Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Officer Access & Care Delivery, Adult Social Care which provides an update on the progress with Strengths Based Social Care across the city and draws attention to local features of this new approach to service delivery.

(Report attached)

The Chair welcomed and introduced: Shona McFarland, Chief Officer, Access & Care Delivery, Social Work and Social Care Services, James Turner, Project Leader, Service Transformation Adults and Health, Jayne Atkinson, Team Manager, Meanwood Neighbourhood Care Management Team, Adults and Health.

The Chief Officer, Access & Care Delivery, Adult Social Care submitted a report which provided an update of the progress with Strength Based Social Care across the city, drawing attention to local features of this new approach to service delivery.

As an introduction to the item Members viewed a video “Adults and Health 2018”

Providing an overview the Chief Officer, Access & Care Delivery said the new strengths-based model established a way of delivering adult social work practice that was:

·  Value driven

·  Community focused in achieving outcomes

·  Empowering staff

·  A partnership with local people

·  Builds on the asset based approach already in place in Leeds

Addressing the main issues the Chief Officer, Access & Care Delivery spoke in detail about the following:

·  The new ways of working

·  Local progress and impact

·  The Neighbourhood Care Management Teams

·  The conclusions and next steps

Members raised the following questions:

One Member suggested that work done 6 -7 years ago appeared to be getting reinvented.

Members were advised that previously all enquires were directed through the Contact Centres but this was time consuming and there were too many layers before reaching the appropriate system. Under the new proposals the Social Workers would be involved at an earlier stage enabling them to be of greater value.

Reference was made to meetings of the Moor Allerton Partnership where the Police, Councillors and Local Health Care Workers came together to consider local health issues. It was reported that these meetings had now ceased but could something similar be established.

In responding the Localities Programme Manager suggested that Partnership Meetings may have run their course in their current form, what may be required was a re-focus of how the meeting would operate and the outcomes to be achieved. 

Members requested if it would be possible to be supplied with the contact details for officers working in the Neighbourhood Teams (Team Profiles - 3 areas, 14 Team Managers)

Members were informed the requested information would be supplied to all Members of the Community Committee.

Reference was made to the submitted Neighbourhood Team Map with one Member querying how, for example, a resident of Thorner would access the “Talking Point system” – What location would they go to.

Members were informed that “Talking Point” was offered as an option, individuals wishing to access this service could make an appointment at any Talking Point location, arrangements could also be made for a home visit or at any other appropriate location.

It was suggested that the population in the Outer North East Area was much older than that in some other areas of Leeds, were there enough resources available to meet demand.

The Chief Officer said currently 4-5 people per day were dealt with quickly, if necessary the resources could be recalibrated to meet a change in demand.

In offering comment one Member said that Scholes Library would be an ideal location as a Talking Point venue or a meeting point for “other stuff” 

The Chief Officer said the suggestion was helpful.

Members queried the origin of the new ways of working.

In responding officers confirmed that much of the work was taken from a National Development Team which was based on a model developed by Shropshire Council. It was reported that the model had been redeveloped to take into account the demography for Leeds and the values of Leeds Social Services.

One Member requested if Members could be supplied with the staffing formula for the Neighbourhood Care Management Team taking into account population for the area and the number of people aged over 70 years of age. 

Members were informed the requested information would be supplied to all Members of the Community Committee.

Members queried what outcomes were to be achieved and how would these be measured.

In responding officers confirmed that a whole range of outcomes would be achieved by putting in place a Better Lives Strategy which would meet the needs of the community.

In terms of how the outcomes would be measured, Members were informed that a survey was undertaken each year “Social Care Experience” which was considered by the Executive Board.  It was further reported that year on year comparisons could be obtained through: performance management, budget data, feedback from customers and the “Ascot Survey”

Referring to cross border interaction between York and Harrogate Hospitals, it was understood by Members that different authorities had different ways of working; assessments undertaken by one authority were not always accepted by another. Under the new proposals was there any joined up thinking.

In Responding the Chief Officer said that building on work undertaking by other local authorities, staff from the Leeds Social Care Service were working closely with the systems in place at York and Harrogate with a view to reducing delay.

The Chair thanked officers for their attendance and presentation.

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the update on Strength-Based Social Care be noted

(ii)  To note the desire to return to the Community Committee Chairs Forum with a summary of the feedback received

(iii)  That contact details for officers working in the Neighbourhood Teams be made available to all Members of the Community Committee

(iv)  That the staffing formula for the Neighbourhood Care Management Team (taking into account population for the area and the number of people aged over 70 years of age) be circulated to all Members of the Community Committee for information.