Agenda item

(To receive a report by Gareth Maddison, Service Development Manager, and Claire McNally, Project Manager, which invites the Committee to consider the Market Position Statement 2020 – 2023)

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Gareth Maddison, Service Development Manager and Clair McNally, Project Manager, Service Development, to present their report which invited the Committee to consider and comment on the draft Adult Care and Community Wellbeing Market Position Statement (MPS) 2020-2023, prior to its final publication.

The Committee noted that market development was a statutory requirement for all local authorities following the implementation of the Care Act 2014.  Key to this was the development of an MPS, which should include the local authority's direction of travel, policy intent, key information and statistics on needs and demands and trends.  Detailed at Appendix A to the report was a copy of the final draft Adult Care and Community Wellbeing Market Position Statement 2020- 2023 for the Committee to consider.

In conclusion, the Committee was advised that an MPS was seen as good practice within the sector and that the document would aid in developing a care and support market in Lincolnshire which delivered a wide-range of sustainable high quality services.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following comments:

·       Overall, the Committee agreed that the MPS was a good document, easy to read and well presented.  A suggestion was made for statistical information to be presented earlier in the document, to highlight pressure and needs better;

·       That further consideration needed to be given to encourage innovative thinking, as had been done throughout the Covid-19 pandemic;

·       The need to encourage more young people into caring roles.  The Committee was advised that a key element of the Government White Paper related to workforce for social care and the need for a workforce strategy to help with recruitment and retention of staff within the care sector.  There was a recognition that to attract young people into such roles, a career structure was needed to be put in place;

·       Skills for Care estimates for staff turnover rates in Lincolnshire – The Committee noted that the Lincolnshire rate of 32.2% was similar to the regional estimate of 34.2%, and to the England rate of 31.9%.  Further details of how Lincolnshire was planning to develop and build workforce capacity were provided on page 26 of the report;

·       One member highlighted the very important role carers provided and the work carried out by LinCA (the Lincolnshire Care Association).  The Committee noted that Lincoln College had started a course in care work, in conjunction with LinCA for young people interested in choosing care as a career.  It was noted further that this was one of  a few courses in the country;

·       The impact of Brexit on the caring profession.  The Committee noted that Lincolnshire had not seen much impact of Brexit, which might be as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, as 2020 had not been a normal year within the sector; 

·       Whether expectations of the Direct Support Service had been met.  Page 30 of the report provided details of the current contracting arrangements and service provision;

·       Demographics - The Committee noted that the trend for an ageing population (over 65) was set to continue and further information was provided in Figure 3 on page 23 of the report pack;

·       Figure 7 on page 37 of the report provided information comparing residential home occupancy verses self-funded.    It was reported that there had been a reduction in the number of private places, as people were choosing to stay in their own home, cared for by relatives.  It was noted that Covid-19 had accelerated a decline in occupancy levels, which had previously been projected to take place over a number of years, as a result providers were having to adapt their business and continuity plans;

·       Disability Provision – The Committee noted that Adult Care and Community Wellbeing was committed to promoting the independence of adults with learning difficulties; and that the introduction of the integrated health and social care budgets had enabled this vision to materialise;

·       Page 26 greater use of the right technology.  It was highlighted that access to digital technology sometimes caused issues for users, in a rural county such as Lincolnshire.  Reassurance was given that more initiatives would be coming forward, that had been captured from recent learning from Covid-19, which would help shape future support; and

·       Quality of Service – The Committee noted that the customer experience surveys referred to on page 34 of the report pack related to Lincolnshire County Council funded customers.

RESOLVED

That the comments raised above be taken into account in the finalisation of the Adult Care and Community Wellbeing Market Position Statement 2020-2023.