Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director, Adults

The Assistant Director, Adults, submitted a report (previously circulated) to provide the Committee with an overview of the requirements on the Local Authority to support our statutory duties regarding organisational safeguarding under The Care Act 2014.

The submitted report outlined the process and considerations in relation to Executive Strategy, and stated that since the previous six-monthly report to this Committee, the Council only had two providers within Executive Strategy Procedures (ESP).

It was reported that the first provider (a nursing home) entered ESP on 17 December 2024, following concerns in relation to increased individual Safeguarding concern referrals, concerns relating to medication omissions following audits, whistleblowing concerns received, CQC inspection identifying clinical oversight concerns, and environmental health concerns relating to infection control and establishment hygiene. The submitted report outlined the actions that had been put into place to support immediate improvement. It was noted that the Council continued to work closely with the CQC and our contracting and commissioning partners and the Integrated Care Board, as well as the provider, to support ongoing improvements.

The submitted report stated that the second provider (a residential care home) had entered ESP in November 2023, following increased individual Safeguarding concern referrals, concerns relating to medication omissions following audits, CQC inspection identifying clinical oversight concerns, environmental health concerns relating to infection control and establishment hygiene, concerns relating to self-neglect and acts of omission, and concerns held around the lack of care planning, risk assessments and physical safety. It was reported that, although the service remains in ESP, the provider had undertaken improvements across the last 14 months and was currently progressing with the action plan with the local authority and partner agencies to make the necessary improvements, and that a further meeting had been arranged to ensure that the improvements were now sustainable with clear embedded governance processes before closing the ESP.

Members welcomed the report, and expressed the view that it was reassuring that the two providers were receiving additional support to improve. Discussion ensued on how such cases are identified, and whether concerns can also be raised by whistleblowers from within an organisation or relatives.

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

(b) That this Scrutiny Committee continue to be updated on a six-monthly basis on care homes/services in Executive Strategy measures.