To consider a report form the Director of Adult Social Services which provides the board with an update on the consultation exercise undertaken with regard to Day Care Services in Leeds.
(Report to follow)
Minutes:
The Deputy Director Adult Social Care – Strategic Commissioning submitted
a report providing the board with an update on the consultation exercise undertaken with regard to Day Care Services in Leeds.
The report follows on from the special meeting held on 20th August 2009 and presents a summary of the consultation undertaken by officers between August and the end of September 2009 regarding the proposals set out in the report provided to Executive Board in 22nd July 2009 entitled ‘From Day Centres to Day Services: Responding to the needs and preferences of older people’.
The report also provided an overall assessment of the views expressed in the consultation process within three main headings:
· Dealing with comments relating to the overall direction of the strategy.
· Dealing with fears and concerns regarding the future intentions of the Council in relation to its day centres.
· Dealing with those views expressed in relation to the seven specific centres directly referred to in the July report.
It was also reported that a full complete summary of the consultation would be presented to Executive Board on the 4th November 2009.
The following Officers were in attendance and responded to Members’ questions and comments:
· Sandie Keene – Director Adult Social Services
· Dennis Homes – Deputy Director Strategic Commissioning
· Lynda Bowen - Chief Officer - Support and Enablement
· Ann Hill – Head of Finance – Financial Management, Adult Social Care
In brief, reference was made to the following issues:
· The Director for Adult Social Services explained the main drivers for change as defined in Government legislation and the 2007/8 CSCI report.
· That the timescales would not enable this Scrutiny Board to thoroughly look into this matter before it went to Executive Board.
(In response, the Chair Adult Social Services reminded the Board that this matter was also discussed at the special meeting held on 20th August 2009 during the consultation period).
· That the department’s consultation process with Area Committees had been hurried. In particular, reference was made to the wholly unsatisfactory nature of the consultation arrangements for the South Inner Area Committee meeting held on 23rd September 2009, which had resulted in the item not being considered at all at that meeting, and the opportunity to comment therefore being lost.
(In response, the Director of Adult Social Services specified that any individual directly affected had been consulted. That consultation had been comprehensive but admitted that there had been flaws within the consultation process with Area Committees and that
lessons had been learned by the Department. This exercise had been the first time the department had carried out a consultation on such a large scale).
· Clarification of the costs the department would incur, per individual per day at a Day Care Centre.
(In response, the Director of Adult Social Services stipulated that the service could be managed more cost effectively by consolidating day services, using buildings more efficiently, thereby reducing the current average cost per person. The department could also use this funding for other modernisation initiatives such as enabling people to stay in their homes for longer rather than being put into residential care).
· Concern was expressed that should the Day Care Centre in Holbeck be closed, the area would be void of facilities.
(In response, the Director of Adult Social Services informed the meeting that the outcome of the consultation would be considered and all factors including alternative provision would be looked into).
· What potential effect would future legislation as referred to in the government’s green paper, shaping the future of care together have on the provision of Day Centres?
(In response, the Director of Adult Social Services informed the meeting that day care was just a very small element of the overall scope of the green paper).
· Whether people could use their individual budgets to buy into services such as day care service/Council residential care.
(In response, the Director of Adult Social Care informed the meeting that this issue requires legal clarification).
The Chair thanked officers for their attendance.
RESOLVED –
(a) That the contents of the update report be noted.
(b) That the Director of Adult Social Services keep the Board fully informed of any changes as a result of the ongoing consultation process and any changes made by the Executive Board at its meeting to be held on 4th November 2009.