Agenda and minutes

Care and Independence Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 22nd June, 2023 10.00 am

Venue: County Hall

Contact: Christine Phillipson  01609 533887

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2023 pdf icon PDF 383 KB

Minutes:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2023 be taken as read and confirmed by the Chair as a correct record.

 

It was noted that at item 5 climate change training had been opened out for voluntary and community sector participation by Jill Quinn and has this been undertaken ?.

This will be followed up with Jill and an update given at the next meeting.

 

It was noted By Cllr Andy Brown that at agenda item 9 of the minutes performance measures were requested for review. It was confirmed that these are regularly reviewed by the Executive and were available for the Committee to review should they require.

 

 

2.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were none.

3.

Public Questions or Statements

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have delivered notice (to include the text of the question/statement) to Christine Phillipson of Democratic Services (contact details below) no later than midday on Monday 19th June. Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item.  Members of the public who have given notice will be invited to speak:-

 

·       at this point in the meeting if their questions/statements relate to matters which are not otherwise on the agenda (subject to an overall time limit of 30 minutes);

 

·       when the relevant agenda item is being considered if they wish to speak on a matter which is on the agenda for this meeting.

 

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chairman who will instruct those taking a recording to cease while you speak.

Minutes:

None were received.

4.

Chairman's Remarks - Correspondence, communication or other business brought forward by the direction of the Chairman of the Committee.

Minutes:

The Chair noted that as all information had been published in the agenda already presentations would cover this briefly therefore allowing more time for Members questions and discussion.

5.

Next Generation Extra Care - Update from Mike Rudd, Head of Housing, Technology & Sustainability, Prevention and Service Development, North Yorkshire Council. pdf icon PDF 1 MB

A revisit of Extra Care 12 months on and an update on progress and statement on ambition to see Extra Care in all key towns in 2023 from Mike Rudd, Head of Housing, Technology & Sustainability, Prevention and Service Development, and Rebecca Dukes, Strategic Service Development Manager, Extra Care and AT.

Minutes:

Considered – An Update from Mike Rudd, Head of Housing, Technology & Sustainability, Prevention and Service Development Beckie Dukes, Strategic Service Development Manager, North Yorkshire Council.

 

This covered the following main points;

·       Celebrating 20 years of extra care housing in North Yorkshire

·       What extra care is and how it is delivered across the County

·       How the programme works and how it varies depending on location

·       The Team and their success

·       Demand and financial implications

·       Extra care providers and the commissioning model

·       Community schemes to add value

·       The way forward

 

There then followed a discussion with the following points being raised;

 

Congratulations on the delivery of the 5 new schemes and the positive feedback from residents.

The suggestion of a site visit to Kirkwood Hall for Members in the near future.

How information on facilities and schemes can be distributed to rural areas.

Whether there was currently a higher demand than supply for extra care.

Commissioning an independent report to look at areas, catchment, data and statistics and trend information.

The scope of land required to build a new facility being 2-3 acres.

The challenge of rural planning and escalation of costs.

An ageing population in certain areas of the County.

 

Resolved –

 

1.     The Chair thanked Mike and Becky for their update and discussion.

2.     The possibility of a visit to Kirkwood Hall for the Committee be looked into.

 

 

 

6.

Digital Lives - Update from Mike Rudd, Head of Housing, Technology & Sustainability, Prevention and Service Development, North Yorkshire Council. pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Introduction to Technology enabled care, online care, financial assessment and brokerage, supporting and enhancing the experience of people and their independence in their own homes.

Mike Rudd,  Head of Housing, Technology & Sustainability, Rebecca Dukes, Strategic Service Development Manager-Extra Care and AT, Cath Ritchie, Business Relationship Manager and Claire Bell, Service Manager Technology Enabled Care.

 

Minutes:

Considered – A presentation from

Mike Rudd, Head of Housing, Technology & Sustainability

Cath Ritchie, Business Relationship Manager

Beckie Dukes, Strategic Service Development Manager

Claire Bell, Service Manager, Technology Enabled Care

 

Claire updated the Committee on the digital aspect within the Health and Adult Social Care Directorate covering, Technology and Transformation, Adult Social Care, Public Health and Stronger Communities.

Key points to note were;

 

·       The digital network and the vast areas this covers

·       Funding and strategy

·       Success in different forms, not simply computers

·       Getting the basics right

·       Proactive and preventative services

·       Examples of the services in use

 

The Committee were then introduced to some of the different types of digital assistance in use such as brain in hand, GPS tracking, GEO fence and Oysta.

 

There then followed a discussion which covered the following points;

 

Work with Sheffield University is successful and will ensure ethics are adhered to and prevent poor copies of digital items being re produced.

Consent and understanding from the individual or family is absolutely paramount and the utmost priority in the use of digital enablement.

How the survey results compare, are they improving and how many individuals are using the service and is there a waiting list?

There are approx. 1800 units in operation and no waiting list.

 

Resolved –

The Chair thanked the team for the presentation.

 

7.

