Agenda item

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.