Agenda and draft minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest made at the meeting.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 21st October, 2013.

It was noted that with respect to Minute No. H36 (Police Assistance and Conveyance to Hospital for those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983) clarification had been sought and it was determined that formal approval from Cabinet was not required.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting held on 21st October, 2013, be approved as a correct record.

-       Minutes of meeting held on 11^th September, 2013

The minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 16^th October, 2013, were noted.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Director of Health and Wellbeing which set out the detailed response and action plan relating to the spotlight review undertaken by the Health Select Commission into perceived problems with out of hours discharges (late at night or weekend) and patients being discharged without adequate support arrangements in place.

The spotlight review recommendations have been welcomed and addressed through effective joint work between NHS Rotherham and the Council.  Good progress had been made in addressing the recommendations which had been agreed by the Clinical Commissioning Group and the Rotherham Foundation Trust.

Further information was provided on each of the recommendations and the proposed action if accepted or the rationale for rejection.

Discussion ensued on the factual information relating to complaints, the involvement of Health Watch and their review of the discharge process, the business process review, management of the discharge process by the Hospital Social Work Team and the perception for the delays, patient choices and the seven day week service.

The potential for unsafe discharges would continue to be monitored by the recently re-activated multi-agency Operational Discharges Group with a progress report being submitted to the Health Select Commission in six months.

The spotlight review also welcomed the initiation of a Business Process Re-engineering Review which had been commissioned by the urgent Care Management Committee, a sub-group of the Clinical Commissioning Group.

It was noted that the draft response would be further revised in light of the above comments.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the response to the Scrutiny recommendations, outlined in the attached action plan, be noted.

(2)  That the response be submitted, together with the outcome of the Business Process re-engineering review to the Urgent Care Management Committee of the Clinical Commissioning Group on 13^th November, 2013, for endorsement of those actions relating to NHS Services.

Consideration was given to the report presented by Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager, which provided a financial forecast for the Adult Services Department within the Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Directorate to the end of March, 2014 based on actual income and expenditure for the period ending September, 2013. 

The forecast for the financial year 2013/14 at this stage was an overall overspend of £1.418m, against an approved net revenue budget of £72.807m, a reduction in the overspend of £400k since the last report. The main budget pressure areas related to slippage on a number of budget savings targets including continuing health care funding and implementing the review of in-house residential care.

Management actions continued to be developed by budget managers to bring the forecast overspend in line with the approved cash limited budget.

A summary of the main variations against the approved budget for each service area was provided, as set out in detail as part of the report.

Discussion ensued on the latest outturn against the approved budgets and the need for a further column in the table to show the previous month’s figure and the budget position for children with learning difficulties moving into adulthood.

Resolved:-  That the report be received and latest financial projection against budget for 2013/14 be noted.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Jacqui Clark, Operational Commissioner, which provided detail on Quarter 1 for Community and Home Care Service activity and quality for the period 1^st April to 30^th June, 2013.

The report provided information on activity levels and quality monitoring outcomes for 2013/14 for services delivered by the Community and Home Care Services Framework which had commenced on 2^nd April, 2012.

Further information was provided on the framework activity, monitoring of quality, including concerns, defaults and embargos and an overview of concerns.

Discussion ensued on the actions taken by care homes following concerns and the current position with the Ethical Care Charter.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted.

(2)   That the report be included on the agenda for the next meeting of the Contracting for Care Forum. 

(3)  That an update report on the Ethical Care Charter be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Jacqui Clark, Operational Commissioner, which provided an update on the annual report on residential care activity for the period 1^st April, 2012 to 30th June, 2013.

The report provided information on occupancy levels and quality monitoring outcomes for 2013/14 for services delivered by independent and in-house residential and nursing care homes.

Discussion ensued number of concerns, examples of key learning and the sharing of intelligence with CQC.

Resolved:-  (1) That the report be noted.

(2)   That the report be included on the agenda for the next meeting of the Contracting for Care Forum. 

Consideration was given to a report presented by Jacqui Clark, Operational Commissioner, which provided an update on the performance of the commissioned Community and Home Care Services Framework and the activity and delivery in Year 1 of the contract.

Further information was provided on activity, responsiveness of the providers, direct payments, contract concerns and enforcements.

It was also noted that contract was due to expire in 2015 and the appropriate steps for commissioning would take place during 2014.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the report be included on the agenda for the next meeting of the Contracting for Care Forum.