Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Councillor Chris Middleton and Lyndsey Longden from our co-optee bank who were attending their first meeting.

The Chair announced that the Yorkshire Ambulance Service AGM and Open House Event was taking place on Tuesday 21^st September at the Holiday Inn, Wakefield from 9.45 am to 3.45 pm.  Any one wishing to attend should contact Delia Watts.

Delia Watts reported that she was in the process of setting the date for the main evidence gathering session in respect of the Diabetes Review.  She added that she had emailed out a set of questions to the members of the review group and asked that they ask their family and friends and ward constituents to answer them prior to this first meeting.

The Chair announced that this was Ben Knight’s last meeting of the Panel as he was leaving Rotherham MBC and taking up a new post with Warrington Council.  On behalf of the Panel she wished Ben every success in his new job and best wishes for the future.

No declarations of interest were made at the meeting.

There were no members  of the press or public present.

Professor Pat Cantrell, Chair of the Safeguarding Adults Board gave a powerpoint presentation in respect of the Safeguarding Adults Annual Report for 2009-2010.

The presentation drew specific attention to:-

• Facts and figures from April 2009 – March 2010
• Categories of Alleged Abuse 2009-2010
• Relationship of Alleged Perpetrator to Alleged Victim
• The setting of the alleged abuse
• Improvements in Safeguarding
• Challenges
  • Continue to raise awareness
  • Resources
  • Maintain effective safeguarding service
  • Keeping partner commitment in Adult Safeguarding
  • Political changes
  • Keeping alert to the changes in types of abuse

A question and answer session ensued and the following issues were discussed:

• A query was raised as to how to report abuse and who to.  Confirmation was given that there were safeguarding procedures in place and a team looking at alerts.  Telephone calls should be made to Assessment Direct in the first instance and enquiries would then be passed to Safeguarding.  These calls would be responded to within 24 hours.
• Reference was made to discriminatory harassment cases and whether there were measures in place to deal with these.  It was confirmed that systems were in place to handle such cases, and that Safeguarding and Hate Crime were now working more closely to reduce the chance of this occurring.
• A query was raised as to whether the Safeguarding Board were using the experiences of adults, their carers and families to drive improvements and services.  It was noted that work was being undertaken on a regular basis with all people involved in the safeguarding process, which involved listening to their experiences and asking them to complete questionnaires.
• What assessment was made about whether services reached all groups of vulnerable adults at risk?  It was confirmed that this was a major challenge and that alerts in respect of the ‘hard to reach’ groups were a lot lower than those of older people.  Steps were being taken to address this and recently literature had begun to be translated into five different languages to assist the ethnic minority communities.  In addition information had also been included on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender websites.  Information was also being updated on the Safeguarding website.
• Reference was made to lines of communication between agencies in respect of adults and whether these were positive.  The Chair of the Safeguard Board confirmed that there was no legal framework for adults (as there was for children’s safeguarding) and therefore this was one of their biggest challenges.
• The Cabinet Member for Adult Independence, Health and Wellbeing commented that safeguarding was fundamental to everyone who worked in Adult Services.  He referred to the on-line training package which was available to raise awareness and urged everyone to take the time to go through it.
• The Chair queried whether people who needed safeguarding services were fully involved in the control of safeguarding processes and how the Board performs its quality assurance role.  It was confirmed that the Board feeds into all other Council networks.  There was also a tight performance assessment framework in place with national checks being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Claire Smith, Supporting People Commissioning Manager (Acting) gave a powerpoint presentation in respect of Supporting People Programme, Contribution to Prevention. 

The presentation drew specific attention to:-

• Supporting people in Rotherham
• Purpose of Supporting People
• Who the Supporting People helps
• Client Group Summary of Spend
• Prevention
• Supporting People’s contribution towards the prevention agenda
• Performance
• What are the cost benefits?
• The Value of the SP Programme
• Strategic Objectives

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

• Reference was made to the savings in respect of residential packages and it was suggested and agreed that a breakdown of these figures be made available via the Scrutiny Adviser.
• A concern was raised about potential homeless people and whether support was available to them.  It was confirmed that there were floating services where work is undertaken with people who are at risk of becoming homeless.  There are two homeless accommodations which offer temporary accommodation and help individuals find permanent accommodation.
• A query was raised about whether there was a real risk that some of the lower level interventions may not be funded in the future.  Confirmation was given that if funding was reduced in the future there was a good chance that this would happen.  However work was being undertaken to promote the service with partner agencies.

Members thanked Claire for her informative presentation.

Tom Sweetman, Innovations Manager gave a powerpoint presentation in respect of Personalisation in Rotherham.

The presentation drew specific attention to:-

• Where we were
• Guiding Principles
• Delivering Personalisation in Rotherham, what we will promise to do
• Delivering Personalisation
• What we have done so far
• What we have got planned for future
• More Awards
• The Personalisation Moment
• Delivering Better Outcomes – Prevention

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

• Reference was made to the “catalogue of choices” and a query was raised as to where this could be found.  It was confirmed that currently this was held by social workers, but that it would be available via the intranet and internet in the future.
• Reference was made to the proposed changes to the commissioning of health services and it was queried as to how this would affect Personalisation.  Confirmation was given that this was still being considered and would be clarified once the Department of Health had finalised the new arrangements.
• A query was raised about care packages and how flexible they can be to changes in circumstances or need.  It was confirmed that following a plan being agreed a follow up meeting is arranged within the first few weeks to ensure it is working.  A review date is also set for 6 or 12 months ahead.
• It was noted that the target set for April 2011 in respect of Direct Payments was 50%.  Members queried what had been achieved so far and whether this target was realistic.  It was confirmed that the percentage achieved so far was 30% but that the stretch target of 50% was achievable.

Members thanked Tom for his informative presentation.

Consideration was given to a NHS report entitled “Shaping our Future – Community Health Services”.  The report outlined the proposals for the future organisational arrangements for community health services in Rotherham.

Resolved:- That the report be noted.

Consideration was given to a briefing paper on the Equity and Excellence White Paper: Implications for Rotherham.

Resolved:- That the content of the briefing paper be noted.

Consideration was given to the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st September 2010 to 30^th November 2010.

Resolved:- That the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st September 2010 to 30^th November 2010 be noted and received.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 8^th July 2010 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care held on 28^th June 2010, 12^th July 2010, 26^th July 2010 and the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Adult Independence Health and Wellbeing held on 6^th August 2010 be noted and received.