Issue - meetings

1.            Ms Agyepong and Ms M Stirrup introduced the report and responded to comments and questions from the committee, including the following:-

a)    funding for services for 16-17 year olds was not yet known but identifying this would be part of the detailed mapping work which would start shortly;

b)    the proposed extension of the contract was welcomed but concern was expressed that changes introduced by the Liberty Protection Safeguards did not include the same requirement for an assessment. Ms Stirrup advised that this and other elements of the impact of the changes would be covered by a new code of practice.  The impact of the changes would be examined very carefully by a task and finish group; and

c)    it was suggested that a further report be presented to a future meeting of the committee to set out the details of the impact of the implementation of Liberty Protection Safeguards.

2.            It was RESOLVED that:-

a)    the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, to:

i)    extend the current contract with South-East Memory Assessment Services from 1 September 2021 to 31 March 2022, by means of a Written Justification for Exemption from the Normal Contract Procedure; and

ii)   delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health to take relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into required contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary, to implement the decision, be endorsed;

b)    the planned implementation of Liberty Protection Safeguards as a replacement to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards be noted; and

c)    a further report be presented to a future meeting of the committee to set out the details of the impact of the implementation of Liberty Protection Safeguards.