Agenda item

To consider a report from the Director of Adults and Health setting out details of the quality of regulated services operating in the Leeds City Council boundary, alongside the work being undertaken to ensure improvements in the quality of services are being maintained.

Please note Appendix 2 is exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3).

The Director of Adults and Health submitted a report that set out details of the quality of regulated services operating in the Leeds City Council boundary, alongside the work being undertaken to ensure improvements in the quality of services are being maintained.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Outcomes May 2019 to September 2019 were appended to the report. Appendix 2 was exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3).

The following were in attendance:

-  Caroline Baria, Deputy Director, Integrated Commissioning, Adults and Health

-  Mark Phillott, Head of Commissioning (Contracts and Business Development), Adults and Health Directorate

The Deputy Director, Adults and Health, introduced the report, providing an overview of the CQC inspection outcomes and some of the key trends and challenges, as well as ongoing targeted work to support care providers.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

·  Communication with families regarding CQC ratings. Members queried the approach taken to ensuring service users, families and carers were made aware when care homes had received a ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’ rating. Members were informed that if the service is deteriorating, providers are required to hold a quality meeting with families and carers to inform them of the current challenges and their plans for improvement; with the entire communication process overseen by commissioners.

·  Care home top-up fees. Members queried the number of service users / families providing top-up fees to care homes rated ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’ by CQC, and were advised that families were informed and supported to either remain in the home, or to consider other care options. The Deputy Director noted that contract suspension prevents new residents from moving into a home, which means that ultimately, the home may no longer be financially viable. The Council’s preferred approach is to work with providers to identify the right steps and measures to improve quality.

·  Recruitment and retention of registered nurses. Members noted that the recruitment and retention of registered nurses in the care sector was a national problem, and therefore considered the possibility of pursuing this with the Department of Health and Social Care, the Local Government Association, and the Royal College of Nursing to seek guidance and detail around plans to address this matter.

·  Home First – Leeds Plan Priority. Members questioned how current provision and quality of that provision (particularly in relation to homecare), supported the ambitions of the Leeds Plan, and as a priority of the Leeds Health and Care System, this required and system approach and response. 

·  Home Care. Members remained concerned at the quality of primary and framework providers of homecare; and queried the length of the current contract arrangements.  Members were advised the homecare providers market remains fragile and that current contract arrangements were due to run until July 2021.  Members were also advised that a consideration was being given to potential future models of homecare provision across the City.  The Chair requested an update on progress and highlighted the importance of early engagement and input from the Scrutiny Board around potential future options. 

·  South Leeds Hub. Members commented that the South Leeds Hub was the only ‘outstanding’ rated Working Age Adults Care Home provider in Leeds, and should be commended for maintaining such a high standard of care. The Deputy Director confirmed that the message would be passed on to the staff at South Leeds Hub.

·  Leadership Academy. Members requested that future reports include more detail around Leeds Health and Care Leadership Academy and how that is helping to address quality issues across social care. 

·  Reporting style. Members requested that future reports include trend data (for at least three years) to show the longer-term progress of care quality; alongside comparative data for other authorities (i.e. core cities and/or statistical neighbours). 

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices, along with Members comments, be noted.

b)  That the Scrutiny Board be provided with a more detailed update on any future models of homecare provision under consideration. 

Councillor M Iqbal left the meeting at 14:35 p.m. during discussion of this item.