Agenda item

Purpose of report: Policy Development and Review

To provide an update on progress being made to maximise social capital in localities with effective care packages.

Declarations of interest: None.

Witnesses:

Dave Sargeant, Assistant Director for Personal Care and Support

Sarah Mitchell, Strategic Director for Adult Social Care

Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

Steve Cosser, Cabinet Associate for Adult Social Care

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The Committee asked what work had been done to ensure that the Family, Friends and Community Support agenda was being delivered collaboratively with the NHS and other stakeholders. Officers outlined that the Directorate were currently planning a number of stakeholder engagement events and that these were to be undertaken at a locality level. The Committee was informed that the Directorate was working with the NHS to ensure that social care practitioners were being included as part of primary care pathways. It was highlighted that this would help emphasise the Family, Friends and Community Support approach.

2.    The Committee queried what measurements were in place to ascertain whether savings were being achieved through Family, Friends and Community Support. Officers commented that the key measurement was a reduction in the average cost of care packages. It was highlighted that a greater equity of resource distribution would be another indicator of the work’s success.

3.     The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care informed the Committee that the Directorate’s spending had been less in September 2013 than in previous months.

4.    It was highlighted that Members could support the Family, Friends and Community Support agenda by sharing local knowledge through the Surrey Information Point website.

5.    The Committee queried how the Directorate was working with District and Borough Councils and partners. Officers commented that a series of social asset mapping exercises were being organised at a district and borough level to help identify what resources were available. It was also highlighted that social care teams were co-located with District and Borough partners to ensure a joined-up approach. Members commented that local committees could also be used in identifying local assets.

6.    The Committee was informed that work was being undertaken to roll-out a model office approach across the county after a successful trial period in Woking. Officers commented that the new approach had freed up practitioner time by reducing assessment times and improving the capacity for mobile working. Members asked for clarity around the meaning of ‘brave’ conservations; it was stated that this referred to moving towards sign-posting a wide variety of resources and support, rather than only discussing service users’ support in terms of what the local authority could provide.

7.    The Committee sought reassurances around potential safeguarding risks in relation to the utilisation of Family, Friends and Community Support. Officers commented that there would be no change in the risk assessments related to an individual’s support plan, and that these were designed to assess risk in an appropriate way in relation to family and friends. It was commented that from a national and historical perspective the areas of greatest safeguarding concerns related to residential care, rather than support individuals received from their family, friends or community. It was also highlighted that the Directorate did not wish to reinforce a culture where people were afraid to offer support.  However, the Committee was informed that Family, Friends and Community Support would only be engaged where appropriate, and would not be used where it was felt that service users were particularly vulnerable or at risk. The Committee was told that any volunteers would be risk-assessed and overseen as per the standard safeguarding arrangements.

8.    The Committee asked where savings would be made through the implementation of Friends, Family and Community Support. It was clarified by officers that this would be achieved in part by identifying savings during the assessment process, by the use of provisions where costs were reduced or free to use.

9.    The Committee was informed that the intention behind Family, Friends and Community Support was not to increase the burden to service users’ relatives or community. It was intended to balance responsibilities across the community as a whole and identify where resources could be accessed.

10.  It was proposed that a Member Working Group be set up and report back to the Committee at a later date. The following Members volunteered to join the task group: Mike Goodman, Margaret Hicks and Fiona White.

Resolved:

·         That the Committee implement a working group to track project outcomes and deliverables for the Family, Friends and Community Support agenda, to report back in March 2014.

Action by: Chairman/Democratic Services

Recommendations:

a)    That Adult Social Care should work closely with District and Borough Councils in delivering the Family, Friends and Community Support agenda.

Action by: Assistant Director for Personal Care and Support

b)    That the Directorate raise the profile of the Friends, Family and Community Support agenda through Local Committees and local Councillors.

Action by: Assistant Director for Personal Care and Support

Actions/further information to be provided:

None.

Committee Next Steps:

The Committee will consider a report from the Friends, Family and Community Support working group in March 2014.