Agenda and draft minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9^th July, 2012.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9^th July, be approved as a correct record.

Janine Moorcroft, Service Manager, Adult Community Services, presented a report on proposals for a review of the Learning Disability Day Care Services to achieve the £150,000 savings target.  The report also outlined the need for further work in respect of the longer term personalisation of Learning Disability Day Care Services ensuring they aligned to local and national strategic direction and providing value for money.

At present there were 3 Adult Learning Disability Day Care Services in Rotherham – Addison Resource Centre with a small outreach service at Kiveton, Oaks Day Service and Reach Day Care Service with an outreach service at Maltby.  Traditionally customers with complex needs had attended the Reach Day Care Service resulting in the Oaks and Addison Centres being able to diversify their services.

The Autumn Service provided day care services to older people with a Learning Disability Service in Rotherham at Park Hill Lodge, Maltby, and Charnwood, Swinton, where Services for older people with social needs and older people with learning disabilities were delivered jointly.

275 customers attended the Adult Learning Disability Day Care Services, 65% of which attended 5 days a week – 58% more than in Older People’s Services; the majority of older people attended only 1 day per week.  Local demographics and identification of future transitional customers from Children and Young People’s Services suggested that demand would increase over the next 5 years.

The options for consultation with customers were:-

-        Relocation of Autumn Service - Day Care Services for Older People with a Learning Disability

Service delivered at Charnwood, Swinton and a small outreach centre at Park Hill Lodge, Maltby.  It was proposed that those who attended Park Hill Lodge were transferred to Copeland Lodge, Thurcroft.

-        Cease catering arrangements currently provided at Addison and Oaks Day Service

Demand for catering services had been low as a result of people making the choice to bring in their own meals.  It was proposed that the dining hall space and kitchen facilities be maximised by customers to develop basic catering skills which would benefit them in moving forward into employment and towards independent living.  It was suggested that customers provide their own packed lunch including those who attended from respite provision and were in receipt of a free meal.

Day Care Services had operated with vacant posts since the Corporate recruitment freeze.  It was proposed that the vacant posts be disestablished and contribute to the savings target.  There were also inconsistencies in the Service in relation to the number of posts within Centre establishments on different gradings.  Consultation with staff would be initiated with a view to changing current staffing structures to achieve greater consistency and flexibility across services.

It was proposed that a 12 weeks consultation exercise be undertaken with all stakeholders commencing on 23^rd July to 15^th October, 2012.

Discussion ensued on the report with the following comments made:-

-        Discrepancy in the number of customers for Addison and Oaks

-        Relocation of Autumn Service – should be amended to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Janine Moorcroft, Service Manager, Adult Community Services, presented a report on proposals for a review of Transport Services to achieve £219,817.82 savings towards the target of £615,000.00 for Day Care and Transport Services. 

The Council provided transport services for customers from their home to their chosen Day Centre.  Transport was provided using a mixture of in-house vehicles and contracted private providers with customers contributing £1 per day towards the cost.  The actual cost was £39.10 per week for in-house provision and considerably more for private hire taxis.

Consultation with customers would take place on:-

-        Review of Transport Eligibility Criteria

It was anticipated that the adoption of the new criteria would reduce eligible customers by 75 as customers in receipt of Mobility Allowance were expected to use the funds or their mobility vehicle to travel to Day Care Services

It was proposed that the criteria would apply whether the Service was provided in-house or commissioned externally.  Commissioned services that were currently arranged and provided transport would be reviewed and consulted in line with the principles set out in the report.

-        Utilise In-House Transport Services

The unit cost of in-house transport was calculated at £39.10 per week per customer which demonstrated cost effectiveness against private providers.  It was proposed that capacity created within NAS transport as a result of the new eligibility criteria be utilised by eligible customers using more expensive private providers.  An initial review indicated that 47 customers would transfer from private providers to NAS transport.

-        Review current arrangements with other travel providers

-        Review arrangements with independent sector day service

At present the 1 external day care provider contracted 3 NAS transport service buses to take customers from their home to the Day Service utilising funding provided by the local authority as part of the contract.  It was proposed that arrangement cease and the 3 buses used by the Day Service be used to transport customers accessing in-house services using more expensive private providers.

It was proposed that a 12 weeks consultation exercise be undertaken with all stakeholders commencing on 23^rd July to 15^th October, 2012.

Discussion ensued on the report with the following comments made:-

-        Had parents of young Service users been asked if they were prepared to pay more?

-        The new criteria meant that only those in a wheelchair would be transported – not taking into consideration whether the Service user could read, write, cross a road safely

-        Traffic congestion if more cars were used to deliver clients

-        Those in receipt of low rate Mobility Allowance would still be provided with transport

-        Families had to bear some of the responsibility of getting them to the Day Centre

-        A Social Care Assessment did not take into account Mobility Allowance

-        No. 5 of the Eligibility Criteria be amended to read “the customer is in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance”

-        That the note on No. 6 of the Eligibility Criteria be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Scott Clayton, Performance Improvement Officer, presented the 2011/12 Key Performance Indicator (KPI) results for the Adult Social Care elements of the Directorate.  Despite over £6M reduction in funding in 2011/12, 100% improvement had been achieved in Health and Wellbeing Indicators compared to 2012/11 representing the best ever outturn performance.

The headlines were:-

-        Almost 7,500 (93%) customers had been reviewed – 400 more than last year and most on a face-to-face basis

-        5,750 (77%) had had the opportunity to access Services of their choice via  a personal budget – an increase of 1,600

-        5,000 new people requiring care and support had been assessed

-        97.5% (increase of 3%) received their care services within 28 days following assessment

-        The new Enabling Service had demonstrated early achievements in its first year

-        The Council had seen a marked 10% improvement in the support provided to meet the needs of carers including the provision of information, advice or services

-        98.5% of safeguarding alerts had been assessed within 24 hours

-        The number of reported alerts had increased by 14% (1,213)

-        Home from Home Scheme had contributed to a reduction of 7% of abuse in residential home settings

The report also set out:-

o       Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework - 2011/12 was the first year of publication for activity indicators

o       Adult Social Care User Survey – sent to those in receipt of care and support services on 31^st December, 2011.  1,333 received and 611 returned the survey – 48.5% response rate

o       Revised 2012/13 Performance Reporting arrangements – revised suite of Indicators for 2012/13.

o       Local Account – Rotherham’s local account had been identified as the benchmark from a review undertaken by the Yorkshire and Humber Region.

o       Zero Based Review - locally would mean changes to the social care and financial reporting systems and the performance measures reported in the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework.  Consultation closed on 3rd August, 2012, with full details of all changes to be published in September and operational from April, 2013.  ADASS were leading on providing a regional and national response

Discussion ensued on the report with the following issues raised:-

-        Rotherham would be submitting a  full response to the Zero Based Review consultation as well as contributing to the Yorkshire and Humber ADASS regional response

-        Adult Social Care User Survey – aimed at the user not the carer – what if the user could not read and/or write?

-        There would be a national Carers Survey

-        NAS1 (Percentage of clients receiving a review) – all were face-to-face reviews

-        Rotherham was in the minority for including any information on Mental Health Service users

It was noted that due to the short timescales involved, there was insufficient time to follow the normal reporting procedure for consultations, therefore, it would be a technical response.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the 2011/12 year end performance and performance requirements for 2012/13 be noted.

(2)  That a press release be issued highlighting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.