Agenda item

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any questions, representations or statements of case received.

 

A statement has been received from Ms Sue Cowling, Chief Executive, Norton Housing and Support, and is attached to the agenda for information.

 

This will be considered under the Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10 Part E of the Council’s Constitution.

 

Questions have been received from Ms Sue Cowling, Chief Executive, Norton Housing and Support, and are attached to the agenda for information.

 

They will be considered under the Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10 Part E of the Council’s Constitution.

The Chair stated that a statement of case and questions had been received from Norton Housing and Support. The Chair said that there would be no debate on the questions and she was changing the order of the agenda so that the related report on Reduced Funding for Accommodation Based Housing Support would follow directly after the questions.

 

A statement of case from Norton Housing and Support regarding the Leicester City Council Independent Living Support (ILS) supported housing consultation, as included in the agenda, was taken as read.

 

The following questions from Norton Housing and Support had been included in the agenda. Alison Morley from the organisation read out the questions and the Director of Adult Social Care and Commissioning responded to each question in turn. The questions and responses are detailed below:

 

 

Q1:      If the proposals are a direct result of financial pressures in this area why did the Council Award an inflationary uplift increase of 3.6% from April 2018 on this contract, which we were only made aware of via a letter from LCC on 22^nd May 2018

 

R1:      The uplift was awarded to all organisations providing direct care and support in recognition of the National Minimum Wage annual increase.

 

Q2.      How much money will be saved by cutting the ILS contract?

 

R2.      The proposal will, if approved, make a saving in the region of £142,000 per annum.       

 

Q3.      Does this saving take into account the TUPE process and resulting redundancy costs

 

R3      Redundancy costs are the responsibility of an employer towards their employee. Should the TUPE regulations apply, the Council would be responsible for any resulting redundancy costs of transferring employees, but not the staff that remain with a provider. There is no legal requirement to pay redundancy costs for the provider’s remaining staff after a TUPE transfer.

 

Q4.      How does this proposal fit in with the Care Act 2014 requirements which clearly state that prevention is a statutory service?

 

R4.      The proposal being consulted upon still delivers a preventative offer to the one currently in place and is line with the statutory guidance.

           

Q5.      How does this new proposal take into account the fact that money invested in prevention saves money on statutory services?  Ergo, money moved from preventative services will actually increase the pressure (social and financial) on statutory services

 

R5.      The proposal recognises the need for a continued service for these service users.  The proposed new model will focus on promoting independence and enabling individuals to achieve more with support.       

 

Q6.      Why does the consultation questionnaire not mention the important and pertinent information that current uses of the service have ongoing mental health needs and/or learning disabilities?

 

R6.      Whilst it is acknowledged that Norton Housing and Support focus on supporting people with a mental health need or a learning disability.  The contract is for the provision of Independent Living Support Supported Housing Service, for vulnerable adults and older people in the city of Leicester, and the consultation is framed accordingly. 

 

Q7.      What will the new service look like in terms of:

a.    Hours of support for each service user per week?

b.    Skills and experience of staff members

c.    How will the service meet the ongoing needs of service users or will be support be time limited?

d.    What will be the expected outcome of this service?

e.    Will the service be provided on an ongoing basis?

 

R7.      The service will provide:

a.    296 hours of support per week, provided by 8 Enablement Officers

b.    The Enablement Officers are experienced in providing support to people with a learning disability and mental health issue. This is the focus of the existing service.  If TUPE applies, the contracts of employment of those staff who are currently delivering the service may transfer to LCC and will bring their skills and experience to the new service.

c.    In order to meet the ongoing support needs of service users a person-centred outcome assessment will be completed and reviewed regularly. 

d.    The aim of the new service is help people to become more independent, connect people to their local communities and find ways they can support each other by promoting greater independence.  

e.    Yes, the service will be provided on an ongoing basis

 

Q8.      How can this be a robust and transparent consultation process when the public do not know the client group it will affect, nor the new service which is being offered.

 

R8.      The consultation which set outs the detailed proposal is on the City Council’s public consultation webpage, which is freely available / accessible to all residents and/or other stakeholders.  We have as part of the exercise undertaken targeted consultation with those affected including service users and/or their carers, staff, providers and landlords. 

 

We have also discussed this at the Mental Health Partnership Board, which includes a range of professionals, including health colleagues and service users.

 

Q9.      How will the new service meet the complex and fluctuating needs of the current service users, alongside any potential new service users?

 

R9:      The new service will provide individualised and person-centered support, which will recognise their complex and fluctuating needs and respond accordingly.  New service users will also have a person-centered approach, which will acknowledge any additional support needs they may require at the time they move into a scheme.

           

Q10:    As this is classed as public consultation how has it been brought to the attention of Leicester people?

 

R10.    The consultation is on the City Council’s public consultation webpage, which is freely available / accessible to all residents and/or other stakeholders. We have as part of the exercise undertaken targeted consultation with those affected including service users and/or their carers, staff, providers and landlords. 

 

We have also discussed this at the Mental Health Partnership Board.

           

Q11.    What engagement opportunities have been offered for stakeholder’s / partner agencies who will be directly impacted by these proposals?

 

R11.    Prior to the start of the formal consultation exercise, meetings were held with the both of the current contracted providers and their landlords. 

 

            During the formal consultation process, meetings have been held with all stakeholders directly affected by this proposal i.e. service users and the providers.

 

            It has also been discussed at the Mental Health Partnership Board, including health colleagues and service users and carers.

           

            The decision making a process will also be informed by the development of an Equality Impact Assessment, which is in progress.

 

Q12.    How will the fluctuating and often complex needs of service users be met by this service?

 

R12:    As per Question 9.  The new service will provide individualised and person-centered support, which will recognise their complex and fluctuating needs and respond accordingly. 

 

Q13:    How will LCC ensure current and new service users sustain their tenancies, especially as the exempt property status may be at risk with this new service?  Service users currently receive specialist intensive housing management support to support them?  Has this been taken into account?

 

R13.   The proposed model relates specifically to the support that will be provided which is not reliant on the enhanced intensive housing management payment and therefore individual tenancies will not be affected. 

 

The Chair thanked Alison and stated that Norton Housing and Support had submitted an email expressing concerns about inaccuracies in the report relating to reduced funding for Accommodation Based Housing Support service (at appendix E). Alison referred to the report and expressed concerns that they believed it was inaccurate, that it misrepresented the organisation and impacted on its integrity. Members were informed that a response would be sent regarding those concerns, and this response is attached at the back of the minutes.