Agenda item

Kate Galoppi, (Director of Adult Social Care and Commissioning, Leicester City Council), Mark Abbot (Head of Service, Social Work, Leicester City Council), and Jagjit Singh-Bains (Head of Independent Living, Leicester City Council) will present a summary of the actions in place locally to support a resilient social care system that is able to provide people and their carers with appropriate support this winter.

Kate Galoppi, (Director of Adult Social Care and Commissioning, Leicester City

Council), Mark Abbot (Head of Service, Social Work, Leicester City Council),

and Jagjit Singh-Bains (Head of Independent Living, Leicester City Council)

presented a summary of the actions in place locally to support a resilient Social

Care system that is able to provide people appropriate support this winter. It was noted that:

·         Providers/Staff had been sent a letter to thank them for their hard work in challenging times; this would be re-run soon in collaboration with Health colleagues and will incorporate a call to take up vaccinations.

·         Adult Social Care (ASC) played a critical role in supporting the whole system’s flow – and particularly so in winter.

·         Unpaid carers were acknowledged as a vital part of the system.

·         There were identified leads for vaccinations, and the strong existing Provider Forums could be used to promote messages around uptake.

·         A focus of the work has been to avoid hospital admission if possible – and the Integrated Crisis Response Service (ICRS) had been a major part of this. It was a 24/7 offer, with response rates within two hours.

·         430-500 patients were seen per month, and 80-85% then remained at home as a result.

·         There had been an 8% increase in demand from last year to this year, so the investment in commissioned beds had been retained.

·         A Reablement Rehabilitation Recovery (RRR) pathway went live from 1.11.23.

·         Some funding to set up the RRR came from the Integrated Care Board.

·         In the first two weeks of November the team saw more patients than the whole of last November.

·         A Night Service had been devised – and Presenting Officers were keen for this to help achieve ambitious targets for discharge from hospital.

·         Presenting Officers noted that the internal and external workforce were asked to check that houses are warm. In addition, the Better Care Fund’s Cold Homes Initiative enabled links to Housing colleagues so advice can be given on boilers, windows etc. 

The Winter Discharge Fund was received early this year.

Comments and questions from the Board:-

-       Members asked about the rates of reablement in Leicester compared to other regions. The Presenting Officers responded that a study of 54 Local Authorities showed that Leicester delivered some of the best outcomes with good value for money.

-       Members asked whether the models had sustainable funding attached or were reliant on pilot funding. The Presenting Officers responded that the base budget was from LCC and then matched by the ICB.

-       Members noted that Prevention could be ring-fenced within the Better Care Fund. 

-       Members noted that this work was an example of the power of partnership and collaboration.

-       The Chair noted that Leicester had been put forward for a National award for this work.

-       .

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Board thanked Officers for the report and asked that comments from the meeting are taken into account.

2.    That the Board offers support to the consideration of ways to commit funding for future progression.

3.    That the Board supports an Impact Report that can be conveyed to national legislators and funders as an example of best practice.