Agenda and draft minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11^th February, 2013.

Further to Minute No. H61 (Rotherham Carers’ Charter and Joint Action Plan), it was noted that the Health and Wellbeing Board was to receive a report for information at its next meeting.

.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11^th February, 2013, be approved as a correct record.

The notes of the meeting of the Rotherham Learning Disability Partnership Board, held on 18^th January, 2013, were noted.

The Strategic Commissioning Manager presented a report setting out the Community and Home Care Service activity for the period 1^st October to 31^st December, 2012 highlighting:-

-          1,257 Service users as at the end of December, 2012

-          201 had started to use the Service

-          152 had left the Service

-          9 users had taken up Direct Payment

-          Reduction from 89% to 85% in residential care occupancy

-          15 users had returned home without a requirement for ongoing care from the Step-Up Step-Down Beds

-          20 recuperation beds provided at the Oakwood Community Hospital, 10 for transfer acute hospital beds and 10 from the community

The report also included information on the quality of contracted Community and Home Care Services including:-

-          34 contracting concerns closed:-

3     Regarding conduct of staff

2     Regarding medication

2     Regarding communication

2     Regarding quality of care recording and data protection

15  Regarding missed calls

6     Regarding timings or lateness of calls

3     Regarding quality of care provided

-          Involved 9 domiciliary care providers

-          79 new contract concerns received in the third quarter with 36 remaining under investigation

Resolved:-  That the report be received.

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 it involves 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) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council)). 

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) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council).

The Strategic Commissioning Manager presented a report proposing an increase in fees to Independent Sector Community and Home Care Services (Domiciliary Care) for 2013/14.

In the financial year 2012/13 the Council paid the CHCS Framework providers at the tendered value.  The Framework was a 3 year contract (to March, 2015) and there was no obligation to uplift the contract hourly rate.  However, it was understood that there were pressures on the sector and an inflationary uplift was warranted.

Discussion ensued on the proposal with the following issues highlighted:-

-          Consultation with providers with regard to rate of pay for staff

-          Effectiveness of the new Framework

-          Referral numbers

-          Neighbouring authorities’ fees

Resolved:- That an inflationary uplift of 1.57% be approved for services commissioned through the Community and Home Care Services (Domiciliary Care) Framework for the financial year 2013/14.

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

The Service Manager, Adult Community Services, reported on short term proposals to cease weekend and Bank Holidays for Day Care provision in Rotherham with a view to refocusing the provision of Day Service across Rotherham.  Customers were choosing more personalised options which was leading to a change in demand for building-based Day Services.

The report set out 2 options for consideration:-

Option 1 – Cease the provision of day care at weekends and Bank Holidays at both Charnwood House and Copeland Lodge

Option 2 – Retain provision of day care on a Saturday at Copeland Lodge for EMI customers

Work had been carried out with customers who attending Social Day Care during the past 12 months to ascertain if they would benefit from attending the Service during the week.  Whilst some customers had moved their weekend day to a day during the week others had chosen to retain their weekend provision.  However, the low numbers did not justify the need for the building and staffing costs during a weekend.

It was a similar situation with regard to customer numbers in attendance during Bank Holidays as a large proportion spent time with family and friends.

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

-          Transport costs

-          Alternative provision at alternative sites in communities

-          Personalisation/Direct Payment

-           

Resolved:-  That consultation take place on option 2 as outlined in the report submitted.

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

Further to Minute No. 19 of 23^rd July, 2012, the Service Manager, Adult Community Services, submitted final proposals for Transport and Catering arrangements for the Learning Disability Day Care Service based on the recent consultation with customers and carers.

Transport Provision

Extensive work had been undertaken with a number of officers who were aware of customers and carers’ needs to review the change to current transport provision.

Catering Provision

At present the current in-house Day Service catering arrangements, delivered on site, were underutilised by customers and therefore not cost effective.  Recent consultation had shown that customers were accepting of the choice of taking their own packed lunch or purchasing a meal from the café.

Discussion ensued on the proposals with the following points highlighted;-

-          The consultation had been extended to accommodate requests for one to one meetings and in response to a Legal Challenge by carers

-          Questionnaires had been sent receiving a 30% return rate – the proposals were based on the questionnaire feedback

-          Non-payment of transport

Resolved:-  (1)  That the consultation summary contained in the report submitted be noted.

(2)  That the following be implemented as from April, 2013, in order to achieve the agreed savings and communication commence with customers and families:-

Transport Service

(a)           That capacity within Neighbourhoods and Adult Services in-house Transport Services be utilised and implemented as from April, 2013.

(b)           That the Autumn Service opening times be changed to allow for dual use of vehicles and that consultation take place with staff, HR and the Trade Unions.

(c)           That vehicles currently used to transport customers to the SCOPE Day Centre be maximised.

(d)          That it be noted that private hire arrangements would remain for those customers where other options were not sufficiently safe.

(e)          That 1 contracted route/journey be transferred from an external operator to inhouse transport and that consultation be carried out with customers and families and the current provider.

(f)            That the flat rate Day Centre Transport charge be increased from £1.00 to £2.50 for 2013/14, a 50p increase to £3.00 in 2014/15 and a further 50p increase to £3.50 in 2015/16.

(g)          That consultation be carried out with Older People, who had previously not been consulted, with regard to the proposed increase and the charge implemented once completed.

(h)          That additional vehicles be leased to enable customers to be transferred from private taxis to inhouse provision and that further work be undertaken to produce draft rotas for staff with a view to an implementation date of May, 2013.

Catering:-

(i)             That current catering arrangements at Addison House and Oaks Day Centre cease.

(j)            That it be noted that customer-led café facilities at both locations would be available to purchase hot snacks.

(3)  That, following discussion with Legal Services, a further report be submitted on measures that could be taken to ensure payment of transport fees as far as possible.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial or business affairs of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

The Director of Health and Wellbeing reported on the results of the tender process for the delivery of a Dementia Carers Support Worker Service and Dementia Café Service to benefit adults with Dementia and their carers.

It was proposed that the contract be awarded for 3 years, commencing on 1^st April, 2013 to 31^st March, 2016.

The preferred provider was an expert and highly specialist Dementia care organisation with a good reputation for raising the profile of Dementia both nationally and locally.  The tendered Service would provide upwards of 1,200 new referrals per annum and opportunities for the Dementia Café model to be rolled out to new locations as demand indicated.

Resolved;-  That the Dementia Carers Support Worker Service and Dementia Café Service be awarded to the Alzheimer’s Society.

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

(The approval of the Mayor was subsequently sought to exempt this item from the Council’s call-in procedure)