Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the July meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Care).  In particular, the Chair welcomed Joy Fisher (Co-opted Member – Alliance Service Users and Carers) to her first meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Care).  Members and officers then introduced themselves to the Board.

In accordance with her powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair admitted to the agenda a report on ‘Older People’s Day Services – Service Improvement Plan’, following consideration of this matter at the Executive Board meeting held on 16^th July, 2008, which had taken place after the time of agenda despatch (Minute No. 16 refers).

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

Councillor S Armitage declared a personal interest in agenda item 8, Dignity in Care, agenda item 9, Income Generation for Community Care Services, and agenda item 9 a, Older People’s Day Services – Service Improvement Plan, due to being a Member of Swarcliffe Good Neighbours Scheme (Minute Nos. 14, 15 and 16 refer).

Councillor J Chapman declared a personal interest in agenda item 8, Dignity in Care, agenda item 9, Income Generation for Community Care Services, and agenda item 9 a, Older People’s Day Services – Service Improvement Plan, due to her daughter-in-law’s employment in private industry as a Carer who visits people in their homes (Minute Nos. 14, 15 and 16 refer).

Councillor P Ewens declared a personal interest in agenda item 8, Dignity in Care, agenda item 9, Income Generation for Community Care Services, and agenda item 9 a, Older People’s Day Services – Service Improvement Plan, due to being a Board Member of the Cardigan Centre Board, which had considered matters in relation to “older active people” (Minute Nos. 14, 15 and 16 refer).

Councillor T Hanley declared a personal interest in agenda item 8, Dignity in Care, agenda item 9, Income Generation for Community Care Services, and agenda item 9 a, Older People’s Day Services – Service Improvement Plan, due to being a Director of Bramley Elderly Action (Minute Nos. 14, 15 and 16 refer).

Joy Fisher declared a personal interest in agenda item 8, Dignity in Care, agenda item 9, Income Generation for Community Care Services, and agenda item 9 a, Older People’s Day Services – Service Improvement Plan, due to being Acting Chair of the Links Participatory Group, and due to being a Member of both the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Group and Carer Reference Group (Minute Nos. 14, 15 and 16 refer).

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors D Coupar, G Kirkland and P Harrand (Executive Member – Adult Health and Social Care), and by Sally Morgan (Co-opted Member – Equality Issues).

To receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 24^th June 2008.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 24^th June 2008, be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and note a copy of the Executive Board minutes of the meeting held on 11^th June 2008.

The Chair advised that matters considered at the Executive Board held on 11^th June 2008, relating to Income for Community Care Services – Proposals for Consultation, and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults in Leeds, would be considered by the Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Care) at later points in the meeting.  

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Executive Board held on 11^th June 2008, be received and noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing information as part of its overall consideration of the ‘Dignity in Care’ update and to determine whether this matter requires further scrutiny.

(a)  Appendix 1 –  Scrutiny Inquiry Report – April 2007

  Appendix 2 -   Scrutiny Inquiry Report Initial Response July 2007

  Appendix 3 -  Recommendations Tracking (Summary)

(b)  Dignity in Care – Update on Campaign

(c )  Capital Grant Report

  Appendix 1

  Appendix 2

  Appendix 3

Further to Minute No. 5 of the meeting held on 24^th June 2008, consideration was given to a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development, which provided the Board with information in relation to dignity in care.  It was noted that dignity in care had been identified at the previous Board meeting as a potential area for further consideration.

Appended to the report was the following information:-

·  Scrutiny Inquiry Report – Dignity in Care for Older People;

·  Formal Response to the Scrutiny Board Report into Dignity in Care; and

·  Summary of Monitoring Reports and Latest Progress Position.

The Chair welcomed the following officers to the meeting:-

• Dennis Holmes, Chief Commissioning Officer;
• Mick Ward, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Development (Older People and Disabled People); and
• Mark Phillott, Contracts Manager.

The Head of Strategic Partnerships and Development (Older People and Disabled People) reported that Leeds had won the national NHS Health and Social Care Award 2008 for its Dignity in Care campaign.  The award was based on work to raise the standards of dignity across Health and Social Care in the city through 4 approaches, namely:-

-  Fostering Cultural Change;

-  ‘Top-to-bottom’ Organisational Action;

-  Dignity Audit Tools; and

-  Dignity as an Outcome Measure.

