Issue - meetings

At its meeting on 9 May 2010 the Adult Services Scrutiny Committee will consider a call in requested by the following Councillors:

Cllr Liz Brighouse
Cllr Larry Sanders
Cllr Richard Stevens
Cllr Val Smith
Cllr John Sanders
Cllr John Tanner
Cllr Roy Darke
Cllr Saj Malik
Cllr Sarah Hutchinson
Cllr Susanna Pressel

The Cabinet decision was:

"RESOLVED to:     

(a) Note the outcome of consultation with staff and Service User groups, and agree the changes to original proposals set out in para 7 above

(b) Agree that the internal Home Support Service will cease to operate by April 2012, subject to satisfactory reprovision arrangements set out in paras 10-13 and any other necessary actions required to maintain continuity of service

(c) Request a progress report from the Director of Social and Community Services to Adult Services Scrutiny Committee in December 2011."

The reasons given in the call-in request are:

We request that the decision taken by the Cabinet on 19th April to end the Internal Home Support Service be considered by the Adult Services Scrutiny Committee so that they can consider whether or not there has been adequate consideration of alternative ways of delivering this service and to agree protocols for monitoring the provision of Home Support in the future.

A copy of the report to Cabinet (CA8) is attached.

In the event of the decision taken on 19 April 2011 being referred back to Cabinet for reconsideration a paper will circulated separately setting out the material concerns found by the Scrutiny Committee.

A request has been received to call in the decision for scrutiny.

The following Councillors have requested the decision be called in for

scrutiny:

Cllr Liz Brighouse
Cllr Larry Sanders
Cllr Richard Stevens
Cllr Val Smith
Cllr John Sanders
Cllr John Tanner
Cllr Roy Darke
Cllr Saj Malik
Cllr Sarah Hutchinson
Cllr Susanna Pressel

The Cabinet decision was:

"RESOLVED to:     

(a) Note the outcome of consultation with staff and Service User groups, and agree the changes to original proposals set out in para 7 above

(b) Agree that the internal Home Support Service will cease to operate by April 2012, subject to satisfactory reprovision arrangements set out in paras 10-13 and any other necessary actions required to maintain continuity of service

(c) Request a progress report from the Director of Social and Community Services to Adult Services Scrutiny Committee in December 2011."

The reasons given in the call-in request are:

We request that the decision taken by the Cabinet on 19th April to end the Internal Home Support Service be considered by the Adult Services Scrutiny Committee so that they can consider whether or not there has been adequate consideration of alternative ways of delivering this service and to agree protocols for monitoring the provision of Home Support in the future.

A copy of the report to Cabinet (CA8) is attached.

The Scrutiny Committee had before it the report of the Director for Social and Community Services to Cabinet on 19 April 2011 together with the draft minutes of that meeting.  The Committee agreed to consider the two parts of the call in separately.

Part 1 of the Call in (adequate consideration of alternative ways of delivering this service)

Councillor Sanders spoke in support of the call in being referred back to Cabinet for further consideration.  He summarised his concerns as the future needs had not been considered – Cabinet’s decision was based on past needs and with major changes in adult social care there were too many unknowns and therefore longer timescales were required.

Councillor Stevens also spoke in support of the call in.  He was concerned that the one page Option Appraisal (Annex 2 of the Cabinet paper) was too brief, that there was not enough evidence to rule out options, that Option C,D and E were analysed from an anti TUPE point of view and that Social Enterprise had not been fully explored.

In response, the Cabinet Member for Adult Services confirmed that he was satisfied that Cabinet had had all the relevant information and that the decision had been based on that information. He believed that the decision was sound.

The Director for Social and Community Services explained the context for the decision; details of the work that had been undertaken as part of the optional appraisal and reminded the Scrutiny Committee of the Cabinet paper of 21 December (copies were made available to this Committee). 

Following debate by the Committee of the issues raised Councillor Stratford proposed that the Committee agree they have no material concerns over the Cabinet decision.

RESOLVED:                        (8 votes to 2 ) not to refer the decision back to Cabinet as the Committee had no material concerns about the decision.

Part 2 of the Call in (agree protocols for monitoring the provision of Home Support in the future)

Councillor Stevens spoke in support of the call in being referred back to Cabinet for further consideration.  He asked for more detail as to how and when monitoring would be undertaken.

