Agenda item

(To receive a report from the Executive Director – Commercial, which seeks approval of the content of the commissioning strategies for the following areas: Specialist Adult Services; Safeguarding Adults; Carers; Adult Frailty and Long Term Conditions; Community Wellbeing; and Public Protection, each in the form of the relevant highlight report, as detailed at Appendix A to the report)

That approval be given to the content of the commissioning strategies for the following areas:-

• Specialist Adult Services
• Safeguarding Adults
• Carers
• Adult Frailty and Long Term Conditions
• Community Wellbeing
• Public Protection

each in the form of the relevant highlight report, attached at Appendix A to the report.

Consideration was given to a report from the Executive Director – Commercial, which sought approval of the content of the commissioning strategies for the following areas: Specialist Adult Services; Safeguarding Adults; Carers; Adult Frailty and Long Term Conditions; Community Wellbeing; and Public Protection, each in the form of the relevant highlight report, as detailed at Appendix A to the report.

The Head of Paid Service introduced the report and in doing so highlighted that each commissioning strategy had been considered by the relevant scrutiny committee between 5 September 2018 and 12 March 2019.  With hindsight it would have been better to submit each commissioning strategy to the Executive immediately after its consideration by the relevant scrutiny committee, which would have avoided a delay.

The Head of Paid Service also reported that the commissioning strategy process was being reviewed, with a view to introducing priority objectives and service plans.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board advised that the report had been considered by the Board at its meeting on 30 May 2019 and the Board had agreed to support the content of the highlight reports for the six commissioning strategies.  The Chairman of the Board presented the Board’s comments, which were tabled at the meeting of the Executive and highlighted the following comments on specific commissioning strategies:

Specialist Adult Services Commissioning Strategy

·         An example of a scheme using capital investment to reduce revenue costs was extra care housing, which could be developed jointly with district councils; with one scheme in particular planned in Lincoln, which would support adults in one facility, rather than in residential care.

·         The importance of NHS health checks for adults and children with learning disabilities was highlighted.

·         The NHS should be encouraged to improve access to mental health services.

Carers Commissioning Strategy

·         The importance of the development of the carers portal for all carers was highlighted.

·         identifying and providing support to young carers (Carers Commissioning Strategy);

Adults and Long Term Conditions Commissioning Strategy

·         The Board questioned the reasoning for the categorisation of 'adult services' (ages 18-64) and 'older adult services' (age 65+), particularly in the light of the increase in state pension age.

Adult Safeguarding; Community Wellbeing; and Protecting the Public Commissioning Strategies

·         There were no specific comments on these three commissioning strategies. 

During consideration of the report, the following points were noted:

·         A report on Extra Care Housing was due to be considered by the Executive on 9 July 2019 (Specialist Adult Services Commissioning Strategy).

·         The County Council was seeking improved performance in relation to NHS health checks for all eligible adults and children Community Wellbeing Commissioning Strategy).

·         The local NHS was leading on the implementation of a carers portal and the Council was awaiting a launch date.  It was advised that the Council’s website currently linked to the Carers First website, as an interim measure.  It was anticipated that when the Council’s website was relaunched in September 2019 there would be a link from the website to the carers portal (Carers Commissioning Strategy).

·         It was clarified that on page 18 of the agenda pack under the heading Engagement Activity with Service Users and Carers, the word which should be replaced with wish (Specialist Adult Services Commissioning Strategy).

·         It was suggested that on page 18 of the agenda pack under the heading What are the Agreed “Outcomes” reference be made to the learning disability mortality review programme (Specialist Adult Services Commissioning Strategy).

·         It was emphasised that on page 23 of the agenda pack under the heading What are the Agreed “Outcomes” the third bullet point (“Ensuring people are asked what outcomes they want to achieve and respecting the right for adults to make unwise-decisions”) should be listed as the first bullet point, as it would thus prioritise the County Council’s customers (Safeguarding Commissioning Strategy).

·         It was requested that on page 28 of the agenda pack the opening sentence under the heading Existing Pooled Budget/Co-commissioning Arrangements (if any) be reworded so that it was clear that the figure of £231,875 related to the total cost of the service provided by the organisation Every-One and not to the cost of the Carers Quality Award (Carers Commissioning Strategy).

RESOLVED

That approval be given to the content of the commissioning strategies for the following areas:-

• Specialist Adult Services
• Safeguarding Adults
• Carers
• Adult Frailty and Long Term Conditions
• Community Wellbeing
• Public Protection

each in the form of the relevant highlight report, attached at Appendix A to the report.