Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26^th April, 2011.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26^th April, 2011, be approved as a correct record.

Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager (Adult Services) presented the submitted report relating to the Revenue Outturn position for Adult Services Department within the Neighbourhood and Adult Services Directorate for the financial year 2010/11.

It was reported that the 2010/11 approved cash limited budget was £72,336,065, and the net Outturn for the Service for 2010/11 was an underspend of £988,751 (variation of -1.37%).

In real terms, the outturn before the adjustments resulted in the Directorate, as a whole, achieving an underspend of £2.219M which had contributed to addressing the significant budget pressures across the wider Council.

Members’ attention was drawn to the following reasons for the current position:-

-          overachievement in the savings associated with the merger of the Wardens and Care Enablers Service

-          higher than anticipated response to voluntary severance

-          holding vacancies to facilitate redeployment of staff in support of the various structural reviews

-          increasing numbers of residential care clients now receiving full funding through continuing health care

A summary revenue outturn position for Adult Social Services was given in the table within the submitted report.

Appendix 1 to the submitted report detailed the revenue outturn 2010/11 and the reasons for variance from approved budgets.  The following key variations were highlighted:-

Commissioning and Partnerships

-          budget pressures on a number of posts, offset by the non-recruitment to vacant posts due to the Council-wide review of Commissioning and Performance during the year

-          general moratorium on non-essential non-pay budgets

-          maximising the use of available grant funding.

Assessment & Care Management

Older People (Independent)

-          vacant social work posts

-          the Intermediate Care pooled budget - slippage on employee costs

-          fewer placements than planned in the independent sector residential and nursing care

-          additional income from health and increased income from property charges

-          increase in average weekly hours during the year  in the independent sector Home Care budget

Physical and Sensory Disabilities

-          continued increase in both number of clients receiving Direct Payments and increase in both hours and cost of independent sector home care

-          underspend on residential and nursing care including delayed implementation of specialist respite care together with efficiency savings on voluntary sector contracts

Safeguarding

-          vacant posts during the year, including slippage due to difficulties in recruiting

Independent Living

-          vacant posts and additional income from charges for Rothercare

-          short term vacancies within Extra Care Housing and Grafton House

Health and Well Being

Older People (In-House)

-          In-House Home Care services  - additional agency costs to cover sickness during the year plus a recurrent budget pressure on income from charges

-          underspend on employees within Extra Care Housing together with increased income from additional services and an underspend on vehicle running and leasing costs against the budget for Adult Services Transport Unit

Learning Disabilities

-          additional income from charges within Supported Living Scheme

-          vacancies within Community Support Schemes

-          increased income from Continuing Health Care funding within Residential and Nursing Care

-          underspends within Direct Payments (-£60k) due to demand less  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager (Adult Services) presented the submitted report informing Members of the Capital Outturn against approved budget for Adult Services for the 2010/11 financial year.

It was reported that the Capital Outturn for Adult Services for the financial year 2010/11 was £459,785 against an approved budget of £800,600, resulting in an overall underspend of £340,815. 

It was explained that the main variations from budget were delays in implementation of the Electronic Home Care Scheduling System (EHCSS) and slippage on the development of a number of IT projects into 2011/12.

A brief summary of the Outturn position for each project was set out in the submitted report.

Members’ attention was drawn to the following:-

Older People

-          completion of the landscaping works at the 2 residential care homes

-          health funding for Assistive Technology committed during the year with the balance carried forward to meet future commitments

-          residential care – improving the environment within the 2 residential care homes

Adult Services – Learning Disabilities

-          refurbishment at Addison Day Centre and at Treefields Close Respite Unit

Adult Services – Mental Health

-          developing revised models for providing Supported Living Services and Joint Services with the voluntary sector

-          purchase of equipment from EMI clients within the 2 in-house residential care homes

-          development of spending plans re:  Intensive Supported Living schemes; the use of Telecare/Assistive Technology solutions; the development of Dementia Cafes; the development of services for people under 65 years with dementia; user-led service developments to assist people into employment;  support for capital developments around Direct Payments.

Management Information

-          The Social Care IT Infrastructure grant used during to develop further the Adults Integrated Solution and the development of Electronic Social Care Records.

-          Introduction in 2010/11 of a new Capital Grant to assist councils in transforming Adult Social Care.  Spending plans had been identified including improvements to systems for Direct Payments working closely with RBT and the development of an e-market place. 

General

-          delays in implementation of Electronic Home Care Scheduling System

Members raised and discussed the following:-

-          environmental improvements re:  residential care

-          staff awareness of the use of assistive technology

Resolved:- That the unaudited 2010/11 Capital Outturn report for Adult Services be received and noted.

Members requested an update on the current situation regarding Southern Cross homes in Rotherham.

The Director of Health and Wellbeing provided an outline of the actions that were being taken in respect of (a) monitoring (b) engaging with Southern Cross and councils regionally (c) contingency planning.

There was not felt to be any immediate risk of change occurring in Rotherham, but the situation was being monitored weekly.

The following items are likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under those paragraphs, indicated below, of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006).

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) 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 Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006) (financial/business affairs).

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council))

The Director of Health and Wellbeing spoke to the submitted report which detailed the procurement process and subsequent evaluation undertaken for EU Classified Annex 2b services to provide housing-related and preventative support.

Minute No. H73 of 21^st December, 2009, had previously approved the tender process for the floating support contracts which were for an initial period of 3 years.  There was an option to extend for 1 year with an opportunity to review finances on an annual basis with a break clause where appropriate.

It was reported that the process had adhered to all EU Regulations as well as the Council’s Standing Orders and Financial Regulations.

It was confirmed that the preferred contractors had previous experience in providing services to the client group in question with a good performance and quality service record.

Resolved:-  That the awarding of the tender, as detailed in the report now submitted, be approved.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council)

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council)).

The Director of Health and Wellbeing submitted a briefing paper, previously presented to the Safeguarding Adults Board, relating to a Court of Protection case that had implications for Supervisory Bodies (local authorities and PCTs) and other agencies with a statutory duty placed upon them by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Supplementary Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

The report outlined the concerns and a number of issues that had arisen for local authorities.  The Director of Health and Wellbeing provided an update on the actions taken in Rotherham.

Resolved:-  That it be noted that the Directorate had reviewed its processes and policies as a result of this case and that some changes had been made to ensure that service users were safeguarded.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council)

A tragic incident was reported whereby a service user had been found dead after informing the local authority that Warden Service would not be required due to going on holiday.

The Director of Health and Wellbeing updated Members present in respect of the on-going investigations.