Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Officer Commissioning updating the Board on performance in relation to homecare provision across the city, including independent sector providers.

Further to the Board’s previous consideration of this matter, the Director of Adult Social Care submitted a report updating the Board on the overall performance of independent sector homecare providers across the City.

In attendance at the meeting and responding to Members’ queries and comments were:-

·  Dennis Holmes, Deputy Director (Strategic Commissioning).

·  Tim O’Shea, Head of Commissioning (Adults)

·  Mark Phillott, Commissioning Manager, Adult Social Care

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

·  The fact that all independent sector homecare providers providing service to Leeds’ residents were now 2* accredited, which was officially rated as providing a ’good’ level of service.  This situation was welcomed and it was also noted that a previous service provider, about which concerns had been expressed, was no longer working for the Council.  The highest category, 3*, was officially rated as ‘excellent’.  Whilst the Council would do all it could to assist and encourage service providers to attain this standard, these were private, independent companies and the quality control was provided by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), so the Council only had limited scope in this regard.  However, it obviously did monitor performance against contract specifications, deal with complaints and did hold quarterly contract monitoring meetings with service providers;

·  All service providers had been provided with a copy of the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Partnership Policy and Procedures and had been represented at a recent Safeguarding Briefing.  Nationally, the Government was changing the qualifications structure and NVQs were in the process of being replaced by a Qualifications and Credit Framework.  Meanwhile, locally, the Department was working in partnership with NHS Leeds to implement  a medication training programme;

·  Demand for services always outstripped supply and resources, but this year there had been a 25% increase in demand which was reflected in an increase in referrals at hospital A&E departments, and possible reasons for this were being looked into.

·  In respect of service users who suffered a stay in hospital of 2 weeks or more duration having to re-apply for homecare services, and sometimes getting a different provider, the Department appreciated how unsettling or upsetting it might be for some people.  Where the stay was less than 2 weeks, or where a definite discharge date was known, best efforts were made to keep existing arrangements by arranging for homecare staff to fill in on other duties for staff who were on leave or off sick.  However, demand for the service was such that the department had to be realistic and make the best use of its limited resources, and this meant that, in respect of longer or unspecified hospital stays, service users would have to re-apply and, unfortunately, could not be guaranteed the same service provider or home helper.  It was a question of having to be practical and make the best use of resources, and sometimes this involved a compromise with the wishes of the service user;

·  In terms of service providers, the Department accepted that large national or multi-national service providers did not, necessarily, provide the best service.  There was a lot to be said for smaller, local community enterprise organisations which might be able to offer a more personalised service, sometimes based on local knowledge.  Demand was such that there was room in the market for a variety of service providers;

·  The personalisation agenda and individual budget holders presented a challenge in terms of service monitoring and regulation.  Currently, there were 68 registered independent sector homecare organisations operating in Leeds and these were regulated by the CQC.  There were also over 200 individuals providing personal assistance services and they were currently subject to no such regulatory control.  All the Council could do was to recommend that they were all enhanced CRB checked;

·  The Department was still reviewing its monitoring and quality control procedures and processes, and considering how organisations such as the Leeds Alliance of Service Users and Carers could be involved in formulating  the proposals.

RESOLVED –

a)  That, subject to the above comments, the report be received and noted.

b)  That the Board be supplied with some comparative information from other similar sized local authorities.