Agenda item

a)     An update on the information requested at the meeting held on 9 January 2014 is attached, along with the relevant minute of that meeting.  (Appendices A1 and A2)

Members are reminded that the information requested in resolutions 2(a) and 2(b) of minute 85, “Domiciliary Care”, was circulated previously

b)     The Chair will provide a verbal update on her visits to care providers.

a)         Information Previously Requested

The Commission received an update on the information that had been requested at its meeting on 9 January 2014, (minute 85, “Domiciliary Care”, referred).  Members were reminded that the information requested in resolutions 2(a) and 2(b) of that minute had been circulated separately.

It was noted that all 688 service users invited to participate in the survey on Home Care Services had responded.  However, concerns were expressed that there appeared to be a very low variation in the data, particularly in the number of “Always” responses.  In reply, the Group Manager Contracts and Assurance (Care Services and Commissioning) advised the Commission that the questions asked were taken from the quality assurance framework for the service.  This was the first time that these questions had been used, so they would be adapted as assessments were made of whether the right questions were being asked.  In the meantime, the results would be cross-checked with other feedback, to ensure that it corresponded.

The Commission also expressed concern that the questions were “closed” and that, where questions had multiple parts, the results for the whole question were presented as one total.  Group Manager Contracts and Assurance (Care Services and Commissioning) thanked the Commission for the feedback, noting that this was the first time such a survey had been undertaken and that the points raised would be taken in to consideration in the future.

The Group Manager Contracts and Assurance (Care Services and Commissioning) advised the Commission that no baseline had been set for the number of responses it was hoped to reach.  New domiciliary care procurement contracts had started in October 2013 and this survey had been done as part of the new contract.  The next stage in the process therefore was to scrutinise the results of the survey with providers, to establish where improvements were needed.

In noting this, the Commission suggested that it would be useful to receive information on previous services, in order to see how people’s perceptions of services had changed, as it was disappointing that the number of people answering “Always” was not higher.

Members questioned whether the poorer responses to the survey related to particular carers, providers, or areas.  The Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) assured the Commission that it was known where service provision was low and the issues identified in the survey would be raised with providers.  Meetings were held quarterly with providers, so officers would not have to wait for the annual quality review to raise these matters.  Improved performance therefore should be seen through the next survey.

The Group Manager Contracts and Assurance (Care Services and Commissioning) assured Members that it was known which service users were with a particular organisation.  In addition, screening had been used to ensure that, for example, service users were addressed in the most appropriate language.  All results were anonymised.

Further to resolution 3 of minute 85, “Domiciliary Care”, (9 January 2014), the Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) reported that a provider at Danbury Gardens had been replaced.  ASRA had providers in place at the Wolsey building, but residents could use other providers of they wished.

Councillor Rita Patel, Assistant Mayor (Adult Social Care), addressed the Commission at the invitation of the Chair, advising that ASRA was considering moving to a similar care provision model to that used at Danbury Gardens, so that someone would always be on site. 

b)        Visits to Care Providers

The Chair reported that she had visited Danbury Gardens.  The facilities appeared to be nice and staff were positive about the conditions there.  She also had met two middle managers from private providers, who had some concerns about domiciliary care.  They were both happy to provide evidence at a meeting of the Commission.

The Chair further reported that:-

·           She would be visiting a recipient of domiciliary care.  The person’s carer would be present;

·           Two private providers had indicated that they would be happy to arrange visits to service users;

·           She had made an appeal on Radio Leicester for people who had received domiciliary care to share their experiences of that care with the Commission; and

·           Following the appeal made through local media, several people had already contacted the Council to share their experiences of domiciliary care.

RESOLVED:

1)    That a special meeting of the Commission be held, on a date to be arranged, to hear evidence from service providers and recipients; and

2)    That the Director of Adult Social Care and Safeguarding be asked to make an appeal through the Carers Network for people who had received domiciliary care to share their experiences of domiciliary care with the Council.