The Director for Social and Community Services provided an overview of the monitoring arrangements that were already in place.  The Cabinet Member reminded members that an update report was due to this Committee in December and that a standing item could be included for future meetings. The Director for Social and Community Services responding to suggestions from the Chairman has to ways in which the monitoring information could be verified welcomed the possible involvement of LINks.

Councillor Seale confirmed the Committee would return to this subject at regular intervals and that the Director would provide updates through his regular Director’s briefing to this Committee.

Councillor Seale proposed that the Committee agree they have no material concerns over the Cabinet decision and it was:

RESOLVED:                        (8 votes to 2 ) not to refer the decision back to Cabinet as the Committee had no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 136

Cabinet Member: Adult Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2010/217

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

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

This report sets out the results of a 3 month consultation exercise into proposed reprovision of a range of internal Home Support services which employ around 320 staff and support 500 Service Users.

20 well-attended consultation meetings have been held with staff and Service User groups across the County. The main themes emerging from consultation are summarised. Most of the issues raised by staff related to redundancy arrangements and alternative employment options. Concerns were raised about the speed of reprovision, quality of alternative independent sector services, and their availability in sufficient volume across the County. Changes made to the initial reprovision plan as a result of consultation include: extending the transition timetable, improved arrangements for alternative employment, enhanced support for Personal Assistants, additional contract monitoring and setting up a temporary 'Community Response Team' to fill any gaps in provision.

Initial restructuring has taken place to achieve agreed efficiency savings in 2011/12. Subject to final decision of Cabinet, a detailed 'transition plan'  

has been produced to ensure fair treatment for all staff, and continuity of care for Service Users.  Staff will be supported to find alternative employment in the care sector as far as possible.  The proposed timetable for reprovision is set out in the report, with the aim that all services would be transferred or reprovided externally by April 2012, subject to suitable alternative supply being available..

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a) Note the outcome of consultation with staff and Service User groups, and agree the changes to original proposals set out in para 7 above

(b) Agree that the internal Home Support Service will cease to operate by April 2012, subject to satisfactory reprovision arrangements set out in paras 10-13 and any other necessary actions required to maintain continuity of service

(c) Request a progress report from the Director of Social and Community Services to Adult Services Scrutiny Committee in December 2011.

Cabinet considered a report that set out the results of a 3 month consultation exercise into proposed reprovision of a range of internal Home Support services which employ around 320 staff and support 500 Service Users and that sought final approval of the proposed changes to service provision.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Services expressed her admiration for the staff who provided a flagship service that was the envy of other authorities. She stated that she had spoken before about her concern over the speed of the changes and the impact on the ability to assist the most vulnerable users of the service. She was pleased that the contract would be monitored and she would be pressing for a regular report to the Adult Services Scrutiny Committee. There was still a lot more assistance required by staff who were required to adjust to a working life outside the Council and she urged continued support. The financial savings would not be known until the process was completed and she hoped that the changes would not be in vain with the savings not achieved. She sought clarification on Annex 2 and assurances about service continuity and cost for service users in the event of a service provider not delivering. She continued to have some concerns over quality and supervision and hoped that the Council would be sure of providers’ ability in terms of capacity, expertise and financial stability before their inclusion on the contract list.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services in introducing the report stated that they had listened and taken on board the comments made during the consultation. He added his thanks to the internal Home Support Service staff for their efforts. He praised the positive manner in which they had approached the consultation. He emphasised that the approach was largely the same as that agreed in December but highlighted the changes made following the consultation. He added that only 20% of services were provided by the internal service and that the cost was no longer affordable. In a recent inspection the existing external providers were found to be good or excellent and he was confident that new providers would be found likewise. The providers were well aware of the cost structure so he was confident in moving the recommendations to proceed.

The Director for Social & Community Services stated that the changes were being proposed with regret but were necessary to maintain a viable service. This was largely accepted by both service users and employees. He understood the concern to protect staff and to maintain continuity of care. In relation to contract monitoring the Directorate was well used to dealing with the issue of service failure. The Contracts Team work closely with providers and this was the value of having a wide range of providers. They had experience of stopping provision where necessary and finding alternative provision for service users. Contracts were actively managed and they had 20 years experience of commissioning services. With regard to staff  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47