Agenda item

[Report of the Director of Adults and Health. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Adults and Health.]

This report provides a response to implementing the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendations on day opportunities and community provision in Haringey.

Councillor Connor introduced this item on the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel’s in-depth piece of work regarding day care opportunities and community provision in Haringey. Following the review, a number of recommendations were made to Overview and Scrutiny Committee. This report provided a response to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendations

Councillor Connor detailed the background to the scrutiny panel review and highlighted the following information:

• The review was undertaken at an important time during the Council’s refresh of the day care offer, with the Adult Social Care Redesign Group reviewing the day care opportunities in Haringey. The review was therefore able to be proactive and address a number of key stakeholders, such as service users, care users and relatives.
• Thanked those who contributed towards the findings of the review, including the staff who ran the day care opportunities, the volunteer groups who provided regular support events, and the relatives and carers for participating in the review.
• Praised the expansion of the services for those with learning disabilities and autism. The Councillor also praised the background staff who worked in out of borough services and highlighted ensuring the right people and organisations ran these services who had the skills and experience to enhance the lives of Haringey’s service users.
• The east of the Borough must also be provided with excellent day care services, such as those seen in the west of the Borough.
• Transport became a significant topic during the review with it being frequently discussed by services users.
• Communication and knowledge were identified as key areas of concern by services users, their carers and relatives with it not being widely known what loved ones were entitled to. The use of a guide was promoted by the Councillor to encourage wider distribution of the requisite knowledge for those with loved ones entitled to such services.
• Thanked the Haringey’s Over 50s Group for creating a number of useful leaflets. Those had been circulated to councillors.
• Welcomed the implementation of the accepted recommendations.

The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health provided a response to implementing the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendations.

The Cabinet Member welcomed the report and noted that most of the recommendations were accepted. The issues raised from the Scrutiny Panel Review would form part of the work of the Adult Social Care Redesign Group, in particular, the Day Care Opportunities Group. It was anticipated that two centres would open in April 2020 which would provide specialist care to those with autism and learning disabilities. The Council was also increasing the amount of supported living accommodation for specialist groups. The importance of co-design and collaboration was stressed as being integral to the success of these services, with Mulberry Centre used as an example of co-design used successfully.

Regarding access to information, the Cabinet Member noted the comments of the Scrutiny Review Panel and praised the Haringey Over 50s leaflets. The Bridge Renewal Trust’s website was also recommended as a valuable source of information.

RESOLVED

To agree the response to the recommendations of the Review of Day opportunities and community provision, carried out by Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel and endorsed by Overview and Scrutiny Committee at appendix 1.

Reasons for decision

There is a duty on Cabinet to respond to a report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee – and in any event, the provision of day opportunities and access to a strong community offer are both important issues for local residents, contributing to improved health and wellbeing.

Alternative options considered

There is a duty on Cabinet to respond to a report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and therefore no alternative option was considered.