Agenda and minutes
PDF 60 KBVenue: Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN
Contact: Ross Pike or Andrew Spragg
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: Apologies were received from Saj Hussain and George Johnson. Richard Wilson acted as a substitute for Saj Hussain. |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS: 16 January 2014 & 6 March 2014
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: These were agreed as accurate records of the meetings. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes: 1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (25 April 2014). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (24 April 2014). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Minutes: There were no questions or petitions. |
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
The Committee made no recommendations to Cabinet at its last meeting, so there are no responses to report. Minutes: There were no referrals made to Cabinet at the last meeting of the Committee, so there are no responses to report. |
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DIRECTOR'S UPDATE
The Strategic Director for Adult Social Care will update the Committee on important news and announcements. Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Dave Sargeant, Interim Strategic Director for Adult Social Care
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee was informed that a peer review regarding safeguarding arrangements in Surrey had just been completed by Buckinghamshire County Council. Feedback had highlighted the calibre and commitment of front-line staff, praised the political and strategic leadership and noted the good partnership working the Council had developed. There had been no significant areas of concern, and Adult Social Care would continue to improve on any areas that had been highlighted.
2. The Committee queried whether there was confidence that abuse was not happening in any Council owned care homes. Officers commented that there could never be an absolute guarantee that abuse was not taking place, but highlighted that the safeguarding measures were designed to minimise the risk of abuse. It was commented that all care homes, both commissioned and owned by the Council, were required to be Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliant. A number of measures were highlighted as helping provide safeguarding assurances, in particular work with the Surrey Care Association to improve recruitment, retention and support for staff. Officers informed the Committee that the CQC inspection regime was changing in September 2014, and a rating system would be introduced.
3. The Committee asked whether the need to maintain the cost of commissioned services was creating a risk that the quality of care was diminishing. Officers highlighted that both commercial and quality considerations were key in commissioning services. It was highlighted that there was a number of exercises that supported a co-design process, and ensured that commissioned services were of sufficient quality.
4. The Committee was informed that the Directorate was working with health partners around closer integration through the Health & Well-Being Board. It was commented by officers that work had begun to look at how resources could be shared collectively. The Committee was told that there was a need to identify and understand different local pressures, and what resources could be pooled to create better efficiencies for both the Council and health partners. Members highlighted the role of local committees in gaining insight on particular areas and the pressures they experience. Officers commented that there was an initiative being undertaken jointly with Children, Schools and Families Directorate to ensure that social care items were on the agenda at local committee meetings.
Recommendations:
None.
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
The Committee will receive the final peer review report for consideration at a future meeting.
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CABINET MEMBER PRIORITIES 2014 - 15
The Cabinet Member will provide a verbal update on his priorities for 2014-15. Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Dave Sargeant, Interim Strategic Director for Adult Social Care
Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Cabinet Member outlined his priorities for 2014-15. These included: i. Staffing – The Cabinet Member outlined that discussions were being undertaken with Human Resources (HR) to develop recruitment and pay practices. It was also highlighted that there was work to identify where efficiencies could be made through providing staff with technology to support the assessment process. ii. Safeguarding – The Cabinet Member commented that he would be examining the complaint procedure in order to gain a better understanding of the process. iii. Surrey’s contract with Anchor iv. Surrey Choices –The Cabinet Member informed the Committee that he would be observing how the Local Authority Trading Company developed, and would consider what other opportunities existed within the Directorate to develop similar initiatives. v. Developing the Better Care Fund with partners vi. Preparation for the Care Bill – The Committee was informed that the Directorate would be looking at how the likely increase in assessments was managed, and also how the expectation of Surrey residents was managed in relation to the funding reforms set out in the legislation. vii. Budget – The Committee was informed that it was recognised that there were still a number of challenges related to the Family, Friends and Community Support agenda. The Cabinet Member commented that he would continue to encourage the Directorate to embed the practices identified through the Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs).
2. The Committee discussed the issue of recruitment and retention, commenting that the neighbouring London authorities made for a competitive market in terms of salaries. Officers expressed the view that retention was greatly influenced by the training available to staff. It was explained that the Directorate had supplemented the corporate recruitment process with some dedicated resources for Adult Social Care.
Recommendations:
None.
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
The Committee will invite the Cabinet Member to give a further update on the progress of the priorities in six months time.
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Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of Services and Budgets/Performance Management
This report provides an opportunity for the Committee to review the Adult Social Care budget for 2014-19 as now finalised.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: William House, Senior Principal Accountant Dave Sargeant, Interim Strategic Director for Adult Social Care
Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee was given an outline on the adjustments to the Family, Friends & Community Support (F,F&CS) savings since the Committee received an update at its Budget Planning Workshop on 13 February 2014. Two documents were tabled at the meeting and are enclosed as appendices to these minutes.
2. The Committee queried whether there was sufficient resource to ensure staff were equipped with adequate IT provision to achieve the efficiencies through assessments and re-assessments. Officers commented that the principle of the Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs) was to simplify process, and that IT resource was an element of this. It was highlighted that there was a number of corporate initiatives around creating efficiencies through digital design and using app technology, and that the Directorate would be part of this. It was highlighted by Members that this could be a topic of discussion when the Council Overview & Scrutiny Committee looked at the Council’s digital strategy and approach.
