To: Members of the Oxfordshire Supporting People Commissioning Body

Notice of Meeting

Derek Bishop
Head of Democratic Services

8 December 2005

THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Membership

Chairman - Councillor Dorothy Brown – South Oxfordshire District Council

Councillor Mary de Vere – Vale of White Horse District Council
Robert Evans – National Probation Service - Thames Valley
Councillor Hilary Hibbert-Biles, West Oxfordshire District Council
Councillor J.J. McNamara – Cherwell District Council
Val Messenger – representative for Oxfordshire Primary Care Trusts
Councillor Don Seale – Oxfordshire County Council
Val Johnson – Oxford City Council

AGENDA

Addenda

1. Apologies for Absence and Substitutions (if applicable)
   
   
2. Declarations of Interest (all members of the Body shall be responsible for deciding whether they have a declarable interest, in accordance with the Codes of Conduct of their own organisation, if applicable).
   
   
3. Minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2005 (SP3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

4. Grant Budget Report

The Administering Authority has forecasted a deficit for the current year of £399,000. The reports attached at SP4 show the original deficit forecast of £769,000 and the changes to that forecast which have led the Administering Authority to the conclusion the final deficit will be much reduced.

The Supporting People Commissioning Body is RECOMMENDED to note the revised forecast.

For Decision

5. Review of the Five-Year Strategy and the Annual Plan for 2005/06: Three-Year Financial Strategy

The Government announced Oxfordshire’s Grant allocation for 2006/07 on 5 December 2005. The Government had to allocate Supporting People Grant between local authorities within the constraint of 1.74% national cut in the budget for the programme.

Ministers have again used the Supporting People Distribution Formula to give Oxfordshire a higher than average cut at 2.43% but this is well below the 5% cut previously threatened.

As a result Oxfordshire’s grant for 2006/07 at £19.2m is £0.5m higher than anticipated. The Government has assured all local authorities their grant for 2007/08 will be not less than 95% of their grant for 2006/07: our grant for 2007/08 will therefore be not less than £18.2m, again £0.5m higher than anticipated.

As the announcement came less than 48 hours before the Core Strategy Group’s meeting on Wednesday 7 December, officers have not had the opportunity to agree a paper for the Commissioning Body in time for circulation with the other papers. It will therefore follow in advance of the meeting.

6. Review of Five-Year Strategy: Services for Older People
   
   (See also Addenda)
   

At its October meeting the Core Strategy Group approved the recommendations of the strategic reviews of accommodation-based, housing-related services for older people in each district which had been led by the relevant District Council. A paper is attached at SP6 summarising the five district reports and identifying issues to be taken forward countywide. Copies of the papers produced by each District Council are available on request from Julie Dean (tel: 01865 815322).

The Core Strategy Group RECOMMENDS the Commissioning Body to:

(a) approve the recommendations in the report summarising the strategic reviews of Older People’s Accommodation-Based services for Cherwell, Oxford, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire;

(b) instruct the Core Strategy Group to explore options for standardised county-wide responses to and procedures for the issues set out in section 5 of the report;

(c) request the Administering Authority to ensure the commissioning process, following completion of the strategic reviews, is carried out in consultation with the relevant District Council taking into account any related recommendations in individual strategic review reports.

7. Review of Five-Year Strategy: Services for Homeless People

At its September meeting the Core Strategy Group received the reports of the strategic reviews of housing-related support services for homeless people in each district which had been led by the relevant District Council. A paper is attached at SP7 summarising the five district reports and identifying issues to be taken forward county-wide. Copies of the papers produced by each District Council are available on request. From Julie Dean (Tel: 01865 815322).

