Issue - meetings

[Report of the Deputy Chief Executive.To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing]Consultation has been taking place, from 3^rd July – 1^st October, on proposals which affect Adult Social Care services. This report presents to Cabinet the feedback from consultation and other engagement with stakeholders and asks for decisions on the proposals.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing introduced the report which set out proposals for, a number of current adult services to either change or close to enable best use of limited resources to create a more sustainable adult social care system in Haringey to deliver the best care possible for residents.

The changes would help to create an adult social care system in Haringey that does more to promote and support individual independence, dignity and choice. It will see some care shifted away from institutions, giving more people the opportunity to live healthily in their own homes and communities for longer.

The reduced budget of the Council was making the continuation of current Adult Services unsustainable. The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing further outlined factors for the changes to provision at Osborne Grove, Haynes and Ermine road Centres and closures to day care services at the Haven, Roundways, Grange, Linden Road, Birkbeck Road, and Always Centre. This concerned changes to demographics, rising demand for services and changes to Government funding formulas which will see less funding for adult social care given to Councils in London.

These new proposals had been developed keeping in mind the responsibilities of the Council under the Care Act, and their increased role and responsibility for the broader social care market. A set of principles and values had been developed that the Council will be clear on which the services built and commissioned would be held to, and monitored against through contract management

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing reiterated that the Council were fully committed to safeguarding adults at risk, meeting statutory responsibilities and continuing to provide services that meet the assessed needs of adults. The Adult’s Service would be working with service users and their families and carers in the design of services going forward. There was continuing work into co –production and co design of Adult Services and the outcomes that would be focused on, this was set out from page 19 of the agenda pack.

Responses to the consultation had been fully set out in appendix 1 of the agenda pack along with actions to mitigate against the risks identified and summaries included of the financial position which would all be taken into account by the Cabinet.

The later budget monitoring report further exposed how continuing overspend by the Adult Services, in its current form, could not be sustained due to demographic change and increase in demand.

The Cabinet Member spoke of the depth of consultation undertaken  which had started late last year with consultation as part of the budget process , continuing with a further 3 month consultation between July and October before papers were brought forward to Cabinet.

Cabinet Members put forward the following questions which were responded to by the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.

·         Councillor Arthur continued to ask a question about the risks of alternative provision. In particular, the new provision for users of the Haynes and ensuring the right provider was chosen  ...  view the full minutes text for item 108