3. The Committee was informed that there were 4 pilots being run with MySupportBroker, an organisation that supported individuals in assessments and identification of care packages. The Committee was informed there were were a number of potential benefits to commissioning MySupportBroker, including the potential to increase capacity and allow the Council to undertake the assessments and re-assessments necessary to achieve the efficiencies identified within the F,F&CS project.
4. The Committee asked whether the finances for the increased training and resources had been identified and ring-fenced to support implementation. It was commented by officers that the above was within the corporate budget, and that the need for it to be protected had been recognised by the budget holders in question. The Committee was informed that the Chief Executive had commented that F,F&CS was not solely a Directorate priority, and the Corporate Leadership Team had expressed a commitment to its delivery.
5. The Committee was informed that the Directorate was developing a new induction programme for staff and that this would be an opportunity to communicate critical messages regarding the F,F&CS agenda.
6. Members expressed concern that a projected 20% reduction in support package costs would not be achievable, and that there was some concern that it represented a reduction in support. It was clarified by officers that 20% figure was based on the savings that MySupportBroker had modelled from prior experience. The Committee was also informed that this saving was not an imposed quota on assessments, as the Adult Social Care budget was demand led. Instead the 20% was an indicative figure of the savings the Directorate believed could be made through robust reassessments, and through better identification of resources within the community.
7. The Committee discussed the implications of the F,F&CS agenda, and highlighted some areas of concern. These included an increased risk in respect to safeguarding, ... view the full minutes text for item 36/14 |
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COMMISSIONING AND MANAGING THE MARKET IN ADULT SOCIAL CARE
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Anne Butler, Assistant Director for Commissioning Christian George, Category Manager Dave Sargeant, Interim Strategic Director for Adult Social Care Mark Packer, Chief Executive, Welmede Richard Williams, Chair, Surrey Care Association Bob Hughes, Chief Executive, Sight for Surrey
Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care
Key points raised during the discussion:
[Graham Ellwood left the meeting at 12.04pm]
1. The external witnesses were invited to give a summary of their experiences in providing commissioned services for Surrey. A number of matters were raised, including the impact of savings being required year on year. Concerns were expressed by one witness that the wages they were able to offer increased risks around staff. The Committee discussed the difficulties in the recruitment and retention of staff within commissioned services. The Committee was informed that part of the challenge was a competitive market, and that there was a perception of care work as unskilled. The role of schools in promoting care work was highlighted by witnesses. It was commented that interest rates and auto-enrolment in pensions were also contributing to additional cost pressures.
2. The Committee queried how external witnesses viewed the establishment of the Local Authority Trading Company (LATC), Surrey Choices. It was commented that partnership opportunities were welcomed, and that the understanding was that Surrey Choices would predominately offering day care and respite services. Witnesses indicated that they wanted to see a transparent relationship between the Council and the LATC, and that there was no preferential treatment in the commissioning of services.
3. The Committee discussed the implications of the Care Bill, in particular the risk it posed to commissioned services. It was highlighted that private clients often paid more for the services they received, and that this enabled a reduced cost to those supported by the Council. The changes in legislation would enable people to request that the Council sourced their care services, and this had a potential to impact on commissioned services’ finances.
4. The Committee raised the issue of developing a single assessment process for care needs, and the role commissioned services could play in developing this. It was highlighted that the Directorate was investigating the possibilities in this particular area.
Recommendations:
a) That the private providers meet with the Directorate to explore the mutual challenges in recruiting and retaining high quality staff, and identify areas where they can jointly influence the market.
b) That a list of commissioned services is circulated to local Committees with a focus on what services are available locally.
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
None.
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SURREY CHOICES - UPDATE
To provide an update on the progress of the Local Authority Trading Company, now known as Surrey Choices. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Dexter James, Surrey Choices Simon Laker, Surrey Choices Jon Savage, Surrey Choices
Dave Sargeant, Interim Strategic Director for Adult Social Care Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee was given a brief update on the progress since Surrey Choices had been established. It was commented that the company was looking at developing its services to respond to the wishes of those who accessed them.
2. The Committee asked whether the TUPE arrangements had increased staff liabilities. Witnesses commented that although there were a significant range of liabilities, it had been the Council’s wish that the company maintain them. It was further commented that the quality of staff was felt to one of the key areas that differentiated Surrey Choices from its competitors.
3. The Committee discussed the potential business plan for Surrey Choices, it was highlighted that there was a cultural change required within the organisation in order to improve commercial understanding amongst managers. It was commented that there was a number of engagement events to ensure that both staff and those who used the service were given the opportunity to input in how Surrey Choices developed in the future.
Recommendations:
None.
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
None.
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RECOMMENDATION TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
The Committee is asked to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, and to review its Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: None.
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee noted its Recommendation Tracker and Forward Work Programme. It was commented that the Forward Work Programme would be reviewed in order to take the Cabinet Member priorities into consideration.
Recommendations:
None.
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
None.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 10am on 26 June 2014. Minutes: The Committee noted its next meeting would be 26 June 2014 at 10am. |