Agenda and minutes

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor P Davey.  Councillor P Grahame was due to attend as substitute.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 22 September and 6 October 2010

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 22 September and 6 October 2010 be confirmed as correct records.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Services to facilitate the 2^nd part of the  Scrutiny Board Inquiry into the Future of Residential Care Provision for Older People in Leeds.

The report of the Director of Adult Social Services referred to the Board’s Inquiry into the Future of Residential Care and outlined options for future use of the current 19 residential homes operated by the council, the criteria used to select these options and the consultation process that would be employed.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Dennis Holmes, Deputy Director – Strategic Commissioning to the meeting.

Dennis Holmes introduced the report and brought Members attention to the options as detailed in the report and the consultation methodology.  It was stressed that it was not an option to leave the current situation as it is and placed importance on the need to conduct the most appropriate consultation.  Members were asked for their views on the options detailed in the report, the criteria used to select the options and consultation process.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Processes for assessing an individuals care requirements and whether residential care is needed.  This would take account of the views of all carers, family and voluntary sector workers where applicable as well as a social worker’s report.
• Meeting the social needs of people who required residential care – social needs were considered alongside healthcare needs and voluntary sector organisations were commissioned by the Council and organised facilities such as lunch clubs.  Social Worker assessments took account of social needs.
• There had been an increase in the number of beds available in private sector care homes during the previous 12 months.
• Issues surrounding the ability of the independent sector to provide residential care more cheaply than local authorities – these included lower staffing costs, modern buildings which were cheaper to run due to lower maintenance and repair costs and differing models of care where healthcare provision may not be required.
• One or more of the differing options as outlined in the report could be used for each of the 19 residential  homes due to different determining factors and future provision requirements.
• Community Group consultation would included bodies that represented older people such as the Older People’s Forum, Leeds Involvement Network (LINK) and the Neighbourhood Networks.
• Consideration of Quality Care Commission (CQC) ratings as a determining factor.
• The Council’s monitoring role of independent sector providers with regards to issues such as safeguarding, equality measures and quality assurances.
• Staff consultation.
• Results of the consultation would be made available to the Board, possibly by June 2011.

The Board also considered a template for a consultation questionnaire as used by Kent County Council.

RESOLVED –

(Councillor R Pryke joined the meeting at 10.20 a.m. and Councillor P Grahame at 10.40 a.m. during the discussion on this item).

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Services which provides the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Board with information on the work currently being undertaken around hospital avoidance and discharge pathways. The report is provided as part of the Residential Care Inquiry at the request of the Scrutiny Board due to the direct discharge of patients into residential care and the budget pressures this has created within Adult Social Services.

The report of the Director of Adult Social Services referred to the Board’s request for a specific report on Direct Discharges into Residential Care which resulted from discussions of the Board’s Inquiry into Residentilal Care Provision.

Dennis Holmes presented the report to the Board and highlighted the following issues:

• The often complex nature of these discharges – a number of different professional organisations were likely to be involved in discussion and arrangements for discharges.
• It was recognised that there had been a rise in the number of hospital admissions and there were associated problems due to this – the report outlined alternative options that could be developed including areas of joint work between the Council and Health Service providers.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• The possibility of joint night services between Social Services and Health Service partners – this could provide other support services to prevent some hospital admissions
• Current arrangements for hospital admissions and discharges and the roles of the various organisations that may be involved.
• The use of transition beds – this could make use of void beds within existing residential care provision to allow discharge and prevent admission to hospital.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report and discussion be noted

(2)  That the issue of Health Service Discharge be referred to the Scrutiny Board (Health) for further consideration/monitoring.

To receive and consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which stipulates that all recommendations relating to the Boards inquiry have been considered by Directors, Local Authority Partners and the Executive Board and agreed.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to the Board’s previous Inquiry into Supporting Working Age Adults with Severe and Enduring Mental Health Problems.

It was reported that the recommendations in the Inquiry report had been agreed by the Director of Social Services and subsequently submitted to Executive Board on 13 October 2010 where these had been ratified.  The Board would continue to track progress of the recommendations.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which provides the Board with an update of progress made by the Domiciliary Care and Reablement Services Working Group during the first two sessions of the inquiry.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and MEmber Development provided the Board with an update of the Working Group for the Inquiry into the Future Provision of Domicilliary and Reablement Services.

Notes of the Working Group meetings were attached to the report along with Terms of Reference for the Inquiry.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlined the Board’s future Work Programme and also included the latest Forward Plan of Key Decisions and Executive Board Minutes.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on Wednesday, 15 December 2010 at 10.00 am with a pre meeting for Board Members at 9.30 am.

Wednesday, 15 December 2010 at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 a.m.)

The meeting concluded at 11.35 a.m.