Agenda and minutes

Adults, Wellbeing & Health Scrutiny & Improvement Committee - Monday, 2nd December, 2024 10.00 am

Venue: Redcar and Cleveland Civic Centre

Contact: Caroline Leng 

Items
No. Item

70.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2024 and to confirm the attendance matrix pdf icon PDF 112 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2024 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record and the attendance matric be noted.

71.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations on interest, noted.

72.

Community Mental Health Transformation - Footprints (TRUVE)

Minutes:

The Community Wellbeing Coordinator presented an update on the Community Wellbeing Partnership which is a multi-agency approach running over five years funded by the NHS England with the aim of improving the lives of people with ill mental health and the way they’re supported in their local communities.

 

Areas highlighted within the report included:

·       The programme aim was to reach out to areas within communities that were previously unserved and to break down barriers to accessing services.

·       The intention was to provide choices to residents to allow them to choose between support within the community as well as via specialist NHS services.

·       Footprints in the Community were leading a partnership of voluntary sector organisations across Redcar and Cleveland including The Link Charitable Trust and Teesside Mind enabling additional resources and capacity within services.

·       This service used referral criteria, there were two referral pathways and other voluntary services will join the community in the near future.

·       East Cleveland area was highlighted to be lacking services historically, therefore pop-up hubs will commence from January 2025 starting in Loftus.

·       The service was a new way of working funded by the NHS to reduce waiting lists for adult’s mental health services.  The initiative had seen many adults with mental health issues served quicker within their communities.

 

As part of the ensuing discussion the following questions/comments were made:

·       A Member queried how the service would break down barriers and address negative stigmas around accessing mental health services.  Members were advised that the service would focus on wellbeing rather than mental health whilst listening and responding to community issues.

·       A Member asked what focus and actions are taking place for people aged between 18-25 years old who left Children’s services but were on long waiting lists to access support via adult’s services.  Members were advised this was not a focus, but it is on the radar of the service for future discussions.

·       A Member queried if once a resident had been sign posted to a service, for example to contact their GP, would the resident’s case and support be closed.  Members were advised that due to the service being a multiagency approach, all referrals go through a central huddle.  This ensured the support each resident received is tracked, they are also offered additional support for example to make a phone call or to access appointments and the service proactively made follow up calls.

·       A Member asked if social prescribers and GP surgeries were actively participating within the initiative.  Members were advised that social prescribers were actively involved, and GP Surgeries were being introduced on a phased basis.

 

It was RECOMMENDED that the information in the presentation be noted.

73.

Fees and Charges 2025/26

Minutes:

The Executive Director informed Members that Fees and Charges were reviewed within the Budget Task and Finish Group.  The discretionary fees which the Council can set at any value would be increased for 2024-25 by 10% across the board to contribute to the overall full cost recovery strategy.  The statutory fees are set by national government and cannot be changed.

 

Areas highlighted within the report included:

·       Members were informed about a new national government on the spot fine of £200 for illegally selling vapes.

 

It was RECOMMENDED that the information in the report be noted.

74.

Scrutiny Review of Paid Carers Presentation pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Minutes:

The Assistant Director for Commissioning and Social Care Resources

presented an update on Paid Carers informing Members what work and support is currently undertaken to allow Members to recommend lines of enquiry for Scrutiny.

 

Areas highlighted within the report included:

·       What is a paid carer and who they support?

·       The importance of the role and what it takes to become a good carer worker.

·       How to become a paid care worker and career opportunities.

·       Workforce statistics and support packages with their employers.

·       AngloAmerican funding which produced an ‘are you the caring kind?’ campaign and booklet.

 

As part of the ensuing discussion the following questions/comments were made:

·       A Member gave feedback from speaking to a social care worker about a typical day and their workload.  Concerns were raised regarding workload, appointments, travel times, lack of breaks/lunch and not enough allocated time for administrative tasks.  Members further queried if feedback from employers was accurate.  Members were advise that care workers should be paid for travel and given sufficient time to travel between appointments and Officers would take away this information and investigate further.

·       A member queried feedback from a care company who stated they could offer better job security for staff if commissioned contracts were longer.  Members were advised that contract rules stipulated the Council cannot issue contracts longer than 6 years to providers alongside consideration of care rules and regulations.  Long term contracts would not always meet future needs assessments due to the needs of individuals changing. 

·       Members queried whether Scrutiny could review:

o   Lone and late working risks.

o   Rewards, compensations, wages and incentives.

o   Training including basic training, advanced training, decision making and support for workers where English was not their first language.

o   How to raise the profile and career opportunities.

o   Additional quality assurance and spot checks of commissioned providers.

·       Members were informed that a Care Quality assessor has been appointed for 2 years with funding approved for a further 12 months to work with providers to increase quality of care.

 

It was RECOMMENDED that:

1.     The information in the presentation be noted,

2.     The following areas be lines of enquiry for the scrutiny review of paid carers:

a.     Provision in East Cleveland.

b.     Raising the profile of paid carers.

c.     Training and monitoring of standards.

d.     Cost of employment for care companies alongside cost of living rises.

e.     Paid carers voices.

 

75.

