Agenda item

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 were providing information to enable individuals to make a decision about a direct payment.

The Chair thanked Dennis Holmes for his attendance. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices, together with the draft   minutes of the Proposals Working Group meeting held on 25^th   February 2009, be noted.

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

Note:  At the conclusion of the above item Councillor A Blackburn left the

  meeting.