Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care held on 12^th April 2010.

Reference was made to Minute No H106, and it was confirmed that the performance targets had now all been achieved, with the exception of NI 136 ‘People supported to live independently through social services (LAA)’.  This was a national issue as there was no benchmark currently to measure performance against so it was therefore difficult to record current performance in this area.

A comment was made relating to the Personalisation Agenda and the confusion it was causing among the older people in Rotherham.  It was felt that some training was necessary for elected members, to enable them to reassure the community.  It was suggested that this be referred to the Member Training and Development Panel in order that appropriate training could be arranged and delivered.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12^th April 2010 be approved as a correct record.

Chrissy Wright, Director of Commissioning and Partnerships presented the submitted report which detailed the objectives of the Rotherham Carers Centre and the outcomes which were expected as a result of the centres development.

The Carer’s Centre would provide carers in Rotherham with a first point of contact for all enquiries relating to caring.  It would be accessible to all carers from all service areas and would enable them to access information, advice and guidance to support them to continue their role as a carer.

The main objectives of the centre were:

• To increase awareness and access to carers assessments

Outcomes

o       Increased number of carers’ assessments completed

o       Increased performance against NI 135 – ‘Carers receiving a needs assessment or review and a specific carer’s service or advice and information

o       Reduction in the need to provide care and emergency interventions as a result of the carer reaching crisis point.

• To identify unknown carers in Rotherham particularly those hard to reach groups

Outcomes

o                   Increased number of carers on the Carers’ Register, Emergency Carers’ Scheme and Carers’ Forum

o                   That the Carers’ Forum was representative of the demographics of Rotherham

o                   That the needs of hard to reach carers group were identified and met

o                   Inclusion of young carers in the centre

o                   Inclusion of carers of people who substance misuse in the centre

o                   That carers information, advice and guidance was provided in the most common community languages and in appropriate formats

• To increase the number of carers accessing employment, training and volunteering opportunities
  • Carers would gain employment access up to 52 weeks of training through JobCentre Plus
  • Carers would select training available from the centre and attendance will be high
  • Carers would have a greater understanding of caring issues and Personalisation through access to e-learning models
  • Customers would gain employment experience at the centre through the Assess All Areas project contributing to our NI 146 target
• To provide better access to information and advice
  • Carers would be clear how to access information, advice and guidance in Rotherham
  • Carers would be supported to continue in their caring role by a range of agencies providing specialist professional advice and guidance
  • Carers would be able to access advice and guidance on health and social care issues through the inclusion of specialist services ‘drop in’ sessions

A Service Level Agreement (SLA) was to be set up outlining the specification and performance monitoring information requirements.  The performance of the centre would be monitored and collated using the following techniques:

• Footfall would be monitored through customer query forms, including why a customer had accessed the centre, equality monitoring information, service area and the outcome of their visit
• Monitoring the number of carers assessments completed at or referred as a result of carer contact to the centre.  This information would be collated monthly via SWIFT
• Monthly monitoring of the Carers’ Register, Carers’ Forum and Emergency Scheme ensuring membership was increasing and was reflective of the demographics of Rotherham
• Follow up forms completed by the drop  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 1 & 3 of Part 1 (as amended March 2006) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Resolved:- That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 & 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Chrissy Wright, Director of Commissioning and Partnerships presented the submitted report relating to the termination of the approved provider within Learning Disability Services.

In February 2009 following a tender process, the approved provider for a supported living scheme for four people with a learning disability was confirmed.  The provider had failed to reach and maintain the standard of quality expected by the service due in the main to an inability to appoint a suitable manager for the scheme.  Several improvement action plans had been implemented but there had been no significant consistent improvement in quality.  Therefore the Learning Disability Service had decided to give notice to the provider and seek an alternative provider.

Resolved:- (1) That the recommendation to terminate the contract for the provision of this supported living scheme be approved.

(2) That approval be given to approach the provider who came second during the award process to deliver the service, thus avoiding the additional expense and delay to existing service users of a further award process.