Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest reported at the meeting.

Submitted –The Minutes (previously circulated) of the meeting of this Scrutiny Committee held on 22 August 2023.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of this Committee held on 22 August 2023, be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Assistant Director - Adult Services

The Assistant Director, Adult Social Care, submitted a report (previously circulated) to provide Members with an update on the Social Care reforms introduced as part of the Health and Social Care Act 2022.

The submitted report stated that the Act included a series of measures including the return of Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment of Council Adults’ services, default powers for the Secretary of State in relation to Adult Social Care, the implementation of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and Integrated Care Partnerships, a cap on care costs (paused until 2025), mandatory learning disability and autism training, and professional regulation.

The submitted report summarised the key areas of impact, informed Members of the Council’s current position in relation to the Health and Care Act 2022, detailed a number of service objectives to enable delivery, and outlined the Transformation Delivery Plan 2023-2026.

Members entered into discussion on how the cap on social care costs would impact on service delivery, how the baseline success of the Transformation Delivery Plan would be measured and the current situation in relation to the rise in Covid-19 cases and service delivery.

RESOLVED – (a) That the contents of the report be noted.

(b) That update reports outlining the progress on the actions outlined in the Transformation Delivery Plan 2023-2026, be submitted to this Scrutiny Committee.  

Presentation by the Assistant Director - Adult Services

The Assistant Director, Adult Services, delivered a presentation which provided Members with an overview of the Adult Social Care Budget and Outturn for 2021/22 and 2022/23. The presentation gave a breakdown of total budget, outturn and variance for each service area across both financial years.

Members entered into discussion on the use of Direct Payments and how funding was used to improve lives for adults, and the Assistant Director, Adults Services, explained that a strength-based approach was adopted, with a focus provided on what the individual could do for themselves, and support given to enable an individual to live as independently as possible, whilst acknowledging risks. A further discussion subsequently ensued on the need for more supported living flats.

Focus turned to the overlap that existed, and the transitional arrangements in place, between Adults Services and Children’s Services with regard to the provision for younger adults.

Concerns were raised in relation to the approximate £3M debt that was being carried forward, and Members enquired as to whether the Covid pandemic had contributed to the accruement of this figure.  

RESOLVED – That the content of the presentation be noted.

Report of the Assistant Director - Adult Services

The Assistant Director, Adult Services, submitted a report (previously circulated) to provide Members with performance data against Key Performance Indicators for 2022-23.

The submitted report outlined performance information in line with an indicator set and Scrutiny Committee distribution agreed by the Monitoring and Coordination Group on 4 June 2018, and subsequently agreed by Scrutiny Committee Chairs. It was stated that the indicators were aligned with key priorities. Twelve indicators were reported to this Committee, ten on a six monthly basis and two annually.

It was reported that, of the ten indicators reported at six months, one of the indicators showed performance better than at this time last year;  four indicators showed performance which had declined in comparison with the same period last year, yet was still continuing to be monitored and managed; two indicators showed performance that was the same as at this time last year, and that three indicators were not comparable, as were reviewed at a point in time.

It was reported that the two indicators recorded annually (ASC054 - The proportion of people who use Adult Care services who find it easy to find information about services – and ASC055 - The proportion of people who are carers who find it easy to find information about services) were not included within the report as the 2021-22 results of the survey had appeared in the Mid-Year Scrutiny Report.

Members entered into discussion on increase in the number of recorded safeguarding concerns, and the reasons for this, and the number of strategy meetings undertaken. Members were also keen to understand more about Direct Payments, and how this could be better promoted, with possible links to GP practices and Social Prescribers.

Members scrutinised the Key Performance Indicators in relation to residential and nursing care and were keen to explore the projected cost increases in future years.

Discussion ensued on the decline in the proportion of adults with a learning disability who reside at home, and the proportion of adults with learning disabilities in paid employment, and examined the reasons around these reductions, with Members keen to know whether lessons could be learnt from exemplars, such as Hartlepool Borough Council.   

RESOLVED – That the performance information provided within the submitted report be reviewed and noted.

Report of the Assistant Director of Commissioning, Performance and Transformation

The Assistant Director, Commissioning, Performance and Transformation submitted a report (previously circulated) to inform Members of the outcome of the quality standards assessment for 2023-2024. The submitted report stated that the level of compliance against the quality standards would determine the fee levels for the current year.

The submitted report outlined that the results of the quality standards for 2023-2024 demonstrated an increase in the number of homes which had achieved an A Grade, with 16/19 (84%) achieving an A Grade compared to 13/19 (68%) in 2022. It was noted that no homes achieved eight standards or less.

Members noted that the environmental standards were quite dated and expressed the wish to see higher standards in future, however were pleased to learn that the quality standards were being reviewed. Members were keen to understand more about the training and actions plans implemented where shortfalls existed.   

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

Report of the Assistant Director, Law and Governance

The Assistant Director, Law and Governance, submitted a report (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to this Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme and to consider any additional areas which Members would like to suggest should be included in the previously approved Work Programme.

RESOLVED – That the Work Programme be noted.