Agenda item

Report from the Assistant Chief Executive.

Recommendations:

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

a)    That the learning from the pandemic and ongoing needs in respect of care home safety be noted.

b)    That the service consider how the Council may help support recruitment and retention within the care sector.

c)    That consideration be given to how best to retain, where possible, the benefits of supportive models such as regular engagement, access to training/guidance and the IMT approach, which were adopted during the pandemic.

d)    That outcomes of forthcoming reviews by the Health and Wellbeing Board on learning from the Pandemic be considered for Scrutiny.

2.    That Cabinet formally consider its response to the above recommendations by March 2023, in accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the recommendations from the spotlight review on Covid-19 Care Home Safety to Cabinet for review.

The Chair of the Health Select Commission explained that the review had been commissioned to identify the safety of care homes in Rotherham during the pandemic.  She offered her thanks for all Members who supported the review. 

The aim of the review was to receive assurances that learning from the pandemic had been captured that would help ensure greater safety for care home residents and staff as we, as a community, continue living with Covid.  The review had received support from the Cabinet Member and officers of the Council. 

Areas that had been identified were the need for a strong workforce, which was protected by things such as sick pay, good quality guidance, access to PPE and testing regimes.  A key aspect would be how those resources could be delivered in future.

The Leader confirmed that the Cabinet would provide a response to those recommendations at its March meeting.

The Cabinet Member explained that the recommendations would need to be considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board along with colleagues within Public Health.  Congratulations was offered to officers and partners, who now shared data.  There was increased communications with care homes within Rotherham.  It was understood that there was further work to be conducted on a national and local level to ensure this sector continued to improve.

Resolved:

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

a.  That the learning from the pandemic and ongoing needs in respect of care home safety be noted.

b.  That the Service consider how the Council may help support recruitment and retention within the care sector.

c.   That consideration be given as to how best to retain, where possible, the benefits of supportive models such as regular engagement, access to training/guidance and the IMT approach, which were adopted during the pandemic.

d.  That outcomes of forthcoming reviews by the Health and Wellbeing Board on learning from the Pandemic be considered for scrutiny.

2.    That Cabinet formally consider its response to the above recommendations by March 2023, in accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.