Cllr Sarah
James, Cabinet Member for Adults & Health, addressed the panel
noting that she had only been in the post for a very short time but
had received some very useful briefings from officers, had met with
social care groups and had various meetings in the diary including
with the CCG and with the Chair of Healthwatch, Sharon Grant.
Cllr James,
Beverley Tarka, Director of Adults & Health, and Charlotte
Pomery, Assistant Director for Commissioning, responded to
questions from the Panel:
- Cllr James
confirmed that she would be happy to visit Osborne Grove Nursing
Home soon. Beverley Tarka said that the 2018/19 budget for Osborne
Grove was just over £1m but there is a projected overspend of
£700k, so a total projected spend of £1.7m. On reducing
staffing costs based on the low number of current residents,
Beverley Tarka said that the Council’s primary aim is to
safeguard the residents and provide quality care. There are plans
to consolidate the residents into one unit within Osborne Grove, as
they are currently situated over three levels. This will enable
greater management oversight and the staffing ratio is being
assessed. On whether residents might receive better care by being
moved elsewhere, Cllr James reiterated that the Cabinet had
previously committed to retain Osborne Grove for the remaining
residents and that this remains unchanged. The consolidation into
one unit should help to alleviate immediate issues and work is
ongoing with the co-design group over the redevelopment. Charlotte
Pomery said that a design team had been appointed to carry out a
feasibility study and is due to meet the co-design group on
5th Feb. In relation to a query from the OSC on their
fire safety review, it was confirmed that residents in Osborne
Grove are currently located on different floors, hence the move to
consolidate residents into one unit on the ground floor. Cllr
Connor said that she would pass this information to OSC (Action – Cllr Connor).
- Cllr James
confirmed that there has been one meeting of the Adults &
Social Care Review so far and that the terms of reference have been
agreed. On the three day centres that could potentially be brought
back into use (Haven/Roundway/Woodside)
Charlotte Pomery there had been no change in the position since the
budget scrutiny meeting. No decision has been taken on the
providers, how large the units would be or the range of services
that would be available but the aim would be to bring the units
back into use and bring service users that were currently having to
travel out of borough back into Haringey. The approach on these
matters generally had been one of co-design so officers would work
with a group of stakeholders. Cllr James said that there would be
up to four Councillors involved in this process but it
shouldn’t be Councillor dominated as it would be important to
also include carers, services users and other
stakeholders.
- Beverley
Tarka and John Everson said that anyone subject to a care
assessment can receive a copy of the care assessment and the
outcomes that have been mutually agreed. Any concerns could be
escalated as appropriate.