To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Social Care Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 28 February 2011 and to note actions taken since that meeting.

(attached)

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Social Care, Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24 January 2011 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive from Members any declarations and the nature thereof in relation to:-

(a)    personal interests in any agenda item

(b)    personal and prejudicial interests in any agenda item

(c)     any political whip in relation to any agenda item.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

The Chairman informed the Committee that item 13 – Shared Services – patient flows from Acute hospitals to Central Bedfordshire would be taken as an urgent item and considered at the end of the agenda.

The Chairman informed the Committee that Cheryl Powell, Overview and Scrutiny Officer would no longer be working with the Committee.  The Committee thanked Cheryl for all of her work and support and wished her all the best for the future.

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

The Chairman announced that no petitions had been received for this meeting.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of part A4 of the Constitution.

The Chairman announced that no questions, statements or deputations had been received.

To consider any decision of the Executive referred to this Committee for review  in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.10 of Part D2.  

The Chairman announced that no call-ins had been referred to this Committee.

To consider any items referred to the Committee at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

The Chairman confirmed that no requests for agenda items had been received.

The Chairman requested an update from each Portfolio Holder in attendance be provided to the Committee.

Cllr Mrs Carole Hegley, Portfolio Holder for Social Care and Health informed the Committee that she had attended a meeting at the House of Commons which discussed the support for self funders.  The issue would be considered at a future Social Care, Health & Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Cllr Mrs Rita Drinkwater, Portfolio Holder for Housing informed the Committee that she had attended ICT training for residents at two of the Council’s facilities.  The residents had taken a very real interest.

To receive a presentation.

The Director of Social Care, Health and Housing gave a presentation to the Committee which provided a vision for Adult Social Care: Capable Communities and Active Citizens.

The presentation highlighted the power shift from the state to the citizen which included the rollout of personal budgets to all eligible citizens by 2013.  It was noted that Central Bedfordshire Council was currently at over 27%.

The Director explained in detail the seven principles listed below which were the basis for the vision:-

Prevention

Personalisation

Partnership

Purality

Protection

Productivity

People

The presentation was attached to the agenda.

The report sets out the financial position to the end of December 2010 and the latest forecast position

The Committee received and considered a report which set out the financial position to the end of December 2010 and the latest forecast position.  The Assistant Director Business & Performance informed the Committee that the overspend had reduced from Quarter 2 and stood at £0.204m.

Members were informed that during the 2010/11 budget setting process there had been no provision for 65+ demographics.  This had resulted in pressure in residential and home care due to the increased volumes and the complexity of the care required.

The Committee noted that Central Government had given £70m to the PCTs nationally and that Central Bedfordshire could be receiving up to £0.238m to help with seamless care for patients on discharge from hospitals and to prevent avoidable readmissions.  This would involve increasing the Council’s reablement service.

In response to a question the Assistant Director for Business and Performance confirmed that an outstanding housing invoice had been received and paid thus using the £0.095m underspend in the Housing Revenue Account.

The Committee considered a proposal that the Executive be asked to have the budget monitoring reports revisited to make them easier to understand and more clearly laid out.  It was noted that the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and People was in the process of reviewing the reports formatting issues.  It was agreed that the request be sent to the Executive.

RESOLVED

1.                  that the forecast outturn of 51.180m and projected £0.204m overspend is noted;

2.                  that further appropriate management actions being taken to bring the projected overspend back into balance are noted.

RECOMMENDATION TO THE EXECUTIVE

that the budget monitoring report and spreadsheets be reviewed to provide a simplified and more informative layout.

The report highlights the quarter three performance for Social Care, Health and Housing.

The Committee considered the Quarter 2 Performance Monitoring report for the Social Care, Health and Housing Directorate up to and including 31 December 2010.  The report had previously been considered by the Executive at the 15 March 2011 meeting.

The Director of Social Care, Health and Housing confirmed that there had been improvements since December.  It was noted that the software problems had been resolved and reporting had become more accurate and timely.

Social Care Indicators

NI136 – People supported to live independently (per 100,000 pop)

Members were informed that the people who had only been contacted once per year and who did not receive ongoing support had been removed from this indicator following a review.

NI130 – Clients receiving self directed support

Members were informed that as at the end of February the Year to date figure had been amended to 27.3% against a target of 30%.

NI135 – Carers receiving needs assessment or review and a specific carer’s service or advice and information

The published year to date figure was shown as 21.40% against a target of 30%.

D40 – Clients receiving a review

The Director of Social Care, Health and Housing informed the Committee that this figure continued to be low due to the refocusing of staff on assessments over reviews.  There was to be a separate review function for care homes.  It was noted that whilst this indicator was not a requirement, it would continue to be collected.

Housing Indicators

The Director of Social Care, Health and Housing informed the Committee that all of the housing indicators were performing well, which is good news, given the pressures on the area.

RESOLVED

that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the Social Care Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee draft work programme for 2010 – 2011 and the Executive Forward Plan for the period 1 February 2011 – 31 January 2012.

Members considered the Committee’s work programme and noted that the following item would be moved within the programme:-

Acquiring Community Health Services (formerly Acquiring Acute Services) would be moved to a summer meeting due to the amount of business to be considered at 13 June 2011 meeting.

RESOLVED

that the work programme as amended above be noted.

The report analysis the patient flows from acute hospitals into Central Bedfordshire between June and December 2010 and highlights the role of social care in managing these.

The Committee received and considered a report which provided an analysis of the patient flows from acute hospitals into Central Bedfordshire between June and December 2010 and highlights the role of social care in managing these.

The Task Force considered the patient discharge information from five of the surrounding hospitals, Luton & Dunstable (L&D), Bedford, Stoke Mandeville, Lister and Addenbrookes.  It was noted that the host council is responsible for patient discharges.  The L&D had a different arrangement due to when Luton separated it took its staff out and left the discharge arrangements for other patients to Bedfordshire County Council.  When the Unitaries were created it was agreed that Bedford, via a service level agreement, would manage the discharges at Central Bedfordshire.  This arrangement will continue with patient flows being monitored as part of the ongoing work of the Directorate.

It was noted that people could be discharged from hospital not only up until 7.00pm during the week but some hospitals are discharging over the weekend.  The Committee expressed concerns about the length of time patients had been left waiting to be discharged and hoped that this could be looked into in future.

It was noted that there were designated posts in both the Lister and the L&D hospitals.  Members were informed that arrangements would be strengthened in relation to Milton Keynes, Stoke Mandeville and Addenbrookes hospitals.

RESOLVED

that the Committee:-

(a)               noted the intention that the role of the current manager of the Central Bedfordshire Social Care Hospital Team will include an overview of all discharges from hospitals within Central Bedfordshire;

(b)              noted that the existing service level agreement with Bedford Borough for Bedford Hospital will be continued and that monitoring patient flow will be undertaken as part of the contract review;

(c)               noted the intention to make arrangements to designate posts that will be linked with Milton Keynes, Stoke Mandeville and Addenbrookes Hospitals;

(d)              noted the intention to strengthen closer alignment of Social Care services with Health to facilitate expedient and effective discharges from hospital.