Agenda item

Adult Services

To consider the Performance report as a 31 December 2019 for Adult Services.

Minutes:

Documents:

·         Adults’ Performance Report, December 2018

 

Discussion

·         90% of safeguarding enquiries are responded to in 7 days – this was lower than had been achieved, but the Head of Transformation was pleased to report that this had improved to 100% during January.

·         Supervisions remain high and although there had been a drop over the Christmas period, the January report shows this is at 96%

·         PPD has been significantly more effective with 92% of calls answered.  The service is to be rebranded ASSIST and relaunched in late March. There will be a new means of access for health professionals

·         Technology Enabled Care has become a significant service following considerable development

·         A major challenge is the availability of domiciliary care – recruitment and retention remains a challenge across the County.  Twenty clients have no care but many are waiting for increased levels of care.  This is also impacting on Delayed Transfers of Care.  It is hoped in the longer term that this can be managed by community care, technology enabled care and sheltered housing, but in the short term there are issues.  The average number of days waiting for care is now 30 days.

·         The financial position for 2019/20 will be challenging – the service will have to find £1M of savings and further pressures have been identified of £9M.  There is limited ability to increase funding to domiciliary care providers – one provider has declared bankruptcy and clients have been returned to the Authority.  The market is particularly vulnerable. A Dynamic Purchasing scheme has been piloted in the Ystradgynlais area.

·         The Portfolio Holder reiterated the challenge in providing domiciliary care.  As a society care workers are poorly rewarded.  He had heard of cases where supermarkets were actively approaching workers to offer better terms.  It was a national issue which was slow to be addressed.  Wales was to gain tax raising powers and consideration may be given to a social care levy. The new First Minister was outlining his priorities and he was keen on a mixed provision.  The Committee noted that under new management arrangements the current Head of Transformation would become the Head of Commissioning for both adults and children’s services and there may be an opportunity to approach the matter in a more business-like manner.  The Committee also noted that currently approximately 11000 hours of care were being provided successfully each week.

·         Those carers employed in-house would receive better terms and conditions and cost significantly more.  Increasing the in-house service was not a viable option under current funding levels.  The only long term solution is to deliver a different type of service.  Statistics show that the population will not continue to increase after 2035.

·         An in-house domiciliary care service was provided in the north of the County and Members asked for clarity on this provision – Reablement was offered and a service of last resort where no private contractor was available.  A bridging service was also provided where a private contractor would become available within six weeks.

·         The Committee asked for information regarding the progress of the six trainee social workers

 

County Councillor R Williams left the meeting at 12.15.

 

·         The importance of managing demand sooner was emphasised to reduce the burden on domiciliary care

·         The responsibilities for nursing care and social care lay with different bodies – Members were aware that there had been challenges regarding which body paid for some clients.  The Health Board are also picking up the benefits of early intervention and recognising that intervention as early in the process as possible, relieves acute care later on.  The Director of Social Services continues to discuss these issues with the Health Board. 

 

County Councillor A Jenner left the meeting at 12.30

 

·         The issue of collaboration with the Health Authority was discussed and it was suggested that the Committee should receive a briefing on the role of the Regional Partnership Board

·         Members also requested training on finance in light of the new requirement for scrutiny committees to consider both finance and performance

 

Outcomes:

·         A briefing on the Regional Partnership Board would be provided to a future Committee

·         Financial training to be arranged for all scrutiny committee members

Supporting documents: