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 would be set up to allow members to understand the assistive technology available to inform conversations around the prevention strategy.

Members were advised that the slides of the presentation would be circulated after the meeting.

RECOMMENDED:

To set up a Task and Finish Group to look at the prevention strategy and demand management.