Support for Unpaid Carers - Report from Cath Simms, Head of Targeted Prevention, Care and Support, Health and Adult Services, North Yorkshire Council. pdf icon PDF 538 KB

An overview item to help assess the support provided to adult carers of adults in North Yorkshire

Minutes:

Considered – Presentation from Cath Simms, Head of Targeted Prevention,  Care and Support.

 

Cath gave the Committee a presentation around the woek that North Yorkshire Council does to support unpaid carers. This focused on the Carers assessment and Support Plan, information and guidance and the different types of support available.

The number of unpaid carers in England and Wales is approx. 5 million, of which 53,723 are in North Yorkshire. Likely lines of enquiry by the Care Quality Commission were discussed and the priorities identified in an improvement plan, those being:

·       Leadership, Practice and Performance

·       Co – Production, engagement and strategy

·       Commissioned services for carers

 

There followed a discussion around the following points of issue:

Budget reductions being reflected in care packages

Are we aware of family members that don’t necessarily see themselves as carers  ?

How do we check on the wellbeing of the “looked after” person, how does safeguarding fit here ?

 

Resolved –

1.     The Committee is asked to note the report

2.     The Chair thanked Cath for the presentation and invited her to return to a future Committee meeting with an update.

8.

Direct Payments - Report from Cath Simms Head of Targeted Prevention, Care and Support and Toya Bastow, Team Manager, Direct Payments, Care and Support, North Yorkshire Council. pdf icon PDF 629 KB

A revisit on how North Yorkshire Council is ensuring that Direct Payments enable more choice and control over the support people receive and how their social care needs are met.

Minutes:

Considered – Presentation from Cath Simms, Head of Targeted Prevention,  Care and Support, and Toya Bastow, Team Manager Direct Payments, Health and Adult Services.

 

Toya gave an update to the Committee that covered:

·       What a direct payment is

·       Who can access these payments

·       How direct payments can be used

·       Comparative data with regional neighbours and England

·       The statistics in relation to North Yorkshire Councils position

·       Improvement plan to increase the uptake of direct payments

·       Some of the changes already made and other planned activities going forward

 

The Committee gave support in helping to raise awareness of direct payments and how the whole organisation can promote this.

 

Resolved – The Chair thanked Cath and Toya for the update and suggested they return to the Committee in the future with a further update.

 

9.

Living Well - Update report from Cath Simms, Head of Targeted Prevention, Care and Support, Health and Adult Services, North Yorkshire Council. pdf icon PDF 773 KB

An update on the service activity.

Minutes:

Considered – A presentation from Cath Simms, Head of Targeted Prevention on Living Well.

 

This reminded the Committee of the background to living well and the team having an overall aim of preventing reducing or delaying the need for social care.

Annual referrals continue to increase and now stand at 3930 for April22 to April23.

Cath covered the performance outcomes and key developments and gave a statistical summary of activity.

The Homes for Ukraine scheme (HFU)  continues to receive support  with 1287 arrivals since March 2022.

 

Priorities for the next 12 months are:

·       Domestic abuse

·       Falls

·       Community collaboration

·       Autism accreditation.

 

Resolved – The Chair thanked Cath for the update.

 

10.

An Overview of Housing - Verbal Update from Andrew Rowe, Assistant Director, Housing, North Yorkshire Council.

An introduction to Housing overall and how the Care, Independence and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee will determine their role within the Directorate.

Minutes:

Considered – Andrew Rowe, Assistant Director, gave a verbal update on Housing and how this now sits in the Community Development Directorate.

 

Andrew updated the Committee on the Council’s acquisition of 8.5k council homes following the cessation of the 7 District and Borough councils. Housing covers a number of aspects including:

·       Homelessness

·       Prevention and accommodation

·       Regulation of landlords

·       Houses of multiple occupation

·       Disabled facility grants

·       Retro fitting and energy efficiency

·       Enforcing standards.

 

Many of these areas are statutory and will receive scrutiny from Central Government.

 

The Committee then discussed in some detail their view on their remit and responsibility within Housing and that the Care and Independence responsibility did not suggest that all of the Housing remit would be covered by this one Committee.

This led to a discussion raising the following questions:

·       Where does it sit

·       What is the Committee’s remit?

·       How do we help the Directorate?

·       What are the requirements of the Committee?

 

The Committee is keen to help and make a difference. The Committee suggested that a recommendation is taken to the Executive that a separate Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee is created.

 

Resolved –

1.     Clarification is sought on the way forward and the remit of this Committee in relation to its housing responsibility.

2.     The Committee liaises with relevant Officers and/or Constitution Working Party to seek clarity on the remit of Housing within the Care and Independence Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 263 KB

Report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Considered – The Committee’s work programme.

  • The objective is to enable the Committee to review the work programme and make suggestions on areas of scrutiny for inclusion for the remainder of the year and prioritise accordingly.

 

The Committee discussed the work programme and as well as the items on the programme the following was suggested;

  • The possibility of the Member visit to Kirkwood Hall
  • Report presenters having relevant statistical and performance data to accompany their reports in future.

12.

Other business which the Chairman agrees should be considered as a matter of urgency because of special circumstances.

Minutes:

There was no further business.