Agenda item

a)    Introduction from Councillor Michael Harrison: Portfolio Holder

b)    Presentation from Richard Webb, Corporate Director for Health and Adult Services

Considered – A presentation on Health and Adult Social Care performance.

The Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Michael Harrison introduced the presentation providing an overview of the scale of the Directorate and what it covered.

Richard Webb, Corporate Director for Health & Adult Services went on to provide his annual state of the nation update which provided an overview of:

·          The leadership team;

·          The scale of the Directorate and its four main roles i.e. Public Health, Adult Social Care, Supported Housing and working with the NHS;

·          500+ Commissioned Services

·          The significant in-house provision of social care and smaller scale in public health;

·          The make-up of primary care across the county i.e. the seven NHS Trusts and integrated Care Board

·          The HAS 2025 Plan and its 3 priorities i.e. ‘Opportunities for everyone, everywhere’, ‘My time and experience are valued’, and ‘My home, my community, my choice’;

·          The current issues i.e. budget and demand pressures, migration and social care, the outcome of Adult Social Care Assurance, the refurbishment/ replacement of 3 remaining council run care homes, the long term plan for social care reform, supporting the SEND generation into adulthood, and future pandemics/outbreaks;

·          The current financial position and the action plan underway to mitigate cot pressure risks and deliver the necessary MTFS savings;

·          Operational pressures in ASC and the care market, and areas for improvement; 

·          The position in regard to NHS Health Checks, Public Health healthcare, adult weight management, smoking cessation services, sexual health services and substance use;

·          The three main priorities for Public health i.e. ‘Best Start in life’, ‘Getting people moving more’, and ‘Healthy ageing’;

·          The seven main priorities for ASC i.e. ‘Direct payments’, ‘Carers’, ‘Home First’, ‘Waiting well’, ‘Reviews’, ‘Reablement’, ‘People with complex life’, and ‘Circumstances’;

·          Recruitment – a significantly improved picture in terms of vacant posts across key frontline services during 2023/24;

·          The work of the Quality Team;

·          Customer involvement, including the development of guidance and a toolkit;

·          Assurance and inspection – CQC ASC Assurance expected in next two years, and Public Health peer review in 2025;

·          The three phases of a recent Peer Review undertaken in preparation for the expected CQC Inspection – an overview of the draft findings to be presented at the committee’s next meeting;

·          Delivery Plans for ASC and in Public Health up to 2027 and beyond;

·          The 10 steps for Public Health and Social Care reform

·          The year ahead i.e. getting the basics right, transformation and foundations e.g. structural changes, ASC Assurance and evaluation and learning;

Members noted the update and raised the following:

·          The savings made through switching from residential care to home care and the need to be careful to ensure no unintended consequences;

·          Issues around short stay placements;

·          The reduction in living well referrals, thought to be as a result of the pandemic;

·          The need for a pre-planned approach to reablement following elective surgery;

They also requested a more detailed update on substance use.

The Chair thanked Cllr Harrison and Richard Webb for the update, and it was

Resolved – That

i.          The performance update be noted;

ii.          A detailed update on Substance Use be provided at the next meeting