Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies had been received from Councillors Rob Adams and Robin Lunn.

None.

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, in writing or by email indicating the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case Tuesday 17 July 2018). Enquiries can be made through the telephone number/email address below.

None.

Previously circulated

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2018 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

In attendance for this item were:

Avril Wilson, Interim Director of Adult Services

Fran Kelsey, Lead Commissioning Manager for Learning Disabilities

Amanda Blackton and Emma Allen, Commissioning Managers

The Chairman explained that the Panel had requested an update on plans for Learning Disability Day Services and Replacement Care, following earlier updates on pre-consultation engagement, and the subsequent decisions by Cabinet on 14 June.

The Lead Commissioning Manager talked through the main points from the presentation which had been circulated to the Panel (available on the Council's website), which included the recommendations approved by Cabinet.

Regarding Day Services the plans endorsed by Cabinet were around developing services further to ensure maximum value for money by working together with service providers. Officers were looking at remodelling the 12 Week Connect Service to sit with social workers, following feedback about the value of the service and how it contributed to the new 3 Conversation model for social work.

However, the low numbers using the Wyre Forest Connect long-term Learning Disability Day Service, meant it was unsustainable.  Officers had therefore commenced formal consultation with service users and carers on the proposal to close the Service,  the re-provision of services for the individuals, as well as assessing the impact of losing two other services which were based in the same building at Blackwell Street, Kidderminster.

Formal staff consultation had commenced on the permanent relocation of Connect Droitwich, previously based at Kingfields in Droitwich, to the Wendron Centre in Bromsgrove.

Regarding Replacement Care, there had been a huge amount of feedback on the value of the service and it was well evidenced that it saved the Council money through avoiding the need for more expensive services. Cabinet had therefore endorsed the intention to remodel the way services were provided in order to meet eligible care needs whilst ensuring maximum value for money, and a task group had been set up to take this forward, alongside work with the Children and Families Directorate.

There would be a further report to Cabinet in November regarding plans for Day Services and Replacement Care. The Panel requested an update to its 6 November Panel, in order to provide scrutiny on the plans.

Main discussion points

·         Panel members asked for more detail about the changes involved in aligning the 12 Week Connect Service with the new 3 Conversation model of social work, and how this would change the work of staff? It was explained that the change was organisational and would involve updating the service specification, looking at expected outcomes and feedback from recent engagement and checking for duplication. Staff would need to be consulted but in reality not a great deal would change, since their work was already very effective and in many ways already reflected the 3 Conversation approach.

·         Regarding information about choices, it was explained that people were informed about services available to them through discussion with social workers, in liaison with the family. There was a wide range of day services, many of them small such as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 285.

In attendance for this item were:

Avril Wilson, Interim Director of Adult Services

Fran Kelsey, Lead Commissioning Manager for Learning Disabilities

Amanda Blackton and Emma Allen, Commissioning Managers

The Lead Commissioning Manager for Learning Disabilities highlighted the key points from the presentation which had been circulated earlier (available on the Council's website).

Supported Living was housing and support for people with learning disabilities (LD) which gave them their own tenancy, choice of support provider and offered a range of options such as self-contained flats or shared houses. The Supported Living Strategy had been refreshed in 2017 and of 1457 people in receipt of an LD package of care (June 2018), 367 lived in supported living, a figure which had been growing over recent years. Since 2014, the Council had helped around 180 people to become tenants in their own homes.

Supported living developments were planned or in progress in Bromgrove (Bromford Housing) Upper Lodge (near Droitwich) and Kingfields (Droitwich), with business cases for sites in Kidderminster and Worcester. It was a misconception that people with complex needs required residential care, although there was particular need of more supported living options for complex needs, and also for people with profound and multiple disabilities.

Supported living was generally lower cost to the Council than residential care and there was a savings target of £2.619m.

Supported living was very much a win-win option, as well as being lower cost than residential care, however it needed to be planned.

Main discussion points

·         Panel members asked about timescales for the financial savings and were advised that the timescale had just been revised from 2019/20 to 2021/22 because experience to date indicated that those entering supported living were moving across from residential care settings, rather than through Children's Services, and that this would take more time.

·         When asked whether the revised timescale caused budget problems elsewhere, the Director explained that the LD population coming through to Adult Services remained relatively static in number but more complex in people's needs. There were an additional 66 people with enhanced care packages or who were being supported for the first time because of parental frailty, which did increase cost pressures. At the moment the Director believed the Directorate was on track to deliver the £6.1m savings target, although there may be some changes to timescales. At this early point she was not able to confirm a balanced budget would be delivered however a lot of work was being done to take measures to mitigate the impact on the budget.

·         Members acknowledged the need to revise the savings timescale, and asked about projected figures. It was confirmed that around 300 people were being worked with, who may potentially move to supported living over the next 5 years, although not all would make the move. Further details of projected figures would be provided.

·         When asked about work with providers and district councils, the officers explained that this took place in a variety of ways. If using one of its own  ...  view the full minutes text for item 286.