Agenda item - Formal Public Involvement

To consider the following:

(a) Petitions – to consider any petitions received by noon on 1 March 2023;

(b) Written Questions – to consider any written questions received by noon on 1 March 2023;

(c) Deputations  received including any referred from Full Council

34(a)  Petition(s)

34.1    There were none.

34(b)  Public Question(s)

Provision of Care for People with Learning Disabilities and Autism, Beaconsfield Villas

34.2    It was noted that one question had been received from Ms England on behalf of the Parent Carers’ Council, Brighton (PaCC), as set out below:

          “PaCC ask what action has BHCC and health undertaken to improve the care for people with learning disabilities and autism at Beaconsfield Villas following the recent CQC inspection which found the home to be inadequate? What assurances can you give the community that the issues identified by the CQC aren’t common to residential provision in the city?”

34.3    The Chair, Councillor Shanks gave the following response:

          “We recognise that the recent Inspection outcome for 83 Beaconsfield Villas raises concerns about quality and safety across the Service. We want to reassure the board that we have taken the concerns highlighted within this report very seriously, we have been and continue to take robust action to ensure that all of the issues raised within the report are addressed as quickly as possible.

          We can confirm that with the support of the Council’s Fire Safety, Premises Team, Property Surveyor and a specialist cleaning agency to ensure the property is safe, clean and fit for purpose for the needs of the residents. The remedial action highlighted by CQC has already been completed and there is a schedule of weekly health and safety checks now in place and monthly medication audits now in place.

          All the residents at the service have received a Social Work review to ensure that needs assessments are up to date and the expectations of the service are clear. Similar to many providers both locally and nationally our service faces recruitment and retention challenges across our staffing resource, which has had an impact on our ability to deliver the service. However, there has been a renewed focus on ensuring that safe and suitable staffing levels are in place to ensure that residents are kept safe and engaged in activities of choice to promote wellbeing. Staff training and wellbeing has been prioritised and we are pleased to report that recent recruitment has been successful.

A Registered Manager is now in place and all families have been contacted to offer the opportunity to discuss the outcome of the inspection and agree how they wish to be involved and communicated with moving forward.

With the support of the Council’s Quality Monitoring Team, we are continuing to invest time and resource into ensuring these positive changes are progressed and that standards of care continue to improve.

Residential services for adults with learning disabilities in the city where placements are commissioned by the Council have oversight from the Quality Monitoring Team, Commissioning. and Assessment Teams, alongside oversight from CQC as the social care regulator. Where issues are identified that affect the quality and performance of the service and/or a services ability to meet individuals needs these are addressed in a number of ways including; quality monitoring audits and reports, contractual meetings with providers to discuss performance, where appropriate oversight by the council’s service improvement panel, undertaking of social care reviews if needed and safeguarding procedures as required. The Council also works closely with the CQC in terms of gathering and reporting intelligence around provider performance.”

34.4    It was noted that prior notification of a supplementary question appertaining to the same subject had been received:

34.5    “Board members will be aware that sub-standard support for our community is symptomatic of the broader social care crisis and that a national strategic response is long overdue. However local focus must be achieved. We ask how will the Board scrutinise the steps BHCC and health are taking to review provision and plan for the future, ensuring this most vulnerable cohort of residents remain in the city, have decent homes to live in with the care and support they need, and how will this be communicated to service users and the community to restore confidence.”

34.6    The Chair gave the following response:

“The Health and Wellbeing Board will receive an annual report of the progress of the priorities set out within the Adult Learning Disability Strategy and the work being undertaken by the 6 working groups, one for each of the priority areas; 1. Health and Wellbeing, 2. Relationships Friendships and Feeling Safe, 3. Activities Work and Learning, 4. Housing and Support, 5. Transitions and 6. Information and Advice.

The working groups where appropriate have representation from the Council and Health partners, as well as from our Provider market, with links to other relates strategies including the SEND Strategy and the Autism Strategy (currently being developed). Progress of the strategy is also overseen by the Learning Disability Partnership Board and is fed back to the Learning Disability Provider Forum. Work is currently taking place to consider how best to share minutes and reports relating to the strategy, partnership board and provider forum externally for all interested stakeholders to be able to access.”

34.7    RESOLVED – That the public question and the Chair’s response be noted and received.

34(c)  Deputations

34.8    There were none.