Agenda item

The Strategic Director, Adult Social Care submits a report that brings together information on various dimensions of adult social care (ASC) performance in the second quarter (first six months) of 2017/18.

The Scrutiny Commission is requested to note the areas of positive achievement and areas for improvement as highlighted in this report.

The Strategic Director for Adult Social Care and Health submitted a report bringing together information on various aspects of Adult Social Care (ASC) performance in the second quarter (first six months) of 2017/18. 

The Strategic Director drew attention to the forecast budget underspend, stressing that this was a one-off situation and did not imply that pressures on the budget had been removed.  On current growth demand, an increase of around £5million per year for care packages was the likely projection for the period to 2019/20.

The Business Improvement Manager (Adult Social Care and Safeguarding) noted that:

·           Overall, ASC performance was improving year on year.  Despite this, some areas of concern remained, which were highlighted in the report;

·           Measures for the six priorities identified in the report had been devised;

·           This was the first time since these performance reports had been introduced that both long and short term sickness levels had fallen;

·           Expenditure on agency and sessional workers was lower than in the corresponding period in 2016/17;

·           The Council’s national rankings in 15 measures had improved.  This was particularly welcome given the challenges faced by ASC services; and

·           ASC was very interested to understand service users’ experiences, both positive and negative.  Various surveys were being used to help with this.

The Commission welcomed the improvement in sickness rates and stressed the importance of maintaining good staff morale in continuing this improvement.

Members queried how staff cuts were balanced against the reduction in agency workers and whether this was sustainable.  Officers agreed that it was preferable to have staff employed in substantive posts, but compromises had to be made between what it was felt was the right way forward and what it was possible to do in particular staffing groups regarding recruitment challenges.  Changes in ways of working also were being undertaken to reduce the workload on remaining staff.  For example, increased use was being made of processes such as telephone reviews, and it was expected that the need to consider such compromises would increase.

It was noted that the number of permanent admissions to residential care for 18 – 64 year olds and those over 65 were higher than in the corresponding period in 2016/17.  The Director for Adult Social Care and Commissioning explained that work was ongoing in ensuring that younger people had earlier contact with ASC services, so they could make informed choices.  In addition, transitions from children’s care services were being improved.  Proposals for Extra Care also were being examined, although two units would not now be brought in to use within previously anticipated timescales.  Work with other organisations also was on-going to identify where support could be given.

Although it could involve difficult decisions, the management of demand (at the ‘front door’ / access) was improving.  This included a significant move towards capping demand, which included pilot work on a strength-based approach, so that responses moved away from ASC automatically providing any support required.

The Commission noted achievements from the period covered in the report.  The Director for Adult Social Care and Safeguarding explained that an important benchmark arising from these was the data gathered from new assessment form questions about whether services had met the needs identified in the initial assessment and whether the user’s quality of life had improved as a result of their care package.

AGREED:

1)    That the report be received and welcomed; and

2)    That the Strategic Director for Adult Social Care and Health be asked to pass the thanks of the Commission to all Adult Social Care staff for the quality of the work they do.