Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S R Dodds and Mrs S M Wray.

An apology for absence was also received from Councillor C R Oxby (Executive Support Councillor for Adults).

It was noted that the Chief Executive, having received notice under Regulation 13 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, had appointed Councillors Mrs J Brockway and J Renshaw as replacement members of the Committee in place of Councillors Mrs S M Wray and S R Dodds, respectively, for this meeting only.

No declarations of Councillors' interests were declared at this stage of proceedings.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Adults Scrutiny Committee held on 9 September 2015, be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(To receive a report by David Laws (Adult Care Strategy Financial Advisor), which invites the Committee to consider an Executive report on Non-Residential Care Contributions Policy.  Any comments from the Scrutiny Committee will be presented to the Executive on 3 November 2015)

The Chairman welcomed all members of the public who were in attendance and Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Health, Children's Services to the meeting of Adults Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman advised that a request had been received from a member of the public to address the meeting.  In accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules the Chairman asked the Committee if they were in favour of allowing a member(s) of the public to speak.  The Committee gave their support to allowing members of the public to speak at the meeting.

The Committee received a joint presentation from Wendy Crosson-Smith, Consultation Policy Advisor and David Laws, Adult Care Strategy Financial Advisor, which outlined to the Committee the consultation exercise to test the seven proposed changes to the Non-Residential Adult Social Care Contributions Policy, which took place between 22 June and 28 September 2015.  It was highlighted that the proposals were estimated to result in £920k - £957k in extra contributions from service users and were aimed to make the policy clearer and fairer.

It was reported that 273 people had attended twelve consultation events; and that 275 people had made a response to the consultation document.  Full details of the consultation exercise were shown in Appendix 1 to the report presented.  The Consultation had been quality assured and had met the requirements from The Consultation Institute and had achieved the requirements for 'Good Practice'.

The presentation also provided details of the responses received to each of the seven proposed changes.   The Committee were advised that the new policy would not be introduced until April 2016.

The Chairman then invited members of the public to address the meeting.  (Ten members of the public, including carers and support works were present at the meeting).  The issues raised by the members of the public included:-

·         The introduction of contribution payments 14 days after the financial assessment form had been issued and the extent to which the level of contribution would be correct and subsequently adjusted.  It was reported that currently the policy stated that contributions were applied from the date the service user was told about the outcome of their financial assessment. The Care Act now allowed for councils to be able to ask people to pay contributions backdated to the date their service began. It was proposed that everyone assessed as eligible to pay would pay from 14 days after the financial assessment form was sent to the service user. The introduction of a fixed timeframe would standardise the process and remove the anomalies from when people began to make their assessed contribution. In cases where the authority did not have information from the service user then the charge would be applied retrospectively.  The whole process would be conducted in an efficient manner to prevent the service user building up any debt.  It was clarified that the time was 14 days not 14 working days; 

·         Satisfaction of Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.  The report clearly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

(To receive a report from Glen Garrod (Director of Adult Care), which updates the Committee on the programme of work to implement the changes required by the Care Act 2014)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Glen Garrod, Director of Adult Care, which provided an update on the Care Act.  It was reported that the Care Act had gained Royal Assent and it provisions were effective from April 2015.

An overview of the Care Act 2014 was detailed on pages 148 to 156 of the report presented.

The Committee were advised that the two groups affected by the Care Act were prisoners and carers.

The Committee were advised that the Care Act had been successfully implemented by Adult Care in Lincolnshire.  However, the Department of Health, in conjunction with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services would continue to undertake stock takes of progress, to ensure that the Council was compliant with the Care Act.

The Committee were advised further that there were plans to add Care Act related topics to the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF), which would then enable the Council to monitor the success of local interventions in improving outcomes and to identify future priorities for making improvements.

During discussion, the following issues were raised:-

·         The impact of the integration of Health and Social Care.  It was noted that integration was an area mentioned in the Care Act.  It was noted further that 70 people now had personal budgets for health and social care.

