Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director, Adults

The Assistant Director, Adults, submitted a report (previously circulated) to provide an update on the recommendations submitted to this Scrutiny Committee on 16 April 2024, by the Adult Social Care during the Coronavirus Pandemic Task and Finish Group.

The submitted report stated that the purpose of this Task and Finish Group was to assess the view of both Adult Social Care (ASC) staff (both Darlington Borough Council employees and commissioned staff) and end users in terms of the changes that were required due to Covid and the associated lockdowns.

It was reported that the Task and Finish Group gave consideration to the new methods of working that staff and care recipients particularly liked, so that the Council could consider whether they should continue to be used / offered as an option after the Covid lockdowns had ended. The recommendations of the Task and Finish Group, together with the actions undertaken since the final report of the Task and Finish Group was submitted to the Committee, were outlined within the submitted report.

Members noted that there were some recommendations outside the sphere of the Council’s remit and were unable to directly influence care settings, however Members were pleased that the Council maintained a commitment to liaising with such settings. Members also noted the impact that the pandemic was continuing to have in terms of waiting lists.

Members received assurances that the Council’s website and the Living Well website had been updated, that residents were being encouraged to access the website via the netcall service, and that those with additional eligible needs were being signposted in accordance with the Council’s duty to do so.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.