Transitional Arrangements T&F update

Minutes:

The Chair of the Transitional Arrangements Task and Finish Group informed Members that the group received information from the Chair of the Parents and Carers Forum including analysis from a survey of parents and carers.  The Assistant Director for Adult Social Care informed Members that the group reviewed current procedures with Adult’s and Children’s Services and the following areas would be explored and presented at the next meeting in January 2025:

·       Sharing data from Children’s services at an earlier age (around 14 years old) to better inform Adult’s to plan future commissioned services.

·       To review information available online and the potential of creating an all through A to Z guide of services including an FAQs section.

·       To survey parents and carers voice.

 

It was RECOMMENDED that:

1.     The information in the presentation be noted; and,

2.     Updates be brought back to the next meeting.

76.

Quarter 2 Performance Data Reports pdf icon PDF 1 MB

a.     Operations

b.     Commissioning

c.     Public Health

d.     Growth & Enterprise

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Directors in Adult’s Social Care presented the quarter two performance data relating to Operations and Commissioning to Members.

 

As part of the ensuing discussion the following questions/comments were made:

·       A Member queried the table stating the directorate ‘was not meeting its statutory duty.  Members were informed that was a risk factor and not an actual issue/action.

·       Members noted the local and national issue regarding the number of social worker vacancies and the difficulties to recruit.

·       A Member congratulated officers on the restoration of a disused health centre which was converted into accommodation to care for residents locally and support economic regeneration.

·       A Member queried if Officers engage with Health Watch and ensure that carers feel heard.  Officers would take his away as an action.

 

The Service Manager for Vulnerabilities and Public Health presented the Public Health quarter two performance data.  Members were informed of a new way of working with vulnerable people by the Changing Futures Team who ensured no ‘case’ is closed and residents are supported with different ways of working for example, an elderly resident who attended A&E regularly was contacted and it transpired they were lonely, therefore the team found a different way to support them with local community activities and support.

 

As part of the ensuing discussion the following questions/comments were made:

·       A Member questioned if there were contingency plans for HPV Vaccinations catch up sessions in schools when students missed their appointments and how many beds were available to Redcar and Cleveland residents within the substance misuse centre.  Members were informed that there were 14 beds available in the substance misuse centre there were no catch up sessions available for the HPV Vaccination and the young person would have to wait until the following year when the service returned to their school.

·       A Member queried what support is available for young people with regards to social media and screen time which are affecting mental health of young people significantly.  Members were advised that this service provides intervention for 17 year olds and there is currently a pilot to support them in different ways.

 

At this juncture the Chair requested an extension to the meeting on 30 minutes.  Members RESOLVED to extend the meeting by 30 minutes.

 

The Assistant Director for Growth and Enterprise presented the quarter two performance data for Health Protection and Healthcare Quality informing members that the government gave local a new authorities oversight of Funeral Directors.  It was requested by government that inspections took place in all local areas and the outcomes were that all funeral directors were performing to approved standards.

 

As part of the ensuing discussion the following questions/comments were made:

·       A Member queried where residents can access water quality information.  Members were advise that the Environment Agency monitor and sample water quality in accordance to government guidelines and framework.

·       Members were informed that quality assurance standards of care homes was under review by the government.

·       A Member asked what powers the local authority had with regards  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

77.

CQC Assurance Visit Update pdf icon PDF 508 KB

Minutes:

The Executive Directors gave an update from the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) Assurance Inspection and gave the following highlights to Members:

·       The Health and Care Act 2022 reintroduced external assurance.

·       There is a single assessment framework consists of:

o   Five key questions, is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

o   Four-point ratings scale of, outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.

·       The process of the assessment and how information will be gathered to inform judgements was shared.

·       Members were informed what the likely positives and negatives would be from initial feedback however, it is unknown what weighting will be allocated to each judgement.

·       The final report will be published around March/April 2025.

 

It was RECOMMENDED that the information in the presentation be noted.

78.

Health Partnerships Update

Minutes:

There were no further updates over and above the performance data update in agenda item 8; noted.

79.

Defibrillators Update pdf icon PDF 242 KB

Minutes:

Members were informed that the issue of unregistered and unmaintained defibrillators first came to light at Lingdale Youth Centre.  The issue had since been resolved by Councillor funding and Parish Council maintenance.  However it was brought to light that other defibrillators were not registered or maintained either on Council buildings or other non-Council buildings within the Borough.  

 

As part of the ensuing discussion the following comments/queries were raised:

·       Members raised concerns regarding residents not knowing which defibrillators work and do not work in a life threatening situation.

·       Members noted there were locations not included within the information presented, therefore raised further concerns about registration and maintenance.  Members were reminded that they could feed into the audit to inform Officers of locations currently unknown to the Council.

·       Members believed that any defibrillator attached to a Council building should be registered and maintained by the Council regardless of who initially paid for and attached the defibrillator to a Council building.

 

It was RECOMMENDED that:

1.     The information in the report be noted; and,

2.     A report go to Cabinet or back to Scrutiny regarding what actions the council are taking to ensure that all defibrillators attached to Council buildings are registered and maintained by the Council, and if not why not.

80.

Work Programme 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Minutes:

The Work Programme was presented to Members, noted.

81.

Outside Bodies Update pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Minutes:

The were no Outside Bodies Updates to Members, noted.

 

82.

Action Update pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Minutes:

The Action Updates were presented to Members, noted.

83.

Any Items the Chair Certifies as Urgent

Minutes:

There were no items certified as urgent by the Chair, noted.