·         Whether MOSAIC was aligned with Health.  The Committee were advised that health was aligned, and therefore there would be less duplication.  As MOSAIC was a web based system it would be able to be used by health colleagues;

·         Whether the My Choice, My Care website had been adapted to take into consideration the implications of the Care Act.  The Committee were advised that the website had been duly amended;

·         Housing implications and the environmental effect on mental health.  The Committee were reminded that a tier two authority had no housing responsibility, however, housing was part of the devolution bid; and

·         Communication, It was highlighted that not everyone had IT access and therefore, other avenues should be explored.

RESOLVED

            That the report be noted.

(To receive a report from Chris Weston (Consultant in Public Health), which invites the Committee to consider and comment on the progress of establishing a multi-agency wellbeing service for adults in Lincolnshire)

Consideration was given to a report from Tony Hill, Executive Director of Public Health and Community Wellbeing.

A short verbal presentation was provided to the Committee from Chris Weston, Consultant in Public Health, Phil Garner, Health Improvement Programme Manager and David Clark, Programme Officer – Wellbeing and Independence, which updated the Committee on the first year of the Wellbeing Service.

The Lincolnshire Wellbeing Service had been launched as a new service to promote confidence in living independently, and to ensure that the authority was compliant with the Care Act 2014, which placed a huge emphasis on preventative care, rather than reactive care.  The service offered simple aids to daily living, minor adaptions, Telecare, Home from Hospital and short term generic support.  The Committee was advised that the service was delivered by Lincolnshire Independent Partnership (LILP) consortium in the district of South Kesteven, South Holland, Boston, City of Lincoln and West Lindsey District Council.  It was noted that East Lindsey District Council and North Kesteven were other providers independent of LILP, delivering their own wellbeing service in their respective districts.

To be eligible for the service, a person needed to be over 18 and meet three of the 11 triggers, including recent hospitalisation, bereavement, isolation or a fall in the home.

Details of the evaluation process were detailed on pages 158 to 160 of the report presented.

In conclusion, it was reported that the Wellbeing Service had been in place for one year now, and had engaged with 34% of the estimated audience who might have qualified for the service.

The performance of the service was being monitored and the outcomes and outputs received were promising for the majority of the work areas.  It was noted that the models of service provision would be reviewed and would form the basis of any service improvements/recommissioning.

During discussion, the following comments were raised:-

·         Some members advised that from personal experience, and from the experience of others some very positive feedback had been received with regard to the health and wellbeing service;

·         One member asked whether the trigger for 3 medications should be reduced to one, as some medications taken by individuals were very destructive.  Officers as part of the first evaluation agreed to take on board the comment;

·         The enhanced working together in the community, as well as in the Neighbourhood Teams;

·         The success of the Home to Hospital service, one member from personal experience advised that the wellbeing service was not recognised by hospitals outside of the County.  It was also highlighted that not all GP's were aware of the service.  The Committee were advised that there had been an issue with the Home to Hospital service, and as a result Age UK were looking into arrangements with Peterborough and Grimsby Hospitals.  It was reported that the Home Care Service was staffed by Lace Housing 4 Ambulance Drivers plus a support worker in the LIPL area;

·         Links between health and LCC – The Committee were advised that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

(To receive a report by Simon Evans (Scrutiny Officer), which invites the Committee to consider its work programme for the coming months)

Consideration was given to a report from Richard Wills, the Executive Director with responsibility for Democratic Services, which asked the Adults Scrutiny Committee to consider its work programme for its forthcoming meetings.  A copy of the work programme was attached at Appendix A.

Simon Evans, Health Scrutiny Officer, introduced the report and associated Appendix for consideration by the Committee.  The Committee were also reminded that the next meeting of the Committee on the 9 December 2015 would be starting at 11.00am.  This was so that the Committee could hold a workshop session on the financial challenges between 10.00am and 11.00am.

RESOLVED

That the work programme as set out in Appendix A to the report presented be noted.