Apologies had been received from Councillor Dan Morris (substituted by Councillor Joyce Barrow) and Sian Lines, Diocesan Board of Education.

Members are reminded that they must declare their disclosable pecuniary interests and other registrable or non-registrable interests in any matter being considered at the meeting as set out in Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct and consider if they should leave the room prior to the item being considered. Further advice can be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Councillor Ruth Houghton declared an interest as a trustee of a care provider for adults with learning difficulties.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 29 March 2023 and 11 May 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 29^th March 2023 and 11^th May 2023 be confirmed as an accurate record and be signed by the Chairman.

To receive any questions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14. Deadline for notification is not later than 5.00 pm on Thursday 7 July 2023.

There were no public questions.

To receive any questions from Members of the Council. Deadline for notification is not later than 5.00 pm on Thursday 7 July 2023.

There were no members’ questions.

To consider the development of the Council’s Market management approach and identify areas for further action or investigation by the committee, including informing other work programme topic investigations.  

Laura Tyler Shropshire Council Assistant Director Joint Commissioning Laura.Tyler@shropshire.gov.uk

Laura Tyler, Assistant Director Joint Commissioning gave a presentation to inform members of focus areas for managing the care market in line with The Care Act 2014.

Members were advised of the current challenges including increasing costs, ageing and rural nature of Shropshire, workforce and retention challenges, demand from the hospital, increase in complexity of clients, increasing number of contacts to social care, and an increase in need for mental health support.

The importance of ensuring that the market was inclusive and that services support those who want to access them was expressed, whilst trying to keep as many people in their homes as possible.

Members noted the following:

·       Children’s placements – Shropshire Council were keeping a close eye on performance and quality.

·       Learning disabilities and autism – there was an increase in allocation of numbers, with a high number being supported at home which was something to be proud of. There is further work to be completed to support these individuals, especially those with more complex behaviours. A request has been made for updated data based on the recent census which will feed into the market position statement.

·       Domiciliary care current position - Since March there has been a notable increase in market performance resulting in much improved figures for sourcing care packages. We are currently sourcing approx. 90% of all required POC compared to an average of 62% last year; since giving a 12% increase on the hourly rates. A focus will be put on the south west of the county due to rurality.

·       Care homes for people over 65 – there are challenges within the market due to costs and workforce pressure. Internal work is taking place on quality. Focus needs to be on ensuring the right capacity in the right place to support our ageing demographic.

·       Benchmarking rates –Shropshire is now paying the highest rate for domiciliary care across the West Midlands which is something to be proud of. Carers are paid well, and we are supporting our market.

·       Quality – It is really important that we are managing market and seeing good quality services. We need to do comparative work amongst the most similar statistic groups.

·       Ongoing pressures – the number of clients using individual service funds, short term residential and short term nursing were stabilising following a period of increased demand. A piece of work was being carried out to determine how many turn into long term placements. Work was also taking place to look at Shropshire Council rates and how it links into work around the fair cost of care.

·       Going forward there would be a focus on prevention and demand management, setting a clear market position statement, a review of supported living due to high costs, quality assurance, CQC assurance, joint commissioning for community equipment provision and workforce. 

Members were in agreement that the committee should set up a task and finish group which would concentrate on the prevention strategy and demand management alongside health colleagues. They noted that a briefing session  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To confirm the committees work programme for the coming 12-24 months and commission first investigation by the committee. (Attached)

Members noted that briefings would be drawn up through work programming sessions. The work programme, which would be more outcome focussed, would stay as a live document and will evolve throughout the year.

A meeting would be held in September/October to see what the committee has achieved and how perceptions of scrutiny have changed.

RESOLVED:

To confirm the work programme for the coming 12-24 months and commission first investigation by the committee.

To note that the next meeting of the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be held at 10am on Wednesday 15 November 2023.

Members noted that the next meeting of the People Overview and Scrutiny Meeting will be taking place on at 10am on Wednesday 15^th November 2023.