Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director Commissioning, Performance And Transformation

The Assistant Director Commissioning, Performance and Transformation submitted a report (previously circulated) to review and consider the provider engagement arrangements that are in place for Adult Social Care Providers.

The submitted report stated that the Council’s duties and responsibilities for Adult Social Care were set out in key legislation such as the Care Act (2014), the Mental Health Act (1983) and the Mental Capacity Act (2005), and that commissioned services support and meet a wide range of adults needs such as frailty, learning disabilities or autism, mental illness and substance misuse.  It was highlighted that the Care Act (2014) placed a legal duty on the Council to shape the care market and ensure that there was sufficient care provision to meet the care needs of the people in Darlington. In addition, the Council was obliged to “promote diversity and quality of provision of services”, and that these objectives could only be met through active engagement with care providers which promoted effective communication, consultation and co-production.

The submitted report outlined that the Council had a successful track record of effectively engaging, consulting and communicating with its independent and voluntary sectors, and utilised a number of key forums, programme areas and information sharing approaches that the Council to ensure that effective communication and engagement continued. The key objective of these engagement arrangements was to build and sustain positive and productive relationships, which in turn ensured that the Council and its partners were sighted on the whole system issues and challenges and how they affected vulnerable people in its care.

Members welcomed the report and noted the high level of work undertaken to develop and maintain the relationships with our care providers, and reflected on the value that these relationships had during the Coronavirus pandemic. A question was raised in relation to the support provided for grant applications.   

A discussion took place on the level of influence the authority had in relation to our providers, and whilst it was acknowledged that the authority could not impose, shared social values were encouraged.

RESOLVED – That the effectiveness of the consultation and engagement arrangements with Adult Social Care Providers be noted.