Agenda for Adult Social Care & Health Cabinet Member Meeting on Monday, 19th October, 2009, 4.00pm
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Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 210 KBVenue: Committee Room 1, Hove Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Caroline De Marco, Democratic Sevrices Officer
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Procedural Business
(b) Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.
NOTE: Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading either that it is confidential or the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.
A list and description of the categories of exempt information is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.
Minutes: 12(a) Declarations of Interests
12.1 There were none.
12(b) Exclusion of Press and Public
12.2 In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (“the Act”), the Cabinet Member considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100I(I) of the Act).
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Minutes of the previous meeting Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 June 2009 (copy attached). Minutes: 13.1 RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Adult Social Care & Health Cabinet Member Meeting held on 15 June 2009 be agreed and signed by the Cabinet Member.
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Cabinet Member's Communications Minutes: Access Point
14.1 The Cabinet Member was pleased to report that Access Point had been awarded a public service award in the Best Innovative Category. They had shared the award with the Family Information Centre.
Changing Places Toilets
14.2 The Cabinet Member reported that two new Changing Places toilets had opened in Madeira Drive. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Member was hopeful that more Changing Places toilets could be provided and paid for by developers.
Vernon Gardens and Craven Vale
14.3 The Cabinet Member reported that work on Vernon Gardens had now commenced and would be completed in about a year. This would provide extra care facilities. The Cabinet Member was looking forward to seeing more extra care facilities in the city but this was dependent on finances. Meanwhile 7 new beds would be provided at Craven Vale. |
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Items reserved for discussion (a) Items reserved by the Cabinet Member
(b) Items reserved by the Opposition Spokespersons
(c) Items reserved by Members, with the agreement of the Cabinet Member.
NOTE: Public Questions, Written Questions from Councillors, Petitions, Deputations, Letters from Councillors and Notices of Motion will be reserved automatically. Minutes: 15.1 RESOLVED – All items were reserved for discussion.
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Petitions No petitions have been received by the date of publication.
Minutes: 16.1 There were none.
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Public Questions (The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 12 October 2009)
No public questions have been received by the date of publication. Minutes: 17.1 There were none.
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Deputations (The closing date for receipt of deputations is 12 noon on 12 October 2009)
No deputations have been received by the date of publication. Minutes: 18.1 There were none.
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Letters from Councillors No letters have been received.
Minutes: 19.1 There were none.
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Written Questions from Councillors No written questions have been received. Minutes: 20.1 There were none.
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Notices of Motions No Notices of Motion have been received by the date of publication. Minutes: 21.1 There were none.
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Report of Director of Adult Social Care & Housing (copy attached). Decision: (1) That the report be noted.
(2) That more governance information be provided in future reports on the performance and monitoring of working age adult services to people with mental health issues, physical disabilities and sensory loss, in order to drive up quality and performance through robust and transparent monitoring procedures.
(3) That it is agreed that the performance information gathered by the Contracts Unit is sufficient to progress the Council’s commitment to the Personalisation agenda as stated in “Putting people first: a shared vision and commitment to the transformation of adult social care” (December 2007). This agenda is fundamental to the BHCC commissioning and contracting processes and supports people to be able to live their own lives as they wish; confident that services are of high quality, are safe and promote their own individual needs for independence, well-being, and dignity.
(4) That officers produce reports on a six monthly basis. The next report will cover the period 1 July to 31 December 2009.
Minutes: 22.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Adult Social Care & Housing which provided governance information on the performance and monitoring of Under 65’s (working age adult) services to people with mental health issues, physical disabilities and sensory loss, for the period 1 January to 30 June 2009, in order to drive up quality and performance through robust and transparent monitoring procedures (for copy see minute book). Learning Disabilities would be covered in a separate report.
22.2 Officers responded to a number of questions submitted by Councillor Taylor in advance of the meeting.
22.3 The Contracts Manager commented that there was a small reduction of people in residential care. This reflected the strategic approach to reduce numbers of people in residential care.
22.4 Councillor Taylor referred to paragraph 3.2 of the report and asked about the increase in numbers of people with mental health needs receiving domiciliary care compared to the previous year’s figure. The Director of Community Care explained that officers were working with Sussex Partnership Trust to have more assertive outreach and were supporting people in the community.
22.5 Councillor Taylor commented that 11 people stopped receiving community care in the same period. He asked how many people received help in their homes. The Director of Community Care replied that these service users were probably in supported accommodation. Supported accommodation could include support in peoples’ homes.
22.6 Councillor Taylor referred to paragraph 3.1.1 and asked what plans were in place to increase local capacity. The Director of Community Care stressed that people could be brought back to the city if other service users were moved through the service. However, it was necessary to look at service users individual needs and place them in appropriate accommodation.
22.7 Councillor Taylor referred to capacity in relation to paragraph 3.4.4. The Contracts Manager explained that some people had to be placed outside of the city. The Council monitored the residential care homes using desk top reviews.
22.8 Councillor Taylor asked how existing residents of older persons care homes were impacted by the presence of this group of people. The Director of Community Care replied that the Care Quality Commission inspectors would look at that issue. Sometimes people were placed out of area as they required care in specialist units.
22.9 The Assistant Director, Adult Social Care stressed that officers did everything they could to support people in their own homes. Residential care was only used when service users could no longer be supported.
22.10 Councillor Taylor asked about the cost of providing out of area in comparison with East Sussex. He also asked if costs were a consideration when people presented. The Director of Adult Social Care & Housing stressed that the needs of people placed in residential care varied from low to high need. There were small numbers of people in residential care with a big spectrum of needs. This made it difficult to compare units costs. The Director of Community Care stated that the spend on physical disability was mid range.
