested dates for this are:-

Wednesday 30 July 2014: 4.00 – 5.30 pm

Wednesday 6 August 2014: 4.00 – 5.30 pm

Tuesday 12 August 2014: 4.30 – 6.00 pm

RESOLVED:

                        That an induction session to introduce / refresh major issues under consideration by this Commission over the coming year be held from 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm on Tuesday 12 August 2014.

The Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) submits a report outlining proposals for implementing the findings of a review of the Voluntary and Community Sector preventative services funded by Adult Social Care.  The Commission is recommended to endorse the proposals.

The Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) submitted a report outlining proposals for implementing the findings of a review of the Voluntary and Community Sector preventative services funded by Adult Social Care. 

The Director explained that contracts for the current services expired on 31 March 2015 and under the Council’s Procurement Rules and European legislation it was not possible to extend them further.  In addition, the Council could not commit funding for more than two years, due to the current financial situation, although there would be an opportunity to extend for a further two years if the funding was available.  The review of the services asked for opinions on whether there should be one generic advocacy service in the future, or individual ones.  Responses to the consultation favoured a range of  specialist services.  The report also recommended that temporary funding should be provided to support counselling services pending consideration of future funding by health.

Mr Bhodrashi Tridedi, Chair of Leicestershire Ethnic Elderly Advocacy Project (LEEAP), addressed the meeting at the invitation of the Chair.  He reminded Members that written information about LEEAP had been circulated prior to the meeting and made the following comments:-

·           LEEAP was a Council-funded project that had been in operation for 20 years;

·           The charity promoted and protected the interests of approximately 100 people.  These people required intense social care, so their condition could deteriorate quickly if this was not available;

·           There had been considerable distress when those helped by the project had heard of the Council’s decision to withdraw funding;

·           The decision to withdraw funding should have been taken in consultation with those affected by the decision, but this had not been done;

·           LEEAP was very concerned that no response had been received to its letter of 9 June 2014, requesting information on how the decision had been taken to change the funding for the project;

·           LEEAP wanted to continue to work in partnership with the Council, particularly with regard to issues such as financial and legal issues, and those arising under the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) regulations;

·           The forthcoming change would disrupt long-standing services; and

·           LEEAP hoped that the Council would consider its request for continued funding favourably.

The Assistant Mayor (Adult Social Care) advised Mr Tridedi that a reply to LEEAP’s letter of 9 June had been drafted and would be sent soon.  If the organisation wanted to meet the Assistant Mayor at any time to discuss the issues, this could be arranged.

The Assistant Mayor also advised the Commission that all VCS organisations who provided preventative services funded by the Adult Social Care department, had been consulted about the review and many had attended briefing sessions arranged by the Council.   It was also explained that the Council wanted to continue to work with organisations to deliver good quality services, but could not guarantee which organisations those would be, as it was required to go through a procurement process.

The Council was doing all it could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) submits a report outlining progress with individual residents’ moves to alternative accommodation, where their current homes are to be closed in phase 1.  The Commission is recommended to note the report and comment as appropriate.

The Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) submitted a report outlining progress with individual residents’ moves to alternative accommodation, where their current homes were to be closed in phase 1.

The Adult Social Care Business Transition Manager drew the Commission’s attention to the fact that Elizabeth House and Nuffield House had now closed and a property guardian service would start on 27 June 2014.  Some of the residents in Herrick Lodge did not want to move until the outcome of the pending judicial review was known.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Safeguarding submits a report outlining recommendations to be made to the Executive for the development of intermediate care and residential beds facilities.  The Commission is recommended to note the report and make any comments.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Safeguarding submitted a report outlining recommendations to be made to the Executive for the development of intermediate care and residential beds facilities that would be provided directly by the Council.

Councillor Kitterick reminded Members of the declaration he had made in respect of this item.

The City Mayor advised the Commission that he was confident that the chosen site for the new facility was the correct one.  He reconfirmed the Council’s commitment to the provision of the facility, stressing that capital funding would remain available for it.

Members supported the choice of site for this development, noting that there was good public transport access.  Members also expressed that sustainability options should be fully considered.  For example, it was suggested that, if a single storey building was provided, there would be no lift maintenance costs.  It therefore was suggested that the design process should properly assess the impact of such options.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Safeguarding noted that a priority for adult social care was supporting people who were at vulnerable points in their lives.  This needed to be done in a way that was affordable to the Council and incorporated the best elements of good design.

Alistair Jackson, Chief Executive of the Leicester Quaker Housing Association (LQHA), addressed the Commission at the invitation of the Chair.  He drew particular attention to Appendix B to the report, which set out anticipated staffing costs for a 30-bed intermediate care unit, expressing concern at the differences in staffing costs between what was proposed for the unit and what the LQHA understood was being proposed following fee negotiations.  This was demonstrated in information tabled by Mr Jackson at the meeting, a copy of which is attached at the end of these minutes for information.

At the meeting of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission held on 14 August 2014, an amendment to the above minute was agreed as follows:

“……and what the LQHA understood was being proposed following fee negotiations with independent residential care homes in the City.   This was demonstrated in information tabled by Mr Jackson at the meeting, a copy of which is attached at the end of these minutes for information”.