In addition, the main highlighted points were:-

• One Member requested information on pilot schemes in residential homes.  The Head of Strategic Partnerships and Development (Older People and Disabled People) reported that 5 residential homes were involved.  It was agreed that confirmation of the 5 homes would be provided to the Board.
• Another Member reported on overcrowding in care homes for people with mental health difficulties.  She also expressed concern in relation to the amount of time that people were left on their own.  The Chief Commissioning Officer reported that mental health was a key priority area.  It was noted that the previous Scrutiny Board for Health and Adult Social Care had conducted an Inquiry into mental health.  The Board acknowledged that there were still some major challenges in relation to tackling social isolation.
• The Board discussed end of life care and how it related to the dignity in care agenda.  It was reported that Leeds was hosting a Marie Curie Project to raise awareness. 
• One Member emphasised the benefits of frontline staff being ‘consumer friendly’. 
• The Board briefly discussed some of the implications of the Mental Capacity Act.

The Chair then invited the Contracts Manager to update the Board on the capital grant for improving the care home environment for older people 2007/08.  The Principal Scrutiny Adviser provided a breakdown of the total allocation, including work completed, in-progress or withdrawn. 

The following points were discussed:

• The Board was advised that a consultation exercise with major partners had taken place.  It was noted that a Grant Allocation Panel had met to consider the bids that had been submitted.
• One Member queried the allocation of grants to private sector and local authority establishments.  The Board was referred to appendix 2  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

To note a report submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing an update on issues around income generation for Community Care Services.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report, which provided the Board with an update on issues in relation to income generation for Community Care Services.

The following information was appended to the report:-

• Executive Board report considered on 11 June 2008 – Income for Community Care Services – Proposals for Consultation;
• A copy of the presentation provided to political groups;
• Information recently distributed to all Elected Members; and
• Consultation Plan, highlighting planned and completed activity.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Steve Hume, Acting Chief Support Services Officer and Janet Somers, Business Change Manager.

The following points were discussed:-

• The Acting Chief Support Services Officer reported that an extension to the consultation period had been approved. 
• The Board was informed that the consultation period commenced on 13^th June, 2008 and was due to finish in October 2008. 
• Members were advised that voluntary sector organisations had been notified that the consultation period had been extended.
• Reference was made to consulting with BME groups.  The Business Change Manager advised that a meeting was being held involving 40 + BME organisations.
• The Board discussed the impact of financial assessments. 

The Chair thanked the officers for their attendance.

RESOLVED:  That the report and information appended to the report be noted.

This report is a late item not included on the original agenda. Attached is the cover report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development, together with the report of the Director of Adult Social Services considered by the Executive Board on 16^th July 2008. The outcome of that consideration will be reported at the meeting.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report, which updated Members on issues in relation to Older People’s Day Services and the associated Service Improvement Plan.

Appended to the report was the Executive Board report considered on 16 July 2008.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Liz Ward, Disability Services Manager and Colin Roberts, Programme Manager.

In brief summary, the key points discussed were:-

• The Board discussed the future of individual units, particularly Richmond Hill and the Peripatetic Unit.
• Members discussed work undertaken with social care providers to improve day care provision.
• One Member felt that more could be done to improve services for people from different cultural backgrounds.

The Chair thanked the officers for their attendance.

RESOLVED:  That the report and information appended to the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the Board’s current work programme.

A report was received from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development, which invited Members to consider and approve the draft work programme for 2008/09.

Appended to the report was the Board’s draft work programme, an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st July 2008 to 31^st October 2008, together with a copy of the final report on Adaptations, which had been identified by the Board as a potential area for a more detailed Inquiry.

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:

• The Board was advised that the work programme was a ‘live document’ and subject to change.  A number of rescheduling issues were highlighted at the meeting. 
• The Principal Scrutiny Adviser reported on a proposal to establish an Adult Social Care Proposals Working Group.  Councillor Coupar, Councillor Chapman, Councillor Fox and Joy Fisher were nominated to serve on the working group.  It was agreed that, following further consultation with all members of the Scrutiny Board, membership of this group would be confirmed at the Scrutiny Board meeting in September.
• The Board also agreed to receive a report on ‘adaptations’ at the September Board meeting.  The report would assist the scope of any future Inquiry by setting out the current landscape of adaptations, including current operational arrangements and any future plans and/or projects.  It was suggested that as part of any future Inquiry, the Board might consider how the Council ensured it was receiving ‘value for money’ in respect of the work undertaken. 
• Members attention was drawn to the series of ‘unscheduled’ items with the draft programme.  Prioritising continuing care as an area for future scrutiny was subsequently discussed.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(2)  That an Adult Social Care Proposals Working Group be established, with terms of reference presented to a future meeting;

(3)  That at its September meeting, the Board receives a report on ‘adaptations’, setting out the current operational arrangements and any future plans and/or projects; and

(4)  That the work programme be agreed, subject to the necessary rescheduling matters identified at the meeting.

Wednesday, 17^th September 2008 at 10.00 .m. (Pre-meeting to be held for Board Members at 9.30 a.m.)

Wednesday 17^th September, 2008 at 10.00 am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

(Pre-meeting scheduled for 9.30 am).

(The meeting concluded at 11.56 am).