22.11 The Contracts Manager informed Councillor Taylor that the monitoring of quality of services took place on an annual basis for each client.
22.12 Councillor Taylor referred to 3.7.2 of the report. He asked what facilities existed for family members to start an alert. The Contracts Manager replied that secure systems were in place. She was confident that members of the public and family members could report any problems.
22.13 Councillor Taylor referred to the sustainability implications and considered that there was scope for reducing carbon emissions. The Contract Manager replied that homecare contracts operated on a geographical basis. All contracts had a sustainability clause. They sought to minimise any environmental impact. Meanwhile, the Daily Living Centre had been relocated to improve public access. The Director of Adult Social Care & Housing explained that the council had signed up to the national 10:10 campaign. This presented challenges for the department. More information could be brought back on this issue.
22.14 Councillor Taylor referred to paragraph 3.3.5 and made the point that 9 day care contracts did not meet the standards. He asked what action was being taken to improve standards. The Contracts Manager replied that the contracts were reviewed annually. Having full reviews was as important as achieving numeric targets. The Director of Community Care stressed that there were a number of small contracts with a different service level agreement. More detail could be given in future reports.
22.15 The Cabinet Member stated that future reports should contain greater detail.
22.16 RESOLVED – Having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:
(1) That the report be noted.
(2) That more governance information be provided in future reports on the performance and monitoring of working age adult services to people with mental health issues, physical disabilities and sensory loss, in order to drive up quality and performance through robust and transparent monitoring procedures.
(3) That it is agreed that the performance information gathered by the Contracts Unit is sufficient to progress the Council’s commitment to the Personalisation agenda as stated in “Putting people first: a shared vision and commitment to the transformation of adult social care” (December 2007). This agenda is fundamental to the BHCC commissioning and contracting processes and supports people to be able to live their own lives as they wish; confident that services are of high quality, are safe and promote their own individual needs for independence, well-being, and dignity.
(4) That officers produce reports on a six monthly basis. The next report will cover the period 1 July to 31 December 2009.
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Safeguarding Adults 2008/2009 Report of Director of Adult Social Care & Housing (copy attached). Decision: (1) That the trends over the last two years for safeguarding adults work in Brighton and Hove be noted; and reports be received in future on a quarterly basis in order to monitor safeguarding performance.
(2) That the Annual Report, which is produced for the Annual Conference, is presented to the Cabinet Members Meeting in December 2009.
(3) That it is noted that the Safeguarding Adults Annual Conference will take place on December 3rd 2009.
Minutes: 23.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director Adult Social Care and Housing which explained that Adult Social Care are the lead investigating authority for safeguarding alerts which are raised when someone has a concern about the way a vulnerable person has been treated. Adult Social Care collected statistical information on the number of safeguarding alerts received and the investigations that they carry out. The report set out the activity during 2008/09 and compared this with activity during the preceding year (for copy see minute book).
23.2 The Assistant Director Adult Social Care reported that the Annual Report would be submitted to the Adult Social Care and Health and Housing Cabinet Member Meetings in December.
23.3 Councillor Taylor asked if the report included people with autistic spectrum and how the report fitted in with criminal legislation.
23.4 The Director of Adult Social Care and Housing explained that the report covered all forms of abuse for all vulnerable adults. Social workers and the police were trained in procedures. If a criminal activity took place, there were protocols to follow. The police would lead with council officers’ help and advice. Meanwhile, there was an Adult Social Care Safeguarding Board. The Annual Report would contain more detail. An action plan had 11 standards for safeguarding. This report did not cover Learning Disabilities.
23.5 RESOLVED – Having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:
(1) That the trends over the last two years for safeguarding adults work in Brighton and Hove be noted; and reports be received in future on a quarterly basis in order to monitor safeguarding performance.
(2) That the Annual Report, which is produced for the Annual Conference, is presented to the Cabinet Members Meeting in December 2009.
(3) That it is noted that the Safeguarding Adults Annual Conference will take place on December 3rd 2009.
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Implementing Personalisation in Adult Social Care Report of Director of Adult Social Care & Housing (copy attached). Decision: (1) That the progress of the wider transformation agenda be monitored by receiving quarterly reports on the progress being made to implement Personalisation within Adult Social Care.
Minutes: 24.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Adult Social Care & Housing which explained that Adult Social Care was mid-way through a three year transformation to deliver services that focus on individuals and delivered outcomes that maximised people’s independence, choice and control. The report set out the changes that had taken place to date within Adult Social Care Services (for copy see minute book).
24.2 RESOLVED – Having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:
(1) That the progress of the wider transformation agenda be monitored by receiving quarterly reports on the progress being made to implement Personalisation within Adult Social Care.
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Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust (SPFT) Contract Report of Director of Adult Social Care & Housing (to follow) Decision: (1) That the current contractual position be noted.
(2) That officers prepare a further update report.
Minutes: 25.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Adult Social Care & Housing which set out the changes in the contractual arrangements between the Primary Care Trust and Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust. These linked to changes in the publication of a Department of Health National Contract for Mental Health. The report also provided detail of the current contractual position. Prior to this the Primary Care Trust had signed a 5 year contract with the Trust (for copy see minute book).
25.2 Councillor Taylor asked for clarification of paragraph 3.5. He also asked how the contract would be monitored. The Director of Adult Social Care & Housing explained that the contract would include financial penalties to encourage improved quality and performance. The Director of Community Care explained that there was a range of robust mechanisms for monitoring the contract.
25.3 RESOLVED – Having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:
(1) That the current contractual position be noted.
(2) That officers prepare a further update report.
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