Agenda item

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 of the report, which contained information in relation to bids that had been rejected and the reason for that rejection.  It was agreed that confirmation of the funding allocated to private sector and local authority establishments would be provided to the Board.
• In relation to capital grant funding, one Member requested confirmation of the level of Council funding compared to the total government grant.

The Board discussed the options for undertaking further scrutiny in relation to dignity in care. 

The Chair then thanked the officers for their attendance.

(Councillor A Hussain joined the meeting at 10.10 am during the consideration of this item).

RESOLVED:

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

(2)  That the Board receives a 6 monthly update report ; and,

(3)  That the Principal Scrutiny Adviser prepare a draft statement to reflect the evidence submitted and subsequent discussion of the Board.