Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Adult Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2010/195

Contact: Martin Bradshaw, Assistant Head of Service Tel: (01865) 323683

Report by Director for Social & Community Services (CA8).

This report describes the future of Home Support services following the implementation of the new national policy of personalisation of social care. As the policy begins to affect increasing numbers of people there has been a falling demand for the internal Home Support Service, which employs 360 staff on a budget of £8m. The service has relatively high Unit Costs, and is becoming unaffordable.

Due to the need for efficiency savings, and the introduction of personal budgets for self directed support, the Home Support Service is unlikely to be financially viable beyond 2011/12. There is a significant risk of the Council being forced to double-fund the service and personal budgets. The report proposes, subject to consultation with Service User groups and staff that the Service should cease to operate by April 2012

Service Users and staff have been advised of the potential implications of self directed support and budget reductions. If the service ceases to operate, Service Users will be offered a range of alternative support options. Staff will be redeployed, transferred to other providers, given guidance on alternative employment, or made redundant if no other option is appropriate. Funding has been identified for the potential redundancy costs. Some of the services currently provided will be recommissioned through external contracts. Options with regard to Transfer of Undertakings regulations (TUPE) are being considered but are only likely to apply to a limited number of the staff.

Following a period of consultation, a further report will be made to Cabinet in April 2011, and if the proposal is confirmed, the service would be phased out by April 2012.  Service Users would be transferred to alternative providers using their personal budgets, to include Personal Assistants or external domiciliary care from new contracts which start in July 2011. If alternative support can be obtained at the national average cost for domiciliary care, revenue savings of some £2.5m per year are anticipated.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)               agree in principle that the internal Home Support Service will cease to operate by April 2012 at the latest, subject to the outcome of consultation with Service User groups and staff; and

(b)              request a further report in April 2011 on the outcome of the consultation programme with Service User groups and staff.

Cabinet considered a report on the future of Home Support Services (CA8).

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Opposition Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services spoke of the extremely high level of service that the County had always given. She hoped that it would be possible to find alternative employment so that the skills and experience of dedicated staff was not lost. She suggested that the proposals be taken forward with less speed, waiting until new providers were in place and all personal budgets transferred. She expressed concern at the level of monitoring and safety under the new arrangements.

The Director for Social & Community Services paid tribute to the work of the Home Support Staff. Their value was well recognised but sadly with the advent of personal budgets the internal service was unable to compete with the external market. There was a danger of funding a service that users would not choose to use because of costs. He added that there was an absolute duty to meet care needs at the appropriate level.

RESOLVED:                        to

(a)               agree in principle that the internal Home Support Service will cease to operate by April 2012 at the latest, subject to the outcome of consultation with Service User groups and staff; and

(b)               request a further report in April 2011 on the outcome of the consultation programme with Service User groups and staff.