Issue - items at meetings - Adult Social Care Update

(Copy of presentation attached).

47.1    Denise D’Souza, Executive Director of Adult Services, explained to the Committee due to Officers hours being reduced and lack of resources, the service had been unable to produce a report. It was added that a report could be brought to a future Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

47.2    Brian Doughty, Head of Adults Assessment, introduced the presentation to the Committee and explained that there had been considerable changes made to how performance is monitored. It was stated that service users complete an annual survey and carers complete a biennial survey.

47.3    The Head of Adults Assessment stated to the Committee that the results from the recent service users survey was overall above average in most measures. The results from the carers survey were all above average and there was a significant improvement from the previous survey. It was noted that there were some significant issues regarding older peoples care due to the increase demand for residential services.

47.4    The positives from the surveys were outlined to the Committee, including; delays within social care are below average, employment within learning disabilities services, above average results for people with a learning disability living within their own homes or with family.

47.5    The Executive Director of Adult Services explained to the Committee that Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) were part of the Director to Director Challenge alongside other authorities. It was explained that directors from different authorities pair up and look at each other’s performance, discuss budgets and undertake learning and challenging activities.

47.6    It was stated to the Committee that the Peer Review Programme was a programme where authorities were reviewing each other. The Council was the first to be reviewed on learning disabilities and had begun to review other authorities.

47.7    It was stated that Adult Social Care were facing huge budget cuts and had to make a total savings of £43.9m over 2010-2020. Oliver Meadows, Local Government Association (LGA) member and Director had carried out a review of the service and had met with the Executive Director of Adult Services and the Chief Executive and offered savings advice.  

47.8    The budget for Community Care was detailed to the Committee and it was stated that it was a service that provided services for over 3,500 people and this made up over half of the 2015/16 adults budget at £39.8m.

47.9    The Head of Adults Assessment explained the Direction of Travel map of the service, in the presentation. It was stated that the service wished to start with “good signposting”, which included giving users the right, detailed information. The second step of the map was to build stronger communities, which would prevent more services being used. Then the third step was to get people on the right track and offering preventative services that would help people stay independent for longer and get back to health after illness. The final step, which was detailed to the Committee, was that the citizen would become the care manager.

47.10  In response to Councillor Allen, the Executive Director of Adult Services confirmed that the next report to OSC would detail what other authorities are doing and how they are benchmarking. 

47.11  The Head of Adults Assessment stated to Councillor O’Quinn that the response from people on direct payments was very positive and the team are looking into making this easier for people.

47.12  Councillor Peltzer-Dunn noted that Adult Services are “on track” to meeting the budget savings; however, they are overspending. In response, it was clarified that the department had set plans to deliver target savings, and they are on track to deliver these. It was added that there was not enough budget for Community Care services at the beginning of the year; however, the department intended to reach the budget savings.

47.13  In response to Councillor Page, it was clarified that there was an underspend in the Better Care Fund budget and that this money would be used to enhance other areas and plans and it would offset some budget pressure.

47.14  Councillor Deane questioned how workforce challenges were being addressed. The Executive Director of Adult Services explained that they were working with directors and the NHS and were exploring the idea of wages being higher to recruit people with more skills. It was added that they wished to recruit younger staff and retain them in the city; therefore, were exploring the reasons why people are moving out of the city.

47.15  Councillor O’Quinn expressed concern that GPs had voted to stop visiting older people in care homes. The Executive Director of Adult Services had not heard this but agreed it was an issue that needed to be explored with the CCG.  

47.16  RESOLVED – The Committee agreed that a full report would be brought back to the next Overview & Scrutiny Committee.