Agenda item

Report from the Assistant Chief Executive.

Recommendations:

1. That the following recommendations from the review be received:

a)    That the excellent work of Rotherham Community Hub be commended, especially in respect of the befriending service which helped relieve loneliness and isolation throughout the pandemic.

b)    That Members be encouraged to add the Community Hub to their ward priorities and e-bulletins to better support vulnerable residents and families.

c)    Whereas the current Community Hub model is due to end in March 2022, should there be a further evolution of the Community Hub model, that an update be brought in 12 months’ time.

2. That Cabinet formally consider its response to the above recommendations by June 2022, in accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

Consideration was given to the report which summarised the findings and recommendations from the Health Select Commission spotlight review held on 13th September, 2021. The review focused on the befriending service and support for loneliness provided by the Rotherham Community Hub during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To fulfil a statutory requirement, the Community Hub was rapidly mobilised during March 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, which left many vulnerable people without a way to get food, medicine, or emotional support during isolation. Coinciding with the launch of the Food Bank, the new Community Hub offered a simple route to request support or to volunteer. From the outset, Hub staff identified a trend of isolation and loneliness among people who were shielding or isolating during COVID-19. The Community Hub co-ordinated the joint response of Council services and the voluntary and community organisations sector (VCS).

Members of the Health Select Commission undertook the spotlight review with a view to understanding and highlighting the role of the Community Hub within the suite of interventions in loneliness and provision of mental health support which had been an agreed primary focus of the Health Select Commission for 2021-22. All Members of the Health Select Commission undertook the review. Recommendations were generated by Members and derived from discussion during the question and answer session with service leads.

At the meeting the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health agreed with the praise for the Community Hub and confirmed that loneliness and befriending was a focus of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Resolved:-

1.    That the following recommendations from the review be received:

a)         That the excellent work of Rotherham Community Hub be commended, especially in respect of the befriending service which helped relieve loneliness and isolation throughout the pandemic.

b)         That Members be encouraged to add the Community Hub to their Ward priorities and e-bulletins to better support vulnerable residents and families.

c)          Whereas the current Community Hub model was due to end in March 2022, should there be a further evolution of the Community Hub model, that an update be brought in 12 months’ time.

2.    That Cabinet formally consider its response to the above recommendations by June 2022, in accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.