The Core Strategy Group RECOMMENDS the Commissioning Body to:

(a) approve the recommendations of the strategic reviews of services for homeless people in Cherwell, Oxford, South and West Oxfordshire;

(b) accept the recommendation from Vale of White Horse District Council to retain the one existing service and recognise the service review, which has not yet been completed, cannot be prejudged by determining in advance what saving, if any, is possible compared with the current contract-price;

(d) in the light of the strategic review of services for homeless people in Oxford, rescind the decision of the meeting held on 24 November 2004 to recommission the Oxford City Floating Support Service provided by Bromford Carinthia Housing Association (Service ID 850) and instruct the Supporting People Team to ensure appropriate arrangements are made for the welfare of service users;

(e) request the District Councils to participate in a City-led detailed review of support to homeless people moving-on from hostel provision; and to identify an appropriate model of provision for Oxford and potentially the County, covering type of provision (balance of floating & accommodation-based provision, generic or specialist services, one centralised service or several contracts), the relationship between services in the City, routes for accessing services, minimising bed blocking of accommodation-based services; and

(f )request the commissioning process following completion of the strategic reviews be carried out in consultation with the relevant District and the City Council and taking account of any related recommendations in individual review reports.

8. Review of Five-Year Strategy: Services for Young People and Teenage Parents
   
   (See also Addenda)
   

Following the last meeting of the Commissioning Body discussions have taken place regarding the final report of the group which had carried out the strategic review of housing-related support services for young people (including teenage parents). This report represented a consensus of all parties involved and was presented to the August meeting of the Core Strategy Group where, however, it failed to secure unanimous agreement.

This report (SP8) (download as .doc file) is presented to the Commissioning Body together with a summary written by the Supporting People team.

The papers which were submitted to the last meeting on 6 October 2005 at Agenda Item SP6 are for recommendation at this meeting. Members of the Commissioning Body are asked to bring these along to the meeting. Copies can be obtained from Julie Dean Tel: (01865) 815322 if required.

The Core Strategy Group RECOMMENDS the Commissioning Body to:

1. agree the principles in the report; and
2. instruct the Supporting People Team to prepare a report on the implementation of the proposals to be received at the next meeting.
   
   
9. Review of Five-Year Strategy: Community Alarm Services

At its November meeting the Core Strategy Group received the report of the strategic review of community alarm services. The main report is attached at SP9 (download as .doc file) together with a paper summarising and illustrating its recommendations. Other background papers are available on request from Sheila Jackson (Tel: 01235 469765).

(SP9 - download as .doc file)
(SP9 - Annex 1 - download as .doc file)
(SP9 - Annex 2 - download as .doc file)
(SP9 - Annex 3 - download as .doc file)
(SP9 - Annex 4 - download as .doc file)
(SP9 - Annex 5 - download as .doc file)
(SP9 - Annex 6 - download as .doc file)
(SP9 - Annex 7 - download as .doc file)
(SP9- Annex 7 - tables - download as .xls file)

The Core Strategy Group RECOMMENDS the Commissioning Body:to

1. approve the commissioning plan for community alarm services in Oxfordshire to be commissioned from April 2006 set out in section 9 of the report;
2. request the Administering Authority to implement the commissioning and procurement outcomes of the review in partnership with the commissioning partners; and
3. request the Administering Authority to ensure equivalent standards are incorporated into contracts for other services where an emergency alarm is provided as part of a package of housing-related support – for example, in sheltered housing for older people.
   
   
10. Review of Five-Year Strategy: Services for People with Mental Health Problems
    
    (SP10)
    

At its last meeting the Commissioning Body received an interim report from the strategic review of services for people with mental health problems. A further report is attached which was approved by the Core Strategy Group at its meeting on 7 December 2005.

The Core Strategy Group RECOMMENDS the Commissioning Body to:

1. agree the strategic decisions relating to service reconfigurations and outline financial plan;
2. instruct the Administering Authority to implement service reviews and reach agreement with providers to reduce costs and reconfigure services in line with the strategic review;
3. note the comments and contributions received from service users and instruct the Supporting People team to take these into account in reviewing the Five-Year Strategy, drawing up the Annual Plan for 2006/07 and considering the relative allocation of Supporting People Grant for each client-group.
   
