Issue - meetings

(1)          Mr Gibbens moved and Mr Smith seconded the following motion:

“County Council is asked to ENDORSE Your Life, Your Well-Being - A Vision and Strategy for Adult Social Care 2016 -2021”

(2)          Following debate the motion was agreed without a formal vote. 

(3)          RESOLVED that ‘Your Life, Your Well-Being’ - A vision and Strategy for Adult Social Care 2016 -2021be endorsed.

To receive a report and presentation from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, and to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member on the proposed decision to approve the final draft of the strategy, with the supporting Accommodation Strategy for Adult Social Care and the Community Support Market Position Statement.

Mr M Thomas-Sam, Head of Strategy and Business Support, and Ms S Annan-Veitch, Policy Advisor, were in attendance for this item.

1.            Mr Thomas-Sam introduced the report and presented a series of slides (included in the agenda pack) which set out the context of the strategy, the range of responses received during the consultation exercise and the resulting changes made to the draft strategy since last reporting to the Cabinet Committee in October 2016.  Mr Ireland added that the strategy had been generally well received in focus group sessions with staff and partners as part of the consultation. The strategy was both forward-looking and aspirational in seeking to determine the future of social care in Kent.  Mr Ireland and Mr Thomas-Sam responded to comments and questions, as follows:-

a)    the strategy had been awarded a  crystal mark by the Plain English Campaign  at its first attempt, for which Mr Thomas-Sam received Members’ congratulations;

b)    the easy-read version of the document was also much welcomed, and Members asked that this be made available to all Members ahead of the strategy being considered by the County Council on 8 December;

c)    concern was expressed that, as the strategy was aspirational, and as the economic situation worsened and staff and resources became more scarce, the County Council may not be able to put into practice what it had set out in it.  Mr Ireland responded that, although aspirational, the strategy was not naïve, and although external events would have an effect, the strategy was robust;

d)    it was important that such a document take account of the support needs of people with learning disabilities, especially young people making the transition from children’s to adults’ services.  Ms Southern advised that much work had been done on the needs of the 16 – 25 age group and was now continuing to identify the best model for the 26+ age group.  This would be reported to the Cabinet Committee when completed; 

e)    concern had been expressed during the consultation that some people may be forced into living independently when this did not suit them or was not what they wanted.  Mr Thomas-Sam reassured Members that the revised strategy relied on ‘needs–led’ assessments, which would be carefully undertaken to ensure that the support being put in place was appropriate;

f)     in response to a question about how well the strategy had been received by the voluntary sector, Mr Thomas-Sam advised that the County Council had increase the emphasis placed on the role of the voluntary sector and had linked the strategy to those of other organisations which provided related services; and

g)    concern was expressed about the impact of carers needing to continue in paid work later in life, and hence not being so able to fulfil the carer role that they might traditionally have taken on, and how this shortfall could be covered.  Mr Thomas-Sam advised that part of the role of the carers’ assessment process would be to take account of changing patterns such as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25

To receive a report and presentation from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, on which the committee is invited to comment.

Ms C Holden, Head of Commissioning (Accommodation Solutions), was in attendance for this item.

1.            Ms Holden introduced the report and presented a series of slides (included in the agenda pack) which set out an overview of the provision of residential care beds across Kent, for older people and those with learning disabilities and mental health needs, and how the County Council was working with partners to develop and support this provision. Ms Holden responded to comments and questions, as follows:-

a)    the provision of extra care sheltered housing (ECSH) around the county was supported and the point made that many more places were needed. Ms Holden agreed that this should be increased but explained that development had temporarily halted while consultation was being undertaken, arising from the Housing and Planning Act. Some people who could potentially benefit from ECSH may believe that it was not an affordable option for them, so clarification around eligibility and access to benefits would help this understanding, and this clarification could be approached by liaising with local housing authorities;

b)    concern was expressed that some areas of the county did not have adequate provision of beds to allow older people to be discharged from hospital in a timely way; and

c)    Ms Holden clarified that any home receiving an ‘inadequate’ rating would be supported to develop an action plan to implement improvements. Families would be advised of this process and given the opportunity to move their relatives to alternative accommodation if they wished to.

2.            RESOLVED that the information set out in the report and presentation, and given in response to comments and questions, be noted.   

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing on the draft Strategy, on which the Committee is invited to comment.

Ms J Dixon-Sherreard, Policy Advisor, was in attendance for this item, with Mr Thomas-Sam.

1.            Mr Thomas-Sam and Ms Dixon-Sherreard introduced the report and explained that the final draft of the Strategy would be reported to this committee on 6 December 2016, prior to a formal decision being taken by the Cabinet Member to approve it for adoption.  Mr Thomas-Sam, Ms Dixon- Sherreard and Mr Ireland responded to comments and questions from Members, as follows:

a)    the offer of a Member briefing to explain the detail of the strategy was welcomed. Mr Ireland emphasised the significance of the strategy in predicting and planning for what social care might need to look like in the next 5 – 10 years, including its offer, its sustainability and the way in which it linked to and integrated with other services;

b)    it was important that the strategy take account of the growing number of older carerswho were continuing the carer role into their senior years, while also needing to continue working, who would need support to cope with their own health problems; and

c)    concern was raised about whether or not respondents would know how to answer the question on the consultation document (included with the strategy) which asked if they considered themselves to be disabled, as set out in the Equality Act of 2010. Mr Thomas-Sam advise that this was a usual question in consultations and had been tested before being included. It gave the County Council the opportunity to identify any special needs and was part of its concern to promote the interests of disabled people and help them to participate.

2.            The Cabinet Member, Mr Gibbens, thanked Members for their comments and said he would take account of them when approving the final strategy. He emphasised the growing importance of integrating health and social care, the wide range of issues to be covered within this and the need to consider how effectively this was being pursued.  He also offered a briefing on the detail of the strategy to any Member who wished to contact him to request one.

3.            RESOLVED that the draft Vision and Strategy for Adult Social Care 2016 – 2012 be noted and Members’ comments, set out above, be taken into account when preparing the final strategy.