Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the Board meeting. 

The Chair announced that before the meeting started she would like clarification on a matter raised at the pre-meeting regarding the recent fire

at Springfield House, Old People’s Home on Springfield Avenue, Morley and the evacuation of twenty-three residents.

Dennis Holmes, Chief Commissioning Officer was invited to the table to update Board Members on this incident which took place shortly before midnight on Sunday, 8^th March 2009 and asked how long it would be before the residents would be able to return to the Old People’s Home (OPH) in Morley. 

In response, Dennis Holmes informed the meeting that there were actually

twenty residents relocated at various local authority and independent sector homes overnight.  One resident was in a long stay in hospital (unrelated) but would be relocated should they be released from hospital.  The fire occurred in the lift area of the home and it was anticipated the repair work would take at least six weeks. 

Members asked the officer if there was any capacity in the system that allows for such incidents happening or had it been difficult for the local authority to find such places.

In response, the officer informed the meeting that at the moment there was an over capacity in the system so it was relatively easy to identify opportunities for these people to be temporarily accommodated in the system.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor S Andrew.

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

The following interests were declared on the following items:-

(a)  Agenda Item 8 – Adult Inspection Progress Report Against Key Recommendations.

(b)  Agenda Item 9 – Independence Wellbeing and Choice Inspection   Action Plan:  January 2009.

(c )  Agenda Item 10 – Adult Social Care Commissioning Services: Update.

(d)  Agenda Item 11 - Dignity in Care Draft Statement.

Councillor S Armitage declared a personal interest in the above items in her  capacity as a member of the Swarecliffe Good Neighbours Scheme.

Councillor C Coupar declared a personal interest in the above items in her capacity as a member of Belle Isle Elderly Winter Aid.

Councillor Chapman declared a personal interest in the above items as she has a relative who works in private industry as a homecare worker.

Councillor P Ewens declared a personal interest in the above items in her capacity as a member of Older Active People (through the Cardigan Centre Board).

 Councillor E Taylor declared a personal interest in the above items as she is employed as a nurse at Leeds Community Mental Health.

Ms Joy Fisher – Co-optee declared a personal interest in the above items as a service user and as a Voluntary Organisation representative for Safeguarding.

Ms S Morgan – Co-optee declared a personal interest in the above items as a service user.

To receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11^th February 2009.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th February 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a further report and appendices on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment  which have been prepared for presentation to the NHS Leeds Board and the Leeds City Council Executive Board.

The Director of Adult Social Services submitted a further report on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) which had been prepared for presentation to the National Health Services Leeds Board (NHS) and Leeds City Council’s Executive Board.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Implementing the Leeds Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Framework

·  The final report on Leeds Strategic Needs Assessment submitted to

Executive Board on 4^th March 2009.

The Board noted that the JSNA report had also been submitted to Scrutiny Board (Health) and Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services).

The Chair welcomed John England, Deputy Director Partnerships and Organisational Effectiveness – Adult Social Care to the meeting who introduced his report and reminded the Board that an earlier version of the JSNA Framework document had already been submitted to this Board as part of the consultation exercise. 

Members were also informed that a similar report had been presented to the NHS Leeds Board where it received the Board’s endorsement.  The report which summarises the JSNA Framework which was submitted and endorsed at the Council’s Executive Board meeting held on 4^th March 2009, where  a number of further recommendations were made about the way forward with this work. 

One key point the officer made in terms of the JSNA was that this work was lead by partners, namely Leeds City Council and NHS Leeds. John England informed the meeting that he was here on behalf of the partners who had been involved in this work. 

It was reported that the initial data pack was now on the Leeds Initiative website. There is an intention to develop a data depository that would bring together relevant data from a number of different sources. This data would build up over time.  NHS Leeds are also backing the idea of a single point where data about needs could be held with the supporting analysis. The authority are now building on data with partners such as Job Centre Plus. The Officer informed the meeting that there were other priorities around improving the needs assessment information for people with mental health needs. 

