Agenda item

Following consideration of this budget statement at the Special Meeting on 3 February 2011, the Board is asked to re-consider the Adult Social Care Divisional Budget Statement, which includes additional information as requested by the Board, and make its comments to Cabinet.

Following consideration of this budget statement at the Special Meeting on 3 February 2011, the Board was asked to re-consider the Adult Social Care Divisional Budget Statement, which included additional information as requested by the Board.

The Strategic Director, Adults and Communities, introduced the revised document and stated that information was included to address the points raised by Members at the initial budget scrutiny meeting and that detailed proformas that related to all budget reduction proposals had now been issued.

Concern was raised in relation to the Council’s plans for Extra Care in light of the removal of Central Government grants after the next financial year.  The Director of Commissioning explained that several options for extra care provision were being considered, which included the use of sheltered units, implementing tele-care and working closely with Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and private landlords to develop the service further.  Members were of the view that increased provision of extra care was required, especially in terms of buildings to operate services from. 

In response to concerns raised around the possible closure of the Douglas Bader Centre, officers explained that no formal consultation with service users had taken place to date, but that the Council had raised awareness of it’s intention to commence such a consultation in March 2011.  It was also made clear that the consultation was about stopping the direct provision of day care services by the Council as opposed to closing a building.  In relation to the proposed consultation, Members questioned how engagement would take place with those who had a disability such as dementia which prevented them from making representations.  The Director of Care Services confirmed that the Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living (LCIL) worked with such individuals to enable their views to be presented and they were being engaged in the consultation process.  Further to this, the Director of Care Management referred to the use of individual budgets, which were seen as one potential outcome arising from community assessments.  As part of such assessments, officers considered potential risks for service users, and worked with both users and carers to ascertain the particular support plan required.

The Board agreed to arrange a site visit to the LCIL to find out more about the work of the organisation, particularly in relation to the consultative work which it performed.

General concern was raised around the overall pace of implementing the personalisation agenda in Leicester.  Several Members felt that there was a reliance on private companies delivering services in the future, and were concerned that this may not fully materialise, and that this could pose significant adverse affects on service users.  The Strategic Director, Adults and Community acknowledged the concerns which Members had in relation to services being run for profit making reasons by private companies, but stressed that rigorous contract management requirements were established when working with the private sector.  Furthermore, she informed the Board that there was proposed an increase of £80,000 funding within the voluntary and community sectors in 2011/12.

In response to concerns raised around increased costs in some services, the Head of Finance said that although, overall, net savings of £3.8m had been identified there were some areas where units costs had increased.  This was particularly the case in residential care as those with lower needs would be located in other settings and extra care where there would be an increased proportion of higher needs service users.

In reply to queries from Members regarding the rise in cost of the Mobile Meals service, the Strategic Director, Adults and Communities, acknowledged that these had risen, but that the service was still heavily subsidised by the Council.  She also confirmed that a full review of the service was to take place to identify other models, such as alternative retail options or community opportunities.  This review would include consultation with existing clients to ensure their views were incorporated into the process.  It was agreed that the Board would receive further information with regards to the Mobile Meals review in due course.

Following a request for further information in relation to integrating reablement services with the NHS, the Strategic Director confirmed that the Council would have access to several streams of reablement funding, which would be ring-fenced for years two and three.  It was confirmed that a plan on this would be jointly submitted along with the NHS.

Councillor Kitterick, seconded by Councillor Coley moved that whilst recognising the need for a change in the personalisation process, the Board are concerned at the pace of change being proposed.  Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That officers be asked to arrange a site visit for Members to the Leicester Centre for Integrated Living (LCIL) to find out more about the work of the organisation.

(2)   That further information with regards to the review of the Mobile Meals Service be provided to the Board in due course; and

(3) That whilst recognising the need for a change in the personalisation process, the Board is concerned at the pace of change being proposed