Agenda item

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Dogus, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Wellbeing.

The Committee received written responses to the advanced questions raised (tabled) and Councillor Dilek Dogus, Cabinet Member for Adults Social Care & Wellbeing attended the meeting with Lisa Redfern (Assistant Director of Adult Services) and Margaret Allen (Assistant Director of Safeguarding & Strategic Services) to answer questions.

The Committee noted that the Service had worked hard to raise awareness of the new personalised care programme including holding events with service users as well as providers and suppliers and training and developing the workforce.  Some service users would be invited to join the monthly Transformation Board and officers were meeting with community and voluntary sector groups every 6 weeks to help monitor the programme.  The Council also facilitated User Reference Groups in order to obtain direct feedback.

The Committee expressed concern that day centres or other services could be closed as a result of the Government’s personalised care programme.  The Cabinet Member recognised this and stated that use of day centres would be monitored but emphasised that the programme existed to allow service users to control their care budgets and chose whether they wanted to use the centres. The personalised care programme was not compulsory and service users could opt for the Council to continue providing their services.

In response to concerns raised by the Committee the Assistant Director of Adults Services explained that the referral and assessment system would remain the same and if a service was required during the assessment process the Council would ensure that the service was provided.  An Integrated Access Team had been set up to direct those requiring Social Services access to the correct departments.

The Committee requested a briefing note on the differences between the Direct Payments scheme and the Personalised Care Programme including the implications for existing core services if the current 10% take-up figures increased and how this would be managed.

The Committee expressed concern that the minibus service for Winkfield Resource Centre would cease and noted that details had been part of the previous year’s pre-budget planning process.  These details and the alternative modes of transport offered would be circulated to Committee Members.

In response to the Committee’s concern about the 3% NHS budget surplus the Cabinet Member and officers explained that Council officers had regular meetings with senior NHS Haringey and Mental Health Trust officers to work together to align the commissioning of services and monitor the budget, however, the Council did not control the NHS budget.  The Committee requested to be circulated any response that the Council sends to the NHS once the budget had been clarified and that the Chair write to NHS London pointing out the Committee’s concerns of disparity in the budget setting.

The Committee highlighted concerns about delayed discharges from hospitals and Mental health units.  Officers explained that Council officers had daily teleconferencing and monthly performance meetings with all parties concerned with the discharging of patients but there were some delays due to a combination of health and local authority delays.   In relation to comments that some patients were being discharged without being given appropriate care plans officers explained that assessments were usually conducted by the Hospital Discharge Team while the patient was still in the Ward so that a social care package was ready by the time they were discharged. 

The Committee enquired as to whether social care services were disrupted recently due to the snow and were informed that officers had monitored services (including meals on wheels, home care as well as external agencies) several times a day and staff were ready to respond to any issues but there had been no problems.

The Assistant Director of Safeguarding & Strategic Services would provide more information on the local procurement strategy and how much of the procurement funds would be spent on local providers.

Regarding Annex 1 of the tabled document entitled Free Personal Care Consultation the Committee noted that the initiative would certainly leave a gap in funding, which was too late to build into the Council’s budget process.  When officers received further information on the implications of the Personal Care at Home Bill details would be circulated to Committee Members.  Meanwhile details of key milestones including the effects of free personal care and the personalisation programme on mainstream adults would be circulated to Members.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member briefing and responses to questions be noted.