Meeting documents

 

 

A Robert Cleland	P Peter Crew
P Ruth Jacobs	P David Jolley
Richard Nightingale	David Shopland
Richard Tucker	Liz Wells
P Roz Willis	P Deborah Yamanaka

 

 

P: Present

A: Apologies for absence submitted

 

Also in attendance: Councillors Dawn Payne, Tom Leimdorfer, Ann Harley

 

Officers in attendance: Mark Hughes, Gerald Hunt, Howard Evans, Tony Oliver, Hayley Verrico (People and Communities), Katherine Sokol, Leo Taylor, Brent Cross, Michle Chesterman (Corporate Services).

 

The Chair noted that this was the last meeting before Purdah. She thanked officers and Members for their help in making the Panel the success it was.

 

ASH 18

Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (Agenda Item 3)

None

 

ASH 19

Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 November 2018 (Agenda Item 4)

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting be approved as a correct record.

 

ASH 20

North Somerset Safeguarding Adult Board Annual Report 2017-18 (Agenda Item 9)

A change to the agenda order was agreed by the Chairman to consider Item 9.

 

The Independent Chair of the North Somerset Safeguarding Adult Board (NSSAB) presented his annual report (a copy of which was filed on the minute book).

 

The annual report illustrated a range of improvements that had been secured in the delivery of safeguarding across North Somerset. They also identified a range of improvements that were required in the future and these were reflected in the refreshed NSSAB Strategic Plan for 2018/21.

 

He responded to Members comments and queries as follows:

 

(1) Was it possible to share information with partners and if not was there anything Scrutiny could do to help? A multi-agency partnership working group had been established involving all the main providers. No data protection issues had arisen as a result of joint partnership working.

 

(2) In the case of a vulnerable child was there any work being undertaken to ensure that when a child became an adult there was a history that was picked up? Yes, Section 3 of the Care Act 2014 made it easier for the Authority to follow up beyond the age of 25.

 

(3) In terms of safeguarding had the bar been set too high and should more criteria be added? One of the difficulties was that thresholds were different across Authorities. There had been a debate around thresholds being reduced to save financially. This was not the case in North Somerset. It was not felt the bar had been set too high. There was no rigid bar and no evidence of it being reduced as a result of the financial situation.

 

(4) In previous years there had been more detail included in the safeguarding referrals and the percentage needing further action This was acknowledged. As a result of the reduced business time it had not been possible to include as much detail as in previous years.

 

(5) Concern was expressed regarding the fall in number of carers receiving stand-alone carers assessments which could result in safeguarding issues with the carer or person being cared for being at risk. Was the Authority taking any action to address this? Throughout the year carers contracts were being examined. It was acknowledged much more could be done to support them and step in sooner where necessary. The Assistant Director, People and Communities agreed to bring a report on the issue to a future ASH Panel.

 

(6) Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Did not fall under the remit of sexual exploitation but was on the safeguarding agenda. Some work on FGM had been undertaken on behalf of the Board looking at cultures. In North Somerset 0.02% of the population were within cultures where FGM was practised.

 

(7) Would safeguarding be engaging with schools and police over knife crime? Knife crime was on the agenda of the Safeguarding Childrens Board and would also be included on the Adult Board under school exclusions and failure to record in the statutory way. There was evidence of knife crime linked with exploitation of vulnerable people by drug dealers taking over their homes (cuckooing) Knife crime affected vulnerable adults as well as young people.

 

Concluded: that the report be noted and the Members comments forwarded to Officers in the form of minutes.

 

 

ASH 21

Performance Monitoring (Agenda Item 6)

The Head of Housing and Strategy presented the report which informed the Panel of the performance position as at 31 December 2018 (Q3) and contained the following information:

 

An overview of Key Corporate Performance Indicators (KCPIs), Key Service Measures (KSMs) and volume measures as at 31 December 2018 (Q)

Details of achievements against KCPIs and KSMs relevant to the remit of the Panel.