   
11. Review of Five-Year Strategy: Eligibility Criteria

At its meeting on 29 June 2005 the Commissioning Body agreed a set of proposed Eligibility Criteria as a basis for widespread discussion with service users and providers. The Supporting People team arranged for wide discussion of the proposals and asked for comments by 14 October 2005.

The Supporting People team drew up revised proposals and gave service providers a further, brief opportunity to comment. The final proposals are attached at SP11(a), and are due to be approved by Core Strategy Group at its meeting on 7 December 2005. A report detailing the outcomes of the consultation process is also attached at SP11(b).

Also attached at SP11(c) is a note from the Administering Authority regarding services for people covered by section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 which was presented to the same meeting of the Core Strategy Group.

The Core Strategy Group RECOMMENDS the Commissioning Body:to

1. approve the revised Eligibility Criteria for use in relation to contracts for Supporting People funded services to start in April 2006; and
2. instruct the Core Strategy Group to complete a review of the Eligibility Criteria within three years.
   
   
12. Review of Five-Year Strategy: New Draft National Strategy and Consultation Paper on the Supporting People Distribution Formula

The Government published two important consultation documents on 15 November 2005. The consultation-period on both documents ends on 28 February 2006.

The Government has produced a document for Commissioning Bodies which is attached at SP12(a) (download as .doc file) together with the questions for consultation SP12(b) (Annex B - (download as .pdf file) on the national strategy. A copy of a short briefing given to Oxfordshire MPs at their last meeting with the County Council about how the Distribution Formula would affect Oxfordshire is attached at SP12(c) (download as .doc file) A flyer is also attached at SP12(d) (download as .pdf file) for a conference organised by the Local Government Association and other bodies which may be of interest to Commissioning Body members.

The Supporting People team arranged an event in Wantage on 6 December 2005 to gain views of service users and providers on the Government’s draft national strategy.

The Core Strategy Group RECOMMENDS that an additional meeting of the Commissioning Body is arranged so a joint response to the papers can be agreed.

For Information – the following matters (items 13 –17 inclusive) are submitted to the Commissioning Body for information only.

13. Service Review Progress

A list of the service review outcome reports approved by the Core Strategy Group at its meetings on 5 October, 2 November and 7 December is attached at SP13 (download as .doc file).

All service reviews have now been started and only 159 are still in progress: of these, 21 are due to be completed in time for the January meeting of the Core Strategy Group and 139 (all relating to services for people with learning disabilities) are due to be presented to the February meeting.

The Supporting People Commissioning Body is RECOMMENDED to note the report.

14. Audit Commission Inspection

The onsite inspection by the Audit Commission took place between the 28 November and 2 December 2005. A draft report will be submitted during the first week of January 2006.

The partnership will have 10 days to respond to the report. A single response must be agreed by the partnership. It is proposed to agree this response through the members of the Core Strategy Group.

If required, a Round Table meeting may be held in week commencing 30 January 2006, to discuss any disagreements or challenges relating to the resulting draft report.

The final inspection report is expected to be published in the week commencing 20 February 2006. An action plan will be drawn up and implemented as soon as recommendations are made to us from the Audit Commission.

15. Procurement

The Administering Authority presented to the Core Strategy Group meeting in 7 December 2005 a draft for a project covering the procurement of Supporting People funded services under new contracts to start in April 2006. A copy is attached at SP15 (download as .doc file).

A half-day procurement workshop has been arranged for members of the Core Strategy Group on 15 December 2005.

16. Outcomes for Service Users

The Administering Authority presented to the Core Strategy Group meeting in November 2005 a paper setting out how outcomes for service users could be most effectively monitored within the framework for contract management in relation to the new contracts starting in April 2006. A copy is attached at SP16 (download as .doc file).

The Supporting People Commissioning Body is RECOMMENDED to note the report.

17. Date of Next Meeting and Future Meetings

• Friday 23 June 2006
• Friday 15 September 2006
• Friday 15 December 2006
• Friday 16 March 2007