Agenda item

This paper informs Members of the principles and methodology that will support the consultation and co-production processes.

Cllr Peter Morton, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, informed the panel that throughout the consultation for the Medium Term Financial Strategy (2015-2018), he had given a commitment to come back to service users and carers to consult on any detailed proposals for adult care services. 

Cllr Morton commented that the current model for adult social care in Haringey did not do enough to prevent care and support needs escalating, and was unsustainable in the long-term. It was noted that in 2014/15, for every £3 the council spent, £1 went on adult social care. The panel was informed that while demand for services continued to rise, the money available to fund them had reduced. Cllr Morton advised that on 16 June 2015 Cabinet had agreed to carry out specific consultation and further engagement with residents and partners on issues including:

-       Increasing the Council’s capacity to deliver re-ablement and intermediate care service;

-       Increasing the Council’s capacity to provide Supported Living Accommodation and Shared Lives schemes;

-       Increasing the availability and flexibility of specialist services within the borough meeting the individual needs of residents.      

Beverley Tarka, Interim Director of Adult Social Services, explained that the consultation process would commence on 29 June 2015 and close after 90 days, reporting back to Cabinet in November 2015. The panel was informed that this process would be an opportunity to: (a) explain in detail specific proposals and the likely impact of the service offer and (b) seek views and understand concerns about how to shape and implement services for the future.

During the discussion, reference was made to the following:

-       Lessons that had been learnt from the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Corporate Plan (2015-2018) consultation period.

-       Ensuring information provided to service users and carers was accessible and provided in accessible formats.

-       The Council’s statutory responsibilities to provide services to meet the assessed needs of adults.

-       The Council’s commitment to safeguard adults at risk and commitment to work with service users and their families and carers in the design of services.

-       Equality Impact Assessments that had been undertaken as part of the proposals for the Medium Term Financial Strategy (2015-2018). It was noted that these would be reviewed, updated and monitored.

-       Risks, and concerns, associated with the transfer of social care services to social enterprises and ensuring any risks were managed.

-       The importance of gathering information / insight on how social enterprises had been used to deliver health and social care in other parts of the country to ensure Haringey could benefit from any lessons learned.

-       The implications of the Public Services (Social Value) Act (2012).

-       The importance of contract monitoring and quality assurance when  commissioning services.   

In response to questions, Charlotte Pomery, Assistant Director Commissioning, informed the panel that the Council had set aside £20,000 for independent advocacy to help support individuals and carers to understand the proposals and ensure they could fully take part in the consultation process. The panel discussed the schedule of consultation meetings and it was agreed that once finalised this should be circulated to panel members. Anne Carswell, Interim Programme Manager, informed the panel that workshops and feedback sessions would be made available for users of the affected services, as well as their carers. It was noted that these sessions would be made available within the affected day centres and residential homes across the borough to ensure accessibility to all key stakeholders.

Ms Pomery informed the panel that independent facilitation would support service users and carers in the co design of new models for Older People dementia day opportunities, Learning disability day opportunities and alternative support for Linden residents. The co-production principles, outlined  below, were noted by the panel:

-       Improving outcomes for residents;

-       Transparency about parameters;

-       Respect for others’ perspectives;

-       Ability to test ideas and thinking;

-       Trust and understanding;

-       Space to acknowledge the challenge of working differently;

-       Advocacy for users;

-       Willingness to think through ideas and to change our minds, within the parameters; and

-       Steadfast adherence to the values and principles of the Corporate plan  

The panel was informed that a report on the co-production activity and outcomes would be provided as an appendix to the November (2015) Cabinet report. In addition, the panel agreed that an update on how the consultation and co-production process had been conducted, in relation to proposed changes to adult care services, should be prioritised in the panel’s future work programme (for October 2015). 

In response to questions, following a ruling by the Supreme Court in 2014 that Haringey’s consultation on its Council Tax Reduction Scheme had been unlawful, Ms Tarka explained that the documents, to be used during the consultation and co-production process for proposed changes to adult care services, had been agreed with legal services and independently verified by a barrister.       

AGREED:

1.    That the principles and methodology to support the consultation and co-production process for proposed changes to adult care services, outlined in the report, be noted.

2.    That an update on how the consultation and co-production process had been conducted, in relation to proposed changes to adult care services, be prioritised in the panel’s future work programme (for October 2015) and discussed further under item 11 on the agenda – Work Programme Development.

3.    That, once finalised, a copy of the schedule of consultation meetings with independent advocates be circulated to members of the panel.