Agenda item

Nathan Atkinson, Assistant Director Strategic Commissioning

Nathan Atkinson, Assistant Director Strategic Commission, referred to the report, ‘Learning Disability Commissioning – Shaping the Future’, approved by Commissioner Sir Derek Myers on 10^th October, 2016, to implement a strategic approach to the commissioning and delivery of services for people with Learning Disabilities within Rotherham through a market position statement.  The approach sought to adopt a set of strategic commissioning intentions that strengthened independence, choice and control and supported the wider Audit Care Development programme.

Since approval of the report, the market position statement had been updated with the final version to be published on the Council’s website in December.  Speak Up had been awarded a £50,000 grant and had commenced a programme of work which would support the overall direction of travel for Learning Disability Services.

Two meetings had now been held with Sheffield City Council to progress activity on a Supported Living Framework which would lead to a formal work programme to facilitate the required tender activity and provider selection process during 2017.  A draft specification would be available for consultation in January with feedback from the Commission invited.

A bid had been submitted to the Housing and Care Technology Fund administered by the Department of Health on 28^th October.  The bid was to support the development of specialist housing and assistive technology for people with Learning Disabilities and Autism in Rotherham. 

The tender for John Street and Oak Close had been published on YOURtender.  It was envisaged that the Service provision would be awarded to a new provider in February, 2017, with a view to the transition taking place in March and handover on 1^st April.  Customers, carers and families would be actively involved in the provider selection process.

Sally from SpeakUp gave a verbal update on the Learning Disability offer consultation and the work they had undertaken:-

-          Work had taken place with the Council as well as with people with Learning Disabilities and family carers with regard to how the consultation would work for people

-          Development of a range and variety of methods in which people with Learning Disabilities, family carers, members of the public and staff across the Clinical Commissioning Group, RDaSH and the Council could have their say

-          4 different questionnaires that would be available through the Council’s website along with an easy read version for people with Learning Disabilities and Autism

-          Range of sessions that people could attend -  1:1 and drop-in sessions and focus groups for members of the public and family carers to have their say on the Learning Disability offer

-          Made sure that carers have had their say in terms of thinking about some the questions that would be going into the consultation and making sure that people with Learning Disabilities across the Borough had the options to have their say

-          Look to working with REMA and BME communities because conscious that very few BME communities access Learning Disabilities Services  in Rotherham as well as organisations such as KeyRing and NASS to make sure people with Autism have their say on the Learning Disability offer

-          The last Peoples’ Parliament had focussed on road safety and hate crime.  The Hate Crime reporting officer came to that session and took back peoples’ views and voices to the Vulnerable Person’s Unit

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

·           When undertaking the consultation were you able to look at location bases?  If there was a particular location where there was no response it may not be effective to go to the Borough-wide organisation but location-based community projects -  Work was taking place on ensuring all the information was available e.g. GP practices, across community services, posters displayed for the general public to know about the consultation.  The information that would come back in through the online questionnaire would specifically ask for the location so it could be mapped across the Borough.  Any issues in certain areas of the Borough would be picked up on a weekly basis.  It was proposed that short reports be prepared for Members to update on progress with the consultation.

·           A lot of people did not view such consultation work as a Service paid for by the Council.  With all the funding being put forward it was important that people saw how the Council spent the money and who gained from it.

·           Communications Team need to explain what was trying to be achieved, how it would be funded and the quality of the service.

·           Were the drop-in sessions just in Rotherham or certain areas of the Borough?  They were across Rotherham.  Anyone could attend the drop-ins but there was a dedicated telephone line to book in on the 1:1 sessions or focus groups.

Resolved:-  That the report be noted.