Agenda item

This item provides information on the methodology which has supported Consultation and Co production for proposed changes to adult care services.

The Chair informed the panel that the aim of the item was to consider the way in which the consultation and co production processes had been carried out in relation to proposed changes to adult care services.

Cllr Peter Morton, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, introduced the item and provided a summary of the methodology that had supported the consultation and co production for proposed changes to adult care services. The panel was informed that the Council had not yet made a decision on the proposals and that no decision would be made until a report was presented to Cabinet on 10 November 2015. 

The panel was informed the purpose of the consultation, that commenced on 3July 2015 and ended on 1 October 2015, was to (a) explain specific proposals and the likely impact on the service offer, and to (b) seek views and to understand concerns on how to shape and implement services for the future.  

Cllr Morton explained that throughout the consultation it had been made clear that the Council would continue to meet statutory responsibilities to provide services that meet the assessed needs of adults, to safeguard adults at risk and would work with service users and their families and carers to design future services. It was noted that independent advocacy had been supplied to people who used services and that specific workshops and focus groups had been held for users and carers. Cllr Morton advised the panel that he would continue to work with service users, carers and other stakeholders to design services fit for the future.

Beverley Tarka, Director of Adult Social Services, advised the panel that:

-       Consultation documents had been issued to 270 service users, and to carers of service users.

-       530 posters and flyers had been issued to libraries and GP surgeries.

-       A press release had been issued to promote the consultation.

-       An ongoing social media campaign had been used to direct people to the consultation.

-       A frequently asked questions document, and an easy read consultation, had been produced.

-       Staff briefings and newsletters had been prepared to inform staff.

-       Feedback received during the consultation for the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Corporate Plan had been used to ensure key stakeholders were empowered to respond to the consultation. 

Charlotte Pomery, Assistant Director Commissioning, explained that the consultation and co production processes had ran concurrently. It was noted that co production was concerned with engaging service users and carers in defining the outcomes they wanted to achieve and provided opportunities to explore how outcomes could be met. The panel was informed of Care Act Statutory Guidance and also the principles and process that would be used for co production in Haringey.

The panel was informed that engagement experts Good Innovation had been working with the Council to deliver a series of workshops looking at new ways to deliver adult care and support for the future. Andrew Bathgate and Tania Ferreira, both from Good Innovation, explained that they had been working on co production projects that had considered potential new delivery models for day opportunities for those with dementia and transition support for those moving from residential care to supported living. Issues in relation to audience insight and co-creation were considered.

During the discussion, reference was made to the following:

-       The consultation process in relation to Proposal 1: To increase the council’s capacity to deliver re-ablement and intermediate care services.

-       The consultation process in relation to Proposal 2: Increasing our capacity to provide suitable accommodation that promotes individual well being through expanding Supported Living Accommodation AND Shared Lives Scheme. 

-       The consultation process in relation to Proposal 3:Increase the flexibility and availability of day services within the borough.

-       The mapping of future adult care services.

-       Personal budgets and direct payments.

-       Transitional arrangements.

-       The feedback that had been received by The Lewis and Mary Haynes Trust in relation to the proposals.

Following the discussion, the panel provided feedback to the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing on the methodology which had supported consultation and co production for proposed changes to adult care services.

This included the fact that the proposals for the future of adult social care in Haringey covered may complex issues; the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel noted the consultation process had provided many opportunities for engagement and feedback but were concerned that:

-       Service Users / Carers felt they could not always provide meaningful feedback to the process because they did not have enough information.

-       The consultation had been undertaken before alternative models of service provision had been developed. Without a clear understanding of these alternative models of provision, the panel felt that it would have been difficult for Service Users and Cares to give a meaningful response to what are complex issues.

The panel particularly noted:

-       The importance of clearly communicating the impact of the information gathered during the consultation process – i.e. what was changed as a result of acting upon the information gathered.

-       The importance of continuing dialogue with service users and carers about what happens once Cabinet has made its decision.

The panel raised concerns that running the consultation process and the co design process concurrently lead to confusion over the purpose of each process. For example, the Service users and Cares (who provided evidence to the meeting under the deputation item) noted that they had not fully understood the purpose of the co design meetings.

The following points were noted by the panel in relation to the ongoing co design process:

-       The importance of providing clarity on the role that Service Users and Carers will play in the re-design of services.

-       The importance of having input from as many service users and carers as possible.

AGREED:

(a)  That the feedback to the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, referred to above, be noted.

(b)  That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, at their meeting on 30 November 2015, be asked to consider and endorse the following recommendations:  

-       That Following the Cabinet decision on the 10th November 2015 a clear commitment should be made about the long term follow up of both service users and carers during any transition period and if services change, an in-depth review of how these changes were managed should be carried out and reported back to Cabinet.

-       That if any changes to services are decided on the 10 November 2015 (by Cabinet) then an appropriate review of safeguarding procedures for vulnerable adults should take place during any transition in service provision with feedback provided to all Councillors.

-       That in scrutinising the implementation of the recommendations being put to Cabinet on 10 November, the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel requests full access to, information provided to and decisions made by, the Transition Group (which provides scrutiny and challenge to the delivery of the Transformational proposals/plans and ongoing monitoring of quality and performance).