Agenda and minutes

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.

Joy Fisher and Sally Morgan declared personal interests as Service Users.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor P Davey.  Councillor P Grahame was in attendance as substitute.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 4 and16 March 2011

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 4 and 16 March 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to the meeting of 16 March 2011 when the Board heard representations from the Tri-Centre Group in relation to the reconfiguration of Leeds City Council Mental Health Services and from UNISON in relation to reconfiguration Equality Impact Assessments.

Appended to the report were detailed responses of the Director of Adult Social Services to the representations from the Tri-Centre Group and UNISON.  Sandie Keene, Director of Adult Social Services attended the meeting and gave the Board an overview of the responses.  The Board was also asked to endorse the recommendation that the matter regarding the reconfiguration of services be returned to Executive Board, advising that the recommendation should not be implemented pending the formalisation of the existing consultation.

In response to Members’ comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• The need to consult on future reconfiguration of services and how pathways to Mental Health support should be supported.  There was a need to look as all services provided across the City including those within the voluntary sector and any areas of overlap or gaps need to be identified.
• The challenge to provide improved quality of services and deliver change with diminished budgets.
• Provision of support within the community and helping people to achieve independence.
• Members welcomed the approach to take the recommendation back to the Executive Board.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the content of the report and its conclusion (Response to Tri-Centre Group submission) be noted and endorsed.

(2)  That the content of the report (Response to UNISON concerns) be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development gave a progress report on the recommendation tracking following the Board’s Inquiry into Supporting Working Age Adults with Severe and Enduring Mental Health Problems.

Members attention was brought to the  appendix of the report which highlighted that of the six recommendations detailed in the report, four of these were considered to have been achieved and  the remaining two had seen acceptable progress.

RESOLVED – That the progress status on the achieved recommendations be accepted and that no further monitoring be required.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to the request for scrutiny from the Leeds Local Involvement Network (LINk) concerning the proposal to decommission the Crisis Centre.  Draft terms of reference had been drawn up and were appended to the report for the Board’s approval.

John Lennon, Chief Officer – Access and Inclusion, Adult Social Care was in attendance for this item.

Members’ attention was brought to the scope of the Inquiry which would focus on future provision and exit strategies.  It was reported that implementation of the decision to decommission the Crisis Centre had commenced following the outcome of the call-in meeting on 4 April and further issues highlighted included the following:

• Opening hours of the centre had now reduced and there would be no new referrals.
• Ongoing consultation was going on with staff; some staff had already found alternative employment.
• Ongoing discussion with the NHS regarding service provision.
• Future arrangements for Service Users and staff – it was suggested that the Terms of Reference be extended to include exit strategies for staff and some concern was expressed regarding the loss of professionally qualified staff.

RESOLVED – That the draft Terms of Reference be approved

(Councillor S Hamilton declared a personal interest in this item due to her employment with the NHS).

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Adult Social Services

The report of the Director of Adult Social Services updated the Board on the programme of work developed to progress and implement the recommendations of Executive Board agreed in December 2010.  It explained the circumstances and reasons for the delays in progressing to the next phase of the review and presented revised plans for the next phase.  It also presented interim feedback from the consultation so far and provided opportunity for Members to consider this feedback before embarking on stage two of the more detailed consultation on the specific options for each individual home and day care centre affected.

Dennis Holmes, Chief Officer – Commissioning and John Lennon, Chief Officer – Access and Inclusion were in attendance for this item.

Members attention was drawn to the following:

• Consultation carried out so far – including public, residents, carers and staff.
• Details to be included and those to be consulted in stage two of the process.
• Negotiations with NHS Leeds.
• Timescales for the consultation

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

(Councillor Cleasby declared a personal interest in this item due to his position with the Horsforth Living at Home Scheme)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Adult Social Services

The report of the Director of Adult Social Services provided the Board with a progress update on the development and improvement work relating to Domiciliary Care and Reablement  Services.

Emma Lewis, Programme Manager, Services Transformation joined Dennis Holmes and John Lennon for this item.

Members were reminded of the paper considered by Executive Board in November 2010 and given an overview of issues detailed in the report including the impact of staff departures under the Early Leaver’s Initiative, commissioning of independent/voluntary sector services and the future of in house services which would eventually be reported back to Executive Board.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Choice for service users – it was reported that service change was partially driven by staff changes due to the Early Leavers Initiative.  The option for service users to remain with the in house services would be kept wherever possible.  Direct payments could also be used as an option when choosing service provision.
• Differences in cost between public and independent sector costs, particularly in relation to staffing costs.  Measures to reduce in house staffing costs had included restructuring of services and progress made in reducing sickness absence through managing attendance.
• The role of Neighbourhood Networks in the reablement process.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Adult Social Services

The report of the Director of Adult Social Services provided a summary of progress of Adult Social Services in response to recommendations contained within the Self Directed Support: Scrutiny Inquiry Report.  John Lennon and Dennis Holmes were in attendance for this item.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Safeguarding risk for individuals – it was reported that best practice guidance had been developed and training for staff had been undertaken.  Emergency contact cards had been issued to service users as part of risk management arrangements.
• All facilities that provided personal care were monitored and regulated by the Care Quality Commission.  Where individuals lived independently or in supported accommodation, the responsibility for regulation was with the funding authority.
• Potential impact of the Localism Bill.
• There was a strong trend of voluntary sector involvement in Leeds and it was hoped to build on this support.
• Personalised budgets and cash payments.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the Board’s contribution to the Scrutiny Boards Annual report.

The contribution included an introduction and summary from the Chair and also summarised the work and Inquiries carried out by the Board over the previous year.

The Chair thanked Members and Co-optees for their contribution over the past year and also extended his thanks to officers and all other organisations involved in contributing to the work of the Board.

RESOLVED – That the Board’s contribution to the composite Annual Report for 2010/11 be approved.