 

Members sought and received clarification on the following measures:-

 

         The percentage of adults with learning disabilities who live in their own home or with their family Page 2 Of the 468 adults with learning disabilities known to the council, 338 are in paid employment should read of the 468 adults with learning disabilities known to the council, 338 live in their own home or with their family.

         The number of cases where homelessness is prevented through the use of private rented sector housing Members noted the excellent results achieved by the lettings team and landlords coming forwards to accept tenants.

         The number of affordable homes whilst planning approval may be granted it was impossible to predict how quickly the sites would be built. Members noted it was important to take into account social as well affordable housing.

 

Concluded: that the report be noted and the Members comments forwarded to Officers in the form of minutes.

 

ASH 22

Private Rented Sector Conditions Update (Agenda item 7)

The Private Sector Housing Service Leader presented an update report on Private Rented Sector Conditions.

 

Following a review of housing conditions in the private sector; a formal decision was taken to commence an area action approach in a specified area in Weston-super-Mare. Several changes had been introduced since decision; the report provided a brief outline on implementation of the action area approach and implications of the changes; including:

 

               Expansion of mandatory HMO Licensing

               Additional HMO licensing exit

               Enforcement policy update

               Domestic Private Rented Sector Standard (Energy)

               Area action implementation

               Rent with Confident update

 

The final section provided an outline of next steps and some outcomes from the current year.

 

He responded to Members queries and comments as follows:

 

(1) With regards the Energy Act 2011 placing a duty to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in the private sector to E or above, were there any plans to re-introduce grants? This would sit with the government to introduce.

 

(2) There was talk of rogue landlords but what about rogue tenants. What actions were being taken in respect of these? The best advice was for landlords to use references. The tenancy team was working with tenants to turn their behaviour around.

 

(3) Were there any incentives for installing solar panels? The government cut the feed in tariff. Landlords were being encouraged to look at low cost measures initially to get their EPC to E or above.

 

Concluded:

 

1. that the report be noted and the Members comments forwarded to Officers in the form of minutes.

 

2. that Panel Members contact the Private Sector Housing Service Lead with details of any additional performance information they would like to be included in future reports.

 

 

ASH 23

Adult Care Commissioning Issues (Agenda Item 8)

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Commissioning on Adult Care Commissioning Issues.

 

   It was expected that there would be half a million more people aged over 85 in the UK by the year 2025. Based on older people population information system projections, the over 75 population of North Somerset was expected to increase by 40.4% by 2025 and 74% by 2035.

   There were 90,000 vacancies nationally in adult care established posts. The BREXIT situation was likely to increase this significantly. 20% of the care workforce were non-UK citizens in BNSSG.

 

  Over 8,000 clients nationally were directly affected by care home or domiciliary care provider closure or contact withdrawal in the last six months.

  Turnover of carer posts in the sector in 2017 reached 38% per annum, a crippling cost for providers and a huge risk to quality.

  Accountancy firm Moore Stephens analysis of data from a survey of 7497 companies revealed in February 2017 that 16% of care home companies were financially stressed and exhibiting that they were at risk of failure.

   The largest national domiciliary care provider, Allied Healthcare and Care Home Provider, Four Seasons, were in significant financial distress which would have devastating impact on the markets of near neighbours.

   North Somerset would require a net increase of 555 care home placements by 2025, of which 222 would be NSC funded or an additional 32 per year which would require demand increase of 1.33m to fund.

   The population of over 75s with dementia was projected as 36.8% by 2025 and 94.1% by 2035 (an additional 811 and 1905 cases). The current capacity for dementia specialist care home beds was 1400.

 

There was a need for a Council wide focus on the challenges of demographics.

Members asked what the impact would be on North Somerset of the neighbouring Authoritys care provider going into liquidation. Cross boundary impacts were negligible. North Somerset had a more local provision which was a strength. The two neighbouring Authorities had a large provider. The volume of admissions would likely rise for health colleagues.