The Board was also informed that within the next twelve months analysis for communities on a local level would be developed.  This was piloted in the Beeston area.

The main areas of clarification and discussion were:-

Clarification was sought on how  to overcome the difficulties of partnership working.

In response, the Officer informed that meeting that the JSNA work enabled a strategic view of the overall needs of the city which are agreed with NHS Leeds which is more beneficial than working independently. Secondly  establishing shared systems, shared information and intelligence.  Partnership working will continue to be strengthened and developed over the next phase. 

The officer was asked how agencies work together to support individuals in communities.  In response the Board was advised that there has been a focus on improving working relationships and better integration of services at a local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

To consider a further report updating Members of progress against specific actions in the Adult Inspection Action Plan which were specific recommendations agreed by the Proposals Working Group.

 The Chief Officer, Social Care Commissioning submitted a further report to update Members of progress against specific actions in the Adult Inspection Action Plan which were specific recommendations agreed by this Board’s Proposals Working Group.

The Board resolved to undertake two areas of specific safeguarding inquiries, the first being Strengthening Strategic Partnerships (Minute 76 of the last meeting refers) and the second one being the implementation of quality assurance processes (Recommendations 2, 6 and 11 as outlined in the submitted report).  The report sets out the approaches being taken in relation to addressing those three recommendations in the time that has elapsed since the conclusion of the inspection.

Dennis Holmes, Chief Officer, Social Care Commissioning gave a brief outline of his report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

The main areas of clarification and discussion were:-

·  Clarification on how much it is costing the Council for the work being undertaken by the independent expert in Adult Social Care.

In response, the officer informed the meeting that he did not have this information to hand but would supply this information to Board Members.

The Chair asked that that information be sent to the Principal Scrutiny Adviser who would circulate it to Board Members.

·  Clarification that confirmation in writing had been received from all the major partnership agencies as to who would be their representative on the Safeguarding Adult Partnership Board.

The Chair informed the meeting that this question had also been asked at the recent Proposals Working Group meeting where it was confirmed that the Chief Commissioning Officer had received all responses now from the partnership agencies. This was again confirmed to the Board by the Chief Commissioning Officer

·  Clarification was sought on what had been effective as a marketing strategy.

  During the first three quarters of the 2008/2009 financial year the department had received 941 adult safeguarding referrals and were projecting that in the full year 1340 safeguarding referrals would be received.  That compares with 645 received in the whole of the previous year and that represents a 108% increase in the number of referrals that had been made.  Using the number of referrals that have come into Adult Social Care as a proxy for the success of marketing and raising awareness of safeguarding issues the department thinks they have been successful in that regard.

·  Clarification was sought on whether there were a full representation at the Adult Safeguarding Board meeting on the 18^th February 2009 of all the chief partners. 

  In response, the officer informed the meeting that there were in fact two apologies as there was no representation by the nominated individuals or their deputies from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and from the Leeds Partnership Foundation Trust Mental Health Trust. The Chief Commissioning Officer and the Director of Adult Social Services are  meeting with all the Chief Executives of the statutory partners on the 23^rd March 2009 where they will be reinforcing once again the importance of those organisations actually attending.  It was reported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

To consider a report by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development updating the Board with information relating to the performance of Adult Social Services against the action plan, formulated from the findings of the Independence Wellbeing and Choice review undertaking by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report and appendices to update Board Members with information relating to the performance of Adult Social Services against the action plan formulated from the findings of the Independence Wellbeing and Choice review undertaken by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Draft minutes of the Proposals Working Group meeting held on 25^th February 2009.

·  Independence Wellbeing and Choice Inspection Action Plan:  Summary Report January 2009.

Referring to the minutes the Chair informed the meeting that the Doors section at Roseville came under the remit of Scrutiny Board (Environment & Neighbourhoods).  It was agreed that this Board makes a formal request for an inquiry to the appropriate Scrutiny Board as it was felt that the closure of Roseville Doors may have an impact on the laundry service provided at Roseville.

