Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2008 were approved as a correct record.

Mark Scarrott, Service Accountant (Adult Services) presented the submitted report which informed members of the anticipated outturn against the approved Adult Services capital programme for the 2008/09 financial year.

The actual expenditure to mid August 2008 was £5.5m against an approved programme of £7.8m.  The approved schemes were funded from a variety of different funding sources including, unsupported borrowing, allocations from the capital receipts, Supported Capital Expenditure and specific capital grant funding.

The report provided a brief summary of the latest position on the main projects within each client group

Older People

The construction of the two new residential care home was estimated to be completed by mid-October with full decommissioning of existing homes by the end of December.  EDS were project managing the scheme and had forecast an overall overspend on the project.  A report was submitted to the Corporate Management Team on 8 September 2008 requesting additional funding for completion of both homes and this had been supported.  The report would now go to Regeneration and Asset Board and the Cabinet for the final decision.

The Assistive Technology Group was being managed jointly and was being used to purchase Telehealth and Telecare equipment to enable people to live in their own homes. The recent appointment of a project manager had resulted in a review being undertaken with NHS Rotherham and an agreement in principle that the funding would be used to procure lifeline connect alarms, low temperature sensors and fall detectors in peoples homes.

A small element of the Department of Health specific grant (£20k) issued in 2007/08 for improving the environment within residential care provision was carried forward into 2008/09. 

Learning Disabilities

The small balances of funding carried forward from 2007/08 were to be used for the equipment for Parkhill Lodge and within supported living schemes.

The refurbishment at Addison Day Centre was now complete.  There had been delays in the start of the refurbishment of the REACH Day centre due to insufficient funding.  Further funding options were being explored together with a review of the contract specification.

Mental Health

A small balance remained on the Cedar House capital budget and would be used for additional equipment.  A large proportion of the Supported Capital Expenditure allocation had been carried forward from previous years due to difficulties in finding suitable accommodation for the development of supported living schemes.  Suitable properties were being identified and spending plans were being developed.  The possibility of funding equipment purchased for direct payments was being considered to reduce the current pressures on the revenue budgets.  Further options were also being considered to provide more intensive supported living schemes with a range of providers.

Management Information

The final year of specific capital grant for Improving Management Information was 2007/08 and a balance of £120 was carried forward into 2008/09.  The funding had been earmarked to further develop Electronic Social Care Records within Health and Social Care working with the Council’s strategic partner RBT and Children and Young People’s Services.  At the end of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

Kim Curry, Director of Commissioning and Partnerships gave a presentation in relation to the Service Plan 2008/11.

The presentation drew specific attention to the most relevant objectives which were:-

• Objective 1 – To Improve access and standards of service where performance compares less well with the best
• Objective 3 – To increase affordable housing and make better use of available housing assets to create lifetime homes
• Objective 4 – Modernising Services so that they are designed in a way which maximises people’s independence
• Objective 5 – Helping more people to live at home
• Objective 6 – Improve Services for Carers
• Objective 7 – Increasing awareness of safeguarding and reducing cases of abuse

A question and answer session ensued and the following issues were raised:-

• With the backlog for social care work now completely cleared, a query was raised as to what measures were in place to ensure that this continued.  It was confirmed that the target for undertaking the assessment was 5 working days, and 10 working days for completion of the task.
• Concerns were raised about the continuing backlog for community occupational therapy.  As a result, a request was made for regular reports to be made available at each meeting in order to monitor the situation.
• Whether there was the same number of Occupational Therapists now as there had been at the same time the previous year. 
• Concerns were raised about the indicator relating to homecare packages which was not performing well.
• Concerns were raised about the accommodation strategy.  It was agreed that RBT would be asked to do a presentation on the accommodation strategy to a future meeting.

Resolved:- (1) That the content of the Service Plan be noted

(2) That regular updates be received in relation to the waiting list and waiting times for Community Occupational Therapy assessments

(3) That RBT be asked to bring a presentation to a future meeting in relation to the Accommodation Strategy.

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

Sam Newton, Director of Assessment and Care Management gave the Cabinet Member and Advisors an update in relation to the recent closure of Highfields Nursing Home at North Anston.

She outlined the sequence of events which had led to the closure of the home and confirmed that South Yorkshire Police were investigating the matter further.

Resolved:- That the next meeting be held on Monday 6 October 2008 commencing at 10.00 am.