 

Concluded: that the report be noted and the Members comments forwarded to Officers in the form of minutes.

 

 

ASH 24

Implementation of Adult Social Care Vision Including reference to Child Care Transitions (Agenda Item 10)

 

The Assistant Director, People and Communities, presented a report on the Implementation of the Adult Social Care Vision.

 

The report outlined the activities taken, underway and planned to fully implement the vision for Adults Support and Safeguarding. It also referenced the work being undertaken to develop a new Transitions service for people leaving Childrens Services and entering Adult Social Care. It was felt this would result in less people in adult residential care and being much better placed in the community. A number of staff had already expressed an interest to work in the transitions team.

 

In 2017 senior officers worked with staff to develop a new vision and client journey for people approaching adult social care services. A draft vision for the service was developed that included a new offer that could be clearly articulated to the residents of North Somerset. This was a strengths-based approach, which started from an understanding of an individuals strengths and their personal, family and community networks and resources. Much of this was already best practice but the council had not previously set out as clearly what residents could expect when they approached Adult Social Care for care or support. The vision was previously presented to ASH and was endorsed by the Executive in 2018.

 

Measures implemented included:

 

        Re-design of front door and pathways including SPA (Single Point of Access) and the community clinic model - reducing the number of unnecessary assessments, helping people to help themselves whenever possible;

 

        Assistive Technology making the most of new technologies to support people to be as independent as possible and ensuring that the systems, processes and services are there to support this.

 

        Accommodation Options scaling up extra-care housing, shared lives and other alternatives to residential and nursing homes.

 

She responded to Members queries and comments as follows:

 

(1) Establishing a Single Point of Contact in different areas across North Somerset, such as rural areas would be of benefit as many were living lonely lives This would be taken on board. A piece of work was currently being undertaken on frailty and how a more integrated community service could be achieved.

 

(2) The public were reluctant to make contact and SPA was an excellent idea. Were the GPs aware and if so was the Council receiving those referrals? The Council was receiving referrals from GPs who were required to maintain a Carers register.

 

(3) Wigan Council discharges anyone who has been in care up to the of 25 from paying Council tax. Does this happen in North Somerset? North Somerset Council also follows this policy.

 

(4) Was the Council aware of Hampshire and their work with Assistive Technology? North Somerset was aware of Hampshire and also working with companies in Norfolk. There was a move away from traditional care technology to IT technology.

 

Concluded: that the report be noted and the Members comments forwarded to officers in the form of minutes.

 

 

ASH 25

Month 9 Adult Care and Housing Budget Monitor (Agenda Item 11)

The Panel received the report from the Finance Business Partner on the Month 9 Adult Care and Housing Budget Monitor.

The report summarised and discussed the current forecast spend against budget for adult services, highlighting key variances and contextual information. It also made reference to the principles and processes associated with the setting of the 2019/20 budget. The budget monitoring information built on the information presented at the Executive on 5 February 2019 and a further update based on the position at month 10 was due to be presented to the Executive on 19 March 2019.

 

Officers responded to Members comments as follows:

 

(1) With a year on year forecast of demographic growth officers should be saluted for all the work in supporting vulnerable people but when examining the number of people in receipt of care (page 9) compared with the previous year the increase had been modest. It was hard to see how out of an estimated 1.5m people there were some that were not missing out. The number of people in receipt of assistive technology was increasing. Whilst the turnover of people being assisted through the single point of access was significant people were living longer and their needs ever increasing. It was important not to underestimate the amount of work that needed to be done to stem demand.

 

Members were encouraged to channel any further comments or queries about the Adult Care Budget via the Panels Budget Steering Group.

 

Concluded: That the forecast annual spend against budget for adult services and housing (at the end of December) be noted along with the risks and opportunities associated with the medium-term position.

 

 

ASH 26

The Panels Work Plan (Agenda Item 12)

The Panel considered the Work Plan.

 

Concluded: That the Work Plan be noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chairman

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