To consider the impact on the service user of the transformation of services.  A report is attached.

Contact:  Andy Begley, Head of Social Care Operations, 01743 252421

The Head of Social Care Efficiency and Improvement introduced a report, written by the Head of Social Care Operations, on the impact on the service user of the transformation of adult social care services (a copy is attached to the signed minutes). 

The report was accompanied by a presentation which covered:  the vision for the future of adult social care; the challenges faced; how the change process had begun; changing needs and expectations; the People2People and Step schemes; ways of being sure that what was being changed is working; how staff with specialist inputs had been brought together meet the needs of the patient; and feedback received from service users.

There was no longer the need to maintain a waiting list and 73% of cases were resolved by the time a call back was made, two weeks after the initial contact. Shropshire Council now spent less per case than any other Council and Care Homes in Shropshire had the fewest number of concerns raised with the CQC than any other county.

Following the presentation, Committee discussion and questions covered the shift of resources to the front end, the focus on reducing numbers going into residential care, with this becoming the least preferred option, and recent recruitment and increased numbers of Shared Lives carers.  Members felt that the Shared Lives was helpful to support people in rural areas and their local communities. 

Members who had visited the First Point of Contact reported on the excellent quality of service provided. 

Members felt it would be useful to see data on hospital discharges for months other than December, and particularly January, when there had been a huge surge of demand.  The Head of Service reported that January had been a particularly demanding month which had tested the system but that staff had risen to the challenge and had worked extremely hard over long hours.  Members also asked that data for a more ‘ordinary’ month be provided and that axis of charts be labelled clearly when information was presented in future.

Members asked about implementation of the Care Act on 1 April 2015.   Officers felt that the Council was as prepared as it was possible to be with staff trained appropriately.  However, changes to funding arrangements from April 2016 for the second implementation of the Care Act were still not clear, and a national consultation on finance was about to end with guidance expected around Autumn time.  It was not known how many self funders were approaching the threshold.  The Service Manager reported that assurance had been given at a recent Department of Health consultation event that these would be fully funded, but details were yet to be confirmed.

In response to questions from Members, the Head of Social Care Efficiency and Improvement reported that:

·       Recruitment of peer supporters was matching the demand for them

·       There had been concerns that resources were focused in Shrewsbury but work was underway developing the Let’s Talk model and services in rural areas

·       Learning was continuous and change implemented quickly where necessary

·       Commissioning of carer support services would take place later in the year and work was underway to get groups and businesses on board

A Member representing a rural electoral division bordering Wales asked whether cross border and information sharing issues were being addressed adequately for those living in Shropshire but registered with GPs in Wales.   The Head of Service reported that such work came under the remit of the CCG,who were developing links with Community Care Co-ordinators.  80% of GPs now had Community Care Co-ordinators. 

Adult Social Care was working with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Service regarding service users making the transition from Young People’s services.   Although it was unusual to find people who had been unknown to the Adult Social Care service this did happen occasionally.

The Healthwatch Representative referred to feedback received by Healthwatch, with a number of service users referring to concerns around the Carer Assessment and Respite Services and the emergency respite card system.  Officers explained that this was a registration issue which had been reported at the Carers Partnership Board Meeting and raised with the organisation delivering the service.  This issue would make up a component when re-commissioning of the service took place.

Members asked for a list of hubs, and the number of shared lives carers and it was agreed to circulate this information outside of the meeting.

The Chairman thanked the Head of Service for explaining the report and answering questions.