Agenda item

The Director of Adult Social Care Services submitted a report detailing the outcomes from the review of the consultation/engagement it had undertaken with Service Users and other Stakeholders.  The Board will be examining the effectiveness of the consultation and engagement process.

The Director of Adult Social Services submitted a report detailing the outcomes from the review of the consultation/engagement it had undertaken with service users and other stakeholders and how the department intended to use the intelligence gained from the review to improve its engagement with stakeholders.

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

·  Appendix 1 – Income Review Communication and Consultation Plan 2008 – Progress Update – 10^th November 2008.

·  Appendix 2 -  Review of Income Review Consultation – Questions for Individual Users of Day Services and their Carers.

·  Appendix 3 – Review of Consultation – Briefing Note for Organisations.

·  Appendix 4 – Outcomes of the Income Review Consultation Review.

·  Appendix 5 – A Summary of Adult Social Care Income Review – Consultation Feedback.

·  Appendix 6 – Equality, Diversity and Community Cohesion Impact Assessment Form.

·  Appendix 7 – Service User Income Review – Survey Form.

·  Appendix 8 – Executive Board Report dated 13^th February 2009 – Income Review for Community Care Services.

Janet Somers, Adult Social Services gave a brief overview of the report and, together with Sandie Keene, Director of Adult Social Services responded to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief, the main points discussed were:

·  Clarification was sought on what actions had been taken with regard to the information received back and how the consultation could be improved in the future. 

In response, the officer informed the meeting that in terms of complexity the department were now setting up an Editorial Board of service users and carers to provide feedback on outward facing documentation/policies produced by the department before it goes out on general release.

One of the other lessons learnt was the need to do more face to face surveys.  It would mean that the survey would have to be undertaken over a longer period of time but it would be more meaningful.

·  Clarification was sought on the weight the department put on a response for someone who does not pay? 

In response, the officer informed the meeting that in terms of knowing who it might really affect, the department did not know before the survey took place and the survey did not ask for any personal information. 

·  Clarification was sought on what changes did the department actually make based on the consultation or did they just consult and make the changes anyway?

In response, the officer informed the meeting that people were offered three choices and the one implemented was the preferred choice.

Joy Fisher, Co-optee and as a member of the Service Users Reference Group  thanked officers for their conduct during the review consultation. She also thanked the Executive Board for the staggered introduction as although there are increases in the pipeline at least they feel that service users would be supported financially to some degree through those changes.  The only request the Service Users Reference Group would like to make was that financial review information be left with the clients after the review so that they had the information for a repeat assessment if at any point their financial situation changes.

The Chair thanked Joy Fisher for her useful feedback and thanked officers for their attendance.

RESOLVED - 

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

(b)  That a further impact report be submitted to next years’ ScrutinyBoard (Adult Social Care).