Agenda item

Adult Care and Well-being Overview and Scrutiny Panel

The Panel recently received an overview of Learning Disability Services for adults which provided feedback on the pre-consultation engagement with services users, carers, staff and stakeholders on options for future provision of two aspects of Learning Disability care for adults (Replacement Care and Day Services). Speakeasy N.O.W, a self-advocacy charity for people with learning disabilities, and Worcestershire Association of Carers also attended the meeting. The Cabinet would be considering this at its meeting on 14 June.

Scrutiny of LTP4 Consultation Successes

Cllr Middlebrough advised that the Scrutiny on the LTP4 Consultation successes was nearly finished and the Report was in the process of being drafted.

Crime and Disorder

Cllr Middlebrough gave an update on crime and disorder matters:

·       planning for the Annual Crime and Disorder Scrutiny meeting had commenced and this year there would be a specific focus on modern day slavery and trafficking

·        with regard to the Domestic Abuse Green paper and the County Council's role in response to it.  Cllr Middlebrough advised that he was pleased to see that subsequent to his request, the Consultation Questionnaire had been promoted to staff and councillors via a link on the Chief Exec's update in case anyone wished to respond on an individual basis.

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC)

At its meeting in May, the Committee received an update on Neighbourhood Teams which were one of the ways of working/work strands resulting from Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sustainable Transformation Partnership (STP). 

The HOSC was updated on the STP at its 29 January meeting, and members were keen to continue to keep abreast of plans for services and governance stemming from the STP for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and the impact for Worcestershire's public.

Winter pressures/urgent care would be discussed at the July meeting.

Corporate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel

The Chairman advised that at its May meeting the Panel had met the new Director of Commercial and Commissioning and the new Chief Financial Officer.  In addition the Panel had looked at What can Worcestershire County Council do to maximise income generation?

At its July meeting, the Panel would be considering the July Cabinet Report in respect of the libraries re-modelling business case.

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel

The Chairman of the Panel updated the Board in respect of the Scrutiny of overnight short breaks for children with disabilities. The Task Group's draft Report had been sent to the Cabinet Member for consideration; however it wasn't clear when the Cabinet Member decision would be made.  The Chairman advised that the Worcestershire Health and Care Trust had provided some further information about bed costs for Ludlow Road but confusion remained and there was concern that 14 December 2017 Cabinet Report may not have contained accurate information.

Parents and carers had contacted the press and were requesting a further meeting with the Authority and also pursuing a Judicial Review through the High Court.  The Chairman was very concerned about the accuracy of the information available to the CMR on which to base his decision and explained how difficult it had been for Scrutiny to access information to help inform the Scrutiny Process. 

The Panel at its May meeting had considered Special Education Needs/Disabilities Strategy and the feedback from the Joint Local Area SEND Inspection by Ofsted and the CQC the Panel would be considering the Action Plan in July before it was submitted to Ofsted/CQC.

Also in July, the Panel was holding a meeting to discuss pupil attainment at Key Stage 2 and how all parties involved could work together to improve outcomes for the children of Worcestershire, ie a  'One Worcestershire' approach.  The Panel would like to hear from those working in Key Stage 2 about good practice and how schools are working to support pupil attainment.