Issue - meetings

(Report by Managing Director, Kent Adult Social Services)

(Mr N Sherlock, Public Involvement and Performance Improvement Manager, was in attendance for this and the following three items, and Miss Goldsmith, Directorate Finance Manager, was in attendance for this and the following item)

(1)     Mr Sherlock and Miss Goldsmith introduced the report and, in response to questions and points of concern raised by Members, they and Mr Leidecker clarified:-

          (a)       the Operating Plan included a small but ongoing cost of providing basic services (which KASS has the responsibility to do) to unsuccessful asylum seekers who had exhausted the appeal system and were awaiting repatriation;

          (b)       although the overall level had reduced, East Kent still experienced more delayed discharges than West Kent, despite the transfer of funding from West to East two years ago to address the problem;

          (c)        the expected spend for the year is set out in the Business Plan at the start of the year but inevitably requires adjustment as the year progresses.  Examples of this change noted were the underspend on staffing and an increase in the amount committed to Direct Payments;

          (d)       KASS experienced a very low turnover of staff, and vacancies were managed by monitoring the workload, sickness levels and maternity leave, etc. and by using the traffic light system to indicate vacancies which should be filled as priority and those which could wait a while.  Members would be supplied with details of how this system worked; and

          (e)       there were indications that the increase in the use of Direct Payments had identified previously unmet need.  The budget IMG had looked at this issue and the report considered by the IMG would be shared with POC Members.

(2)     RESOLVED that the information set out in the report, and given in response to Members’ questions, be noted, with thanks.