Mr Jackson then made the following comments:-

·           Although the LQHA provided residential care, a significant number of residents went there direct from hospital, so needed a level of intermediate care;

·           The Council stated that a registered manager was needed at the facility, but the cost shown in the Council’s report was a lot lower than the salary paid by LQHA;

At the meeting of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission held on 14 August 2014, a further amendment to the above minute was agreed as follows:

The information provided as part of the fees review proposal, reflected a lower salary for a Registered Manager than LQHA pays their Registered Manager. The indicative salary for the Intermediate Care Registered Manager was higher.

The following two amendments (in italics) were also agreed:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The Assistant Mayor (Adult Social Care) submits an update on the implementation of the Adult Social Care Commission and an overview of its objectives.  The Commission is recommended to receive the update and comment as appropriate.

The Assistant Mayor (Adult Social Care) submitted an update on the implementation of the Independent Adult Social Care Commission on Aging Well and an overview of its objectives.  She explained that it had been more complicated than anticipated to establish the Commission, but a first meeting had now been arranged. 

It was anticipated that the Commission would work to a programme of theme headings, but retain scope for other issues to be discussed.  It also would help in the development of an Aging Well Strategy for the city.

Philip Parkinson, of Healthwatch, asked if there was scope in the membership of the Commission for Healthwatch to be involved.  The Assistant Mayor explained that potential members had been invited from specific organisations and businesses, in order that they could give a specific input to the Commission, but she was willing to consider the request.

The Assistant Mayor advised the meeting that officers from adult social care services would be involved in supporting the work of the new Commission.  They, and the Assistant Mayor, could report back to this Commission on a regular basis.  It also was envisaged that, as the new Commission’s work developed, it could want to hear evidence from all scrutiny commissions, (for example, through the Chairs).

In noting the work programme for the new Commission, it was suggested that meeting 4 should focus on isolation, as loneliness followed on from this.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the Assistant Mayor (Adult Social Care) be asked to submit the notes of each meeting of the Independent Adult Social Care Commission on Aging Well to this Commission if possible; and

2)    That the Assistant Mayor (Adult Social Care) be asked to provide further information, when available, on how the work of the Independent Adult Social Care Commission on Aging Well will link to the rest of the work of the Council.

The Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) submits a report providing an indicativetimetablefor theactionsneededto supportexistingservice users attending Douglas Bader Day Centre to find alternative services before the Centre closes.  The Commission is recommended to note the report and comment as appropriate.

The Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) submitted a report providing an indicativetimetablefor theactionsneededto supportexistingservice users attending the Douglas Bader Day Centre to find alternative services before the Centre closed.  The report also included a summary of the progress of individual service users moving to alternative provision.

The Adult Social Care Business Transition Manager advised the Commission that:-

·           All 45 service users had now been allocated a worker, or had already moved on;

·           13 service users had found alternative provision that met their needs and so no longer attended the day centre;

·           The general disposition of the remaining users was much better than previously, with enthusiasm being shown for new services; and

·           Two users were considering having personal assistants to help them undertake activities, rather than link with specific services.

The Lead Commissioner (Mental Health/Learning) advised that:-

o    Staff at the Centre were more positive now.  Support for staff was being provided and they were seeking alternative employment opportunities.  Work was underway to identify the skills of the staff involved;

o    One person had found a new post internally and some were being considered to fill posts that would enable other staff to take voluntary redundancy;

o    One person had found employment in a care home in the private sector; and

o    Some members of staff would take redundancy.

The Commission noted that awareness of personal assistants was low and suggested that those opting to have them could be asked to use their experience to help others.  For example, an article in Leicester Link could explain that training was offered to personal assistants and how having a personal assistant could add value to a person’s life.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) be asked to continue to provide an update at each meeting on progress with finding alternative services for users of the Douglas Bader Centre at each meeting of this Commission; and

2)    That the Adult Social Care Business Transition Manager be asked to arrange for an article to be included in Leicester Link explaining the benefits of using personal assistants, this article to include the experiences of people who use personal assistants and information on the training available for personal assistants.

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, at open sessions with representatives of voluntary and community groups held by the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Commission on 4 and 5 June, a group representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people had identified that health care for these groups could be problematic.  Scrutiny of adult social care implications of this could be included in the work programme.

Other items to be included were the receipt of the notes of the meetings of the Independent Adult Social Care Commission on Aging Well, (minute 12, “Implementation of the Adult Social Care Commission”, above referred) and progress with the development of an intermediate care facility, (minute 11, “Provision of Intermediate Care and Short Term Residential Beds Facilities”, above referred).

RESOLVED:

1)    That the work programme be received and noted;

2)    That the Scrutiny Support Officer be asked to circulate notes of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Commission open sessions held on 4 and 5 June 2014 to the members of this Commission;

3)    That consideration be given at the next meeting of this Commission to whether a review should be made of any aspects of issues identified about access to health care by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people;

4)    That regular receipt of the notes of the meetings of the Independent Adult Social Care Commission on Aging Well and progress with the development of an intermediate care facility be included in the work programme; and

5)    That the Democratic Support Officer be requested to ask members of the Commission for suggestions of other matters that could be included in the work programme.

The meeting closed at 7.34 pm