Agenda item

Report by Cabinet Member for Adult Services (CC11).

This report summarises outcomes from the 'Hearsay' event and Business Strategy engagement sessions in 2011, both relating to developments in social care . It sets out the background to the growth of personalisation in Adult Social Care. The concept of personalisation is defined, and the policy context is set out, from Community Care law reforms of the 1990's to 'Putting People First' in 2007.

The report welcomes the introduction of Personalisation as a policy and reviews some of the risks involved in more direct purchasing of social care by individuals, for example the use of 'Personal Assistants'. It outlines the measures being proposed to Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee for assuring quality in externally provided care. This includes the role of Members in promoting and assuring quality in services which operate in their locality.

The Cabinet RECOMMENDED Council to receive the report and debate its implications for Members.

The Council had before them a report (CC11) by the Cabinet Member for Adult Services which summarised the outcomes from the ‘Hearsay’ event and Business Strategy engagement sessions in 2011, relating to developments in social care.  The report set out the background to the growth of personalisation in Adult Social Care.

The report further welcomed the introduction of Personalisation as a policy and reviewed some of the risks involved in more direct purchasing of social care by individuals, for example the use of 'Personal Assistants'. It outlined the measures being proposed to Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee for assuring quality in externally provided care, including the role of Members in promoting and assuring quality in services which operate in their locality.

Councillor Fatemian moved and Councillor Seale seconded the following motion as amended by Councillor Patrick in bold italic:

“The Cabinet RECOMMENDED Council to receive the report and debate its implications for Members and refer the issue to the Adult Services Scrutiny Committee for further consideration.”

The amendment proposed by Councillor Stevens as set out in the Schedule of Business, Annex 1 was withdrawn.

Council then debated embedding personalisation.  The following key points arose from debate:

·              Everyone receiving Social Care should have a choice;

·              Managing risks – there should be cross party working on it;

·              The formal role for members – adequate training will need to be given to enable members to carry out this role;

·              Enhancing the role of local members – how is this going to be formalised?

·              Need to ensure consistency of care given at home – care quality commission?

·              Feedback from ‘Hearsay’ event - what did people actually say?  Need to ensure that it is not political

·              Need to ensure that members and officer roles are clearly defined and that members are not carrying out roles that professional officers should be doing;

·              The whole area needs to be properly funded;

·              People with a learning disability have been left behind – these people need the most care;

·              Needs are often hidden;

·              The need to promote the concept of “corporate parent”.

·              The need to recognise that the whole area can exploit venerable people – need safeguarding in place, especially for people with Demencia;

·              Need to consider how to monitor and manage risks;

·              Members need to visits day centres and care homes in their areas;

·              LINKs should be involved in the process;

·              Members should not inspect homes in their own areas

·              Members promoting and assuring quality - concerns about promoting one company over from another;

·              NHS could do more in care homes. Capture views of quality of care homes and community care providers from visiting health professionals;

·              Need to get extra care housing up and running;

·              members should not take on the role of social workers;

·              Scrutiny should ensure providers are adequate;

·              the importance of LINKs was Emphasised including the importance of focusing on service users.

Following debate the motion was put to the vote and it was:

RESOLVED: (nem con) that Council record the views expressed during the debate and that these are taken into consideration by the Cabinet and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee.