The
Committee received a brief overview of the Cabinet Member Portfolio
for Health and Adult Services and noted the on-going budget
challenges, the focus on safeguarding, quality assurance and the
development of the Health and Wellbeing Board.
NOTED
in response to comments and questions from the
Committee:
- Officers recognised
that the Alexandra Road Crisis Unit was a valued service but given
that the NHS were 60% funders of the
service and had made a decision to de-commission this service
(01.12.2011) and funding will cease 31.12.2011; and the withdrawal of the Area Based Grant Adult
& Community Services did not have
the level of ongoing funding and the HESP (Haringey Enterprise
Strategic Partnership) efficiencies they have been
required to make, Adults cannot take
over the total funding of this unit.
- The Committee’s
concerns about the uncertainty of commissioning in the future and
what powers Adult Services will have were acknowledged. Links between Councillors and GPs were
strong.
- 37% (1211) of
Haringey service users were receiving personalised budgets to
manage their care and required performance is on
target. The customer satisfaction rate
was good. Some personalised budget users required additional
support and individuals were still able to chose to have their
budgets managed by the Council should they want this.
- The Chair expressed
thanks to the Head of Provider Services for his work around
maintaining services at various day centres further to engagement
with local service users.
- Two drop-in services
at Abyssinia Court and Woodside Park remained no longer funded by
the Council and run by Members with assistance from the Head of
Provider Services in conjunction with Age UK. The Committee asked for reassurances that those in
need were accessing such services.
Officers explained that before provisions were closed an audit of
all service users was conducted and service users were referred and
signposted to alternative services.
- The membership and
role of the Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board was expected to be
clarified in the following months and the Committee emphasised the
need for transparency and keeping the Voluntary Sector and
providers up to date on the Board’s commissioning
decisions.
- Work was being
carried out to encourage mental health users back into education,
training or employment and local businesses were involved in
creating jobs but there was a need to look further than the borough
due to competition in the employment market.
RESOLVED that the following actions be
requested:
The
Committee asked for an update in one year of how the Council has
found working with the Whittington Health organisation.
(Action No. 80.1)
It was
suggested that the Personalised Budget Forum be used as a resource
for feedback and advice on the Personalised Budget pilot. Lisa
Redfern agreed to check with Graham Day (Chair of the Haringey
Forum for Older People) and then circulate his email address to
members. (Action No.
80.2)
A short
briefing on the current status of the Shadow Health and Wellbeing
Board would be circulated. (Action No. 80.3)
A list
of current and on-going public consultations and engagement on
Haringey’s health and social care services would be
circulated to the Committee. (Action No. 80.4)A
web-link to Partnership Boards minutes would be circulated to the
Committee. (Action No. 80.5)