Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interests made by Members.

The Committee resolved to confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of Adults Select Committee held on 1^st September.

Context:

We received a presentation from the Lead Commissioner – Transformation and the Group Manager for Service Development and Commissioning in order to update the Adults Select Committee on the process of transformational change of at home support.

Key Issues:

The Position Statement and Way Forward Document outlined the scale of the challenge to turn the world of at home support upside down, the efforts made to date, as well as the plan to make this a reality.

Officers were seeking the support of Adults Select Committee to:

·      Change the conversation about the way at home support is offered through the independent sector;

·      Build relationships with like-minded providers and start to experiment about providing at home support in a very different way under very different commissioning conditions and thereby really start Turning the World Upside Down.

Member scrutiny:

Members commended the Officers on an excellent presentation.

A question was raised regarding how Officers saw the integration of Health and Social Care.  We heard that the presentation had recently been presented to the wider workforce, and staff had been challenged to consider how we would see our in-house provision integrate with the rest of the market.  The model pushed officers to consider how we could achieve a better integrated service.  It was recognised that the market was largely broken and the model would see the integration of providers.

A Member requested further information on the 21 providers who had shown interest in the model.  We heard that not all of the interested providers were local and it was not expected that all would come together.  It was expected there would be more than enough providers to work with.  Positive conversations had been held with people and organisations who understood the model.

A Member questioned should the model be implemented would the current five main supporters be replaced by many smaller supporters.  In response we heard that Officers were unable to predict what would happen but were aware that a one size fits all approach was not appropriate.  It was explained that a metaphor of a patchwork quilt was used to describe the future arrangement.

The Cabinet Member for Social Care, Safeguarding and Health commended Officers on the transformational work and looked forward to see the future progress.

A Member raised a concern surrounding the financial problems providers were experiencing at the current time.  The Lead Commissioner for Transformation explained that was the reason behind trying to change relationships.  There was understanding from both sides regarding constraints and both sides would work together to find a mutually satisfactory arrangement, creating a good relationship based on trust.  The Head of Adult Services noted cost of care was a huge issue but it was not thought that the new model would cost more. 

Recommendations:

The report recommended that Adults Select Committee endorsed the approach to Turning the World Upside Down and review progress and the approach at regular intervals.

Context:

The Assistant Head of Finance presented the report in order to provide detailed draft proposals on the budget savings required to meet the gap between available resources and need to spend in 2016/2017, for consultation purposes.

Member Scrutiny:

The Chairman thanked the Assistant Head of Finance for the report, and acknowledged that the other Select groups would also have the opportunity to scrutinise their areas of the report.

The Head of Adults Services explained that with regards to the £1.4 million Medium Term Financial Plan mandate signs were good from the Adults Services perspective.  One area of the savings was Mardy Park Resource Centre, another being practice change.  There were concerns surrounding the issue of the living wage.

A Member questioned if Monmouthshire County Council could set up its own agency in terms of the expected negative impactssurrounding the living wage.  In response the Head of Adult Services explained that some other authorities were bringing more of the market share back into their organisation, and there were thoughts of how MCC could extend into that also.

The Assistant Head of Finance provided clarification regarding the living wage.  We heard that the living wage was set higher than that set by the Central Government.  MCC currently pay £7.65. Central Government aspirations were to move from £7.20 to £9.00 over a period of 4 years.  The calculation centred round directly paid staff, and not supporting agencies.

Members expressed concerns that providers may be coming into the market and could overlap smaller organisations.  The Head of Adult Services explained that there were not many big providers and the focus centred on building relationships with external partners. 

Recommendations:

The report recommended that Adults Select Committee scrutinise the budget saving proposals for 2016/2017 released for consultation purposes and provide their response by 30^th November 2015.

Context:

We received a report from the Customer Relations manager to provide Adults Select Committee with information on the number and types of complaints, comments and compliments received and dealt with from 1 April 2014 until 31 March 2015.

Key Issues:

All Local Authority Social Services are required to follow the new Social Services Complaints Procedure (Wales) Regulations 2014 and The Representations Procedure (Wales) Regulations 2014.

Guidance is also issued under Section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970.  This means that local authorities must comply with it.

The report outlined that there had been 24 complaints, 71 comments and 95 compliments, several examples of each were provided.

Members Scrutiny:

The Chairman noted that adjustments had been made to the report to reflect suggestions at previous discussions. 

It was recognised that many of the complaints and comments were centred round communication issues.

Where complaints were made regarding the administration of medication, this would be followed up with disciplinary action.

Complaints and comments were distinguished depending on how the service user wished to pursue the issue.  Where people passed comment, investigations would still be carried out.   

In terms of comparison with neighbouring local authorities, Monmouthshire had a low number of complaints.  The Customer Relations Manager explained that regular meetings were held with an All Wales Complaints Group, and a report submitted to Welsh Government quarterly.

In terms of other areas of the Council, Children’s Services received comments regarding the same issues.  Whole Authority complaints mainly referred to communication issues. 

Recommendations:

Members were recommended to note the contents of the report.

We noted the Adults Select Committee Work Programme.  In doing so we noted that the meeting scheduled for 20^th October 2015 had been cancelled.

A Member of the public had requested a meeting to discuss Adult Learning.  Members felt, in light of the satisfactory Estyn outcome this was unnecessary at this time.

We noted that the next ordinary meeting would be held on Tuesday 8^th December at 10.00am.