Dennis Holmes, Chief Officer, Social Care Commissioning presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.  The Board were reminded that details of these action plans had already been submitted to the Proposals Working Group.

In brief, the main points discussed were:

As indicated at the Proposals Working Group meeting the Chair expressed concerns about seeing many targets at amber status, with no indication of whether the target is on track.  The Chair asked again if there was some way the department could have an arrow system to indicate that which way the indicators were moving. 

In response, the officer assured the meeting that he had already passed on her comments to the appropriate officers.  Better use of the risks identified column would also be undertaken. 

Clarification was sought on whether the department had employed an independent Chair for the Adult Safeguarding Board.

In response, the Officer stated that he would be Chairing the Board for the foreseeable until the department had actually galvanised the process with their partners, then it is intended to recruit a highly regarded independent chairperson with sufficient experience to continue the process successfully.  It was likely that the Government itself would bring forward recommendations about Safeguarding Boards with the revision of ‘No Secrets’

Clarification was sought on what the Inspector may conclude about the way the local authority had established its Adult Safeguard Board and its sub groups.

In response, the officer thought the Inspector would be broadly in favour of the approach that had been taken. 

Clarification was sought on the personalised services, 9.1 - 26% of customers surveyed said they were offered the option of direct payments. 

In response, the officer indicated that the customer survey that the department conduct was for approximately 200 people who had been the subject of a Social Care assessment in the previous quarter. A questionnaire had been sent to people and the response was dependant on individuals remembering that they had been offered the option of a direct payment. The department were using that indicator to identify if the department  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer, Social Care Commissioning on the progress made and future plans for delivering the Neighbourhood Networks review and re-tendering exercise and describes the Adult Social Care Commissioning intentions in relation to the Independence, Wellbeing and Choice Inspection of 2008.

The Chief Officer, Social Care Commissioning submitted a report on the progress made and future plans for delivering the Neighbourhood Networks review and re-tendering the exercise and describes the Adult Social Care Commissioning intentions in relation to the Independence Wellbeing and Choice Inspection of 2008. 

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting.

·  Appendix 1 – Procurement Timetable – Neighbourhoods Network Review.

·  Appendix 2 – Independence Wellbeing & Choice Inspection Action Plan.

Tim O’Shea – Commissioning Services presented the report and indicated briefly that this was an update report on two areas of interest to the Board.  The first being the re-commissioning process of the Neighbourhood Network Scheme and the procurement programme,  the second was the  commissioning issues which emerged from the Inspection and Action Plan.  Both Tim O’Shea and Dennis Holmes, Chief Officer, Social Care Commissioning responded to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief, the main issues raised were:

Clarification was sought on how the current economic climate would effect the commissioning of quality services.

Tim O’Shea advised that the market was variable and that one of the important areas of development in the next twelve months and beyond was to stimulate and develop the market through a number of initiatives.

The Board asked if the Neighbourhood Networks had been advised of and understood the funding formular referred to in the report.

In response, the officer informed the meeting that understanding may be varied because some of the neighbourhood networks had approached the department for information.  The funding formular itself is a developing formular and therefore subject to adaptation.

Clarification was also sought on the contracts that were going to be drawn up by 2010. The board also asked what services are being commissioned.

In response, the officer informed the meeting that the department are proposing to commission services across health and social care are the core services.

Members requested that all ward members they are advised of developments in their wards so that they can provide factual advice when requested.

In response, the officer informed the meeting that department were going to appoint an Enterprise Development Officer and this officer would be working closely with the networks to help them understand the expectations of Adult Social Services.

Clarification was sought on the process of building safeguarding standards into contractual agreements.

In response the Board were advised that the compliance of contracts are regularly reviewed and mechanisms are being put into place on review. The Commissioning Team have also attended safeguarding training.

The Board requested a briefing note on recent developments at Shire View and how those developments will impact on staff and service users.

The Chair thanked Officers for their attendance.

RESOLVED - 

(a)  That the contents of the report and its appendices be noted.

