Cabinet Member's and Director's Update (oral)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
1. Mr Gibbens gave an oral update on the following issues:-
a) the ‘Valuing Employment Now in Kent’ conference, which he had attended recently. This had been an excellent event and a valuable opportunity to see the possibilities for employment for [vulnerable] people (with learning disabilities?)
b) the Later Life Strategy event on 24 June, which had been attended by all key players, including KASS, the Fire Service, the Police and NHS. The challenge for partners would be to achieve real outcomes, and the Older Persons’ Forum was currently addressing an action plan of issues arising.
2. The Chairman commented that all POSC Members needed to be aware of such conferences taking place so they would have the opportunity to attend if they so wished. He asked that advance notification of future conferences be given to all POSC Members.
3. Mr Mills then gave an oral update on the following issues:-
a) Age Concern funding: Members would continue to have briefings, and a third update letter would be sent soon. An item on this would be included on a future POSC agenda, once the current programme of change had been completed. The recent amalgamation of Age Concern and Help the Aged to form Age UK would not affect the consultation and decision making process,
b) the week of 16 June had been Adult Safeguarding Week, and events in that week had aimed to raise awareness. This, along with the extensive media coverage of the Pilkington case in Leicestershire, and ongoing staff training initiatives, would ensure that the issue remained in the public eye.
c) Carers Week, beginning 14 June, had been very successful, with initiatives to contact younger carers in particular making use of social networking and twitter.
d) Members had had briefings on the Older Persons’ Strategy, and the presentation scheduled at the end of today’s POSC meeting would add to this to ensure that all Members have the opportunity to understand the proposed changes to Older Persons’ provision in the KCC.
3. RESOLVED that the information given be noted, with thanks.