To consider the Adult Social Care Improvement Plan.
Minutes:
The Committee received a briefing document by the Scrutiny Manager and Head of Democratic Services together with the Adult Social Care Improvement Plan.
The Committee noted that there had been contributions to the development of the Improvement Plan from other services and that the success criteria and timescales for implementation were set out in the Plan. The Committee was asked to comment on the format and the content of the report.
The Improvement Plan was required to be developed and submitted to the inspectorate within 30 days of the publication of the Care Inspectorate Wales’ (CIW) Inspection Report of Adult Services. The deadline for submission was 30th May, 2018. The Improvement Plan would also be considered at the Improvement and Assurance Board on 30th May. It was highlighted that this Improvement Plan was significantly different to the Children’s Services Improvement Plan with a revised focus and it was a more outcome focussed document.
A Member asked about the role of the Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) in the delivery and development of the Plan as it was suggested that there were few references to PTHB in the Plan. It was stressed that PTHB would need to be on board with the Council to ensure that the plan was implemented effectively, as would be the involvement of the voluntary sector.
In the CIW inspection report, joint planning with the Council had been praised, however, there was criticism of integration. It was questioned if the Plan should be a joint document and did it have the blessing of PTHB. In response the Portfolio Holder indicated that this was an inspection of the Council rather than adult services generically in Powys and to achieve such a joined up approach would require a harmonisation of inspectorates.
It was also questioned whether the Joint Partnership Board had considered the draft plan. Members asked whether the scrutiny of the Improvement Plan should extend to scutinising other partners in looking at the delivery of the plan e.g. PTHB and Voluntary Organisations. The Head of Transformation for Adult Services advised the committee that there had been no time for discussions with PTHB in the development of the plan prior to its being submitted but discussions would be taking place with PTHB and that the plan was aligned to the strategic priorities set out in the Joint Area Plan.
In response to a question about the possibility of establishing a joint scrutiny mechanism, the Scrutiny Manager advised the Committee that legislatively the Council did not have powers to scrutinise individual organisations such as PTHB as the list of “designated persons” which could be scrutinised in accordance with the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 had never been issued by Welsh Government. However it was suggested that the PSB Scrutiny Committee which the council had established could undertake that role as integration with health and the Joint Partnership Board fell within its remit.
RECOMMENDED that arrangements for the establishment of a joint scrutiny process utilising the PSB Scrutiny Committee be included as an action within the plan to be completed within 12 months with the Scrutiny Manager being the lead officer.
With regard to the timescales in the plan, the Committee noted that many of the improvements required work across the Council, which were to be delivered by other services rather than Adult Social Care e.g. workforce issues. The Director of Social Services advised that the service was comfortable with the timescales set in the plan and that they had been agreed by the whole of the Adult Social Care’s Management Team demonstrating a buy-in from the Management Team.
Members questioned whether there were continued issues regarding staffing. The Director of Social Services confirmed that there continued to be vacancies to be filled, a need to reduce the number of agency staff and for the Council to “grow its own” staff.
In response to a question regarding domiciliary care provision in North Powys it was noted that there had been a limited movement of individuals between private companies, but also that the Council was only now developing an in house service. However 85% of domiciliary care in North Powys would continue to be provided by the private sector. There continued to be a wider problem in the recruitment of domiciliary care workers in Powys.
A member asked whether the Improvement Plan had been costed and whether this was a requirement by CIW or Welsh Government. The Portfolio Holder advised that the CIW or Welsh Government would not comment on funding as this was a matter for the Council. The Council had provided funding for the current financial year on the basis that significant improvements were made. However the plan would also have implications for next year’s budget as well. The funding of the plan was to be scrutinised by the Audit Committee. A business case would also need to be made to draw down any funding from within the limit set by the Council.
RECOMMENDED that the Committee were satisfied that the Improvement Plan in its current format, with the addition of the comments indicated above be submitted to CIW.
Supporting documents: