Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, including Jo Ringshall, from Healthwatch Worcestershire, who was invited to join the table.

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 23 June 2015). Enquiries can be made through the telephone number/email address below.

None.

Previously circulated

The Minutes of the meeting on 12 May 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Council's Integrated Commissioning Unit had been invited to provide an update on projects providing housing with support (Supported Living / Extra Care), which was part of the Panel's 2015 work programme.

Elaine Carolan, Lead Commissioner for services for people with Learning Disabilities and  Autism, Carers, and Housing provided further information through a presentation, including the aims of housing with support, the target audience, Worcestershire's provision, delivery approach, the costs and key facts.

Supported living and extra care developments provided accommodation and support to adults with a physical disability, learning disability, mental health challenge, dementia and individuals experiencing increasing frailty. The aim was to support individuals to continue to live independently, whilst having access to 24 hour wrap around care if needed. Whilst models of delivery were similar for both types of provision, extra care typically catered for older people, aged 50+, whereas supported living typically catered for adults of varying ages with physical or learning disabilities.

Some further information was circulated: Worcestershire County Council's leaflet 'Extra Care Housing in Worcestershire' provided a useful summary, which panel members were encouraged to circulate to constituents.

'Worcestershire's Housing and Support Commissioning Plan 2014/15 to 2016/17' set out the Council's commissioning intentions.

The Worcestershire Extra Care Housing Strategy 2012-2026 had also been made available via the agenda papers, which set out what needed to be achieved district by district.

The aims of housing with support were to enable people to achieve:

·         Independence – live their life how they wanted to live it in their own apartment

·         Control – come and go as they pleased and have full control over finances

·         Choice – rent, buy or part own their home, from the wide range available in Worcestershire

·         Privacy –live in their own home with their own front door

·         Support – with help always on hand for everyday tasks

·         Flexibility – support tailored to suit, that could be changed with needs

·         Stability – people would not have to move if their needs increased

·         Sense of community – able to socialize with other tenants

·         Security – an important benefit, providing buzzer entry and a locked front door

The Council only worked with providers whose housing models gave the right balance of care and gave access to people's life-long needs, which meant that they would not have to move out should their care needs increase – this was an important difference between extra care and sheltered housing.

People with a wide range of needs may be eligible for housing with support and the configuration of one, two and three-bed apartments enabled couples, families and friends to stay together. For example, someone in their 50s with learning disabilities would be able to share a two bedroom apartment with their elderly parents, and remain at the same setting, or perhaps move to a one bedroom apartment within the same setting, when their parents passed away, with access to appropriate support.

Supported living played an important part in preventing the need for people with complex learning disabilities having to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 195.