(b)  That any outstanding comments referred to above be dealt with by the Officer identified within the minutes.

Note:  During the course of discussions on the above items both Councillor A    Taylor and Councillor A Hussain  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

To consider a report by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing background information on the Sustainable Communities Act and its implications for Leeds.

 The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on the Sustainable Communities Act and its implications for Leeds.

Dylan Griffiths, Policy Manager presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.  Members asked the Officer to explain the route that the suggested proposals will be taken before they are  submitted to the Local Government Association for consideration.

The Board was invited to suggest proposals to be submitted under the Act and in brief summary, the main areas of discussion was to adapt planning regulations to ensure the building and development of homes to ‘Life-time Homes standards’ which would require less adaptation for the elderly or disabled.

In addition to the above issue, the Chair invited Board Members to forward any further comments to the Policy Manager, for inclusion in a report due to be considered by the Executive Board in May 2009.

The Chair thanked Dylan Griffiths for his attendance.

RESOLVED –  That the contents of the report and the comments now made be noted.

To consider the content of the final draft Dignity in Care Statement for approval, together with the circulation and publication of the statement.   

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted the final draft of the Dignity in Care Draft Statement for the Board’s approval, together with the

circulation and publication of the statement.

Sandra Newbould, Principal Scrutiny Adviser presented the draft statement and, together with Mick Ward, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Development responded to Members’ questions and comments.

Clarification was sought on whether the Department had spent all the Capital Grant money on improvements for care homes as outlined in the schedule presented to this Board in July 2008.  Members were concerned that a particular Adult Care Day Centre situated in the Middleton Park Ward had been successful in obtaining a grant to erect a conservatory but they still had not received any money to complete improvement work. 

In response, the officer informed the meeting that he would investigate this matter and report back to Councillor Coupar.

The Chair requested that an update report be submitted to this Board on the Capital Grant money that had been awarded in the city and whether or not it had all been spent in the next municipal year.

The Chair thanked the Officer for his attendance.

RESOLVED – 

(a)  That the draft statement on Dignity in Care be approved for circulation.

(b)  That an update report on Capital Grant money for improvements be   submitted to this Board in the 2009/2010 municipal year.

(c)  That any outstanding comments referred to above be dealt with by the Officer identified within the minutes.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development, which incorporates the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 13^th February 2009 and an extract from the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st March 2009 to 30^th June 2009.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report inviting Members to consider and approve the draft working programme for the remainder of 2008/2009.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  The Board’s draft work programme

·  An extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st March 2009 to 30^th June 2009.

·  Minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 13th February 2009.

In brief, the main points discussed were:-

·  That the report on Performance Management – Quarter 3 information for 2008/2009 (October – December) be submitted to the next meeting.

·  That the report on Independence, Wellbeing and Choice – action plan update to consider progress against the action plan arising from the inspection report be submitted to the next meeting.

·  That the report on Safeguarding – Strengthening Strategic Partnerships and Implementation of Quality Assurance Processes and Procedures be submitted to the April meeting to conclude the examination of and make recommendations on specific actions arising from the Independence, Wellbeing and Choice Inspection report.

·  That the report on Income Review – Consultation and Engagement Review – reviewing the effectiveness of consultation and engagement with particular reference to the Income Review be submitted to the next Board meeting.

·  That a report be submitted explaining the levels of staff training.

·  That Margaret Flynn be invited to the next Board meeting.

·  That the Draft Annual Report be submitted to the April pre-meeting in order that the Board can discuss its content and make further contribution to the annual scrutiny report.

RESOLVED – That subject to any changes necessary as a result of today’s meeting the work programme be approved. 

Wednesday,  8^th April 2009

Wednesday, 6^th May 2009 (Additional Meeting)

All at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-Meeting at 9.30 a.m.)

Wednesday, 8^th April 2009

Wednesday, 6^th May 2009 (Additional Meeting)

All meetings to commence at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting at 9.30 a.m.)

The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance.

(The meeting concluded at 12.30 p.m.).