Agenda item

Dr R Stewart (Clinical Designer, Design and Learning Centre) and Ms G Walton (Design and Learning Centre Manager) were in attendance for this item

(1)        Mrs Bell (Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health) gave a verbal update on the following issues:

a)    Kent Resilience Forum (KRF) Health and Social Care Recovery Cell Impact Assessment

Mrs Bell introduced Dr Stewart and Ms Walton and provided an update on the Design and Learning Centre for Clinical and Social Innovation. The centre’s work focused on reducing frailty, developing safe new services and transforming the health and social care workforce by promoting independence and self-care. The centre worked in partnership with health and social care services across Kent and most recently had been recognised as the innovation facility for the Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) with the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN). The partnership also worked with a wider network, including the Medway Innovation Hub a University and National Institute for Health Research.

The Health and Social Care Recovery Cell report identified a number of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats resulting from Covid-19 and emphasised the importance of communications with the public, public information campaigns, equality considerations and next steps.

b)   COVID-19 Volunteers

During the Covid-19 pandemic, a significant number of volunteers had stepped forward to support vulnerable people within their communities. The positive work of COVID-19 volunteers had been highlighted within the KRF Impact Report and touched upon by the Health and Social Care Cell. In July, Mrs Bell had attended a virtual webinar held by the Local Government Association on Local Outbreak Planning. A series of slides had been presented during the webinar by the Chief Executive of a London Borough where COVID-19 volunteers had been encouraged to register as Community/COVID Champions to support the vulnerable and shielded.  The role of local authorities within this was to provide information and develop messages which could be passed onto the Champions who then ‘spread the word’ in their own way, appropriate to their particular communities. A session would soon be organised, hosted by the Design and Learning Centre, to present the work that had been undertaken to Members.

c)    Update on Assistive Technology

In mid-March, as the country signalled a move into lockdown and imposing significant social and service restrictions, Kent County Council engaged with Alcove and Rethink partners to progress the deployment of 2,000 video care phones to support the most vulnerable members of the local community to stay connected to care and support services and loved ones during a period of significant challenge. The first devices were despatched at the end of April and it was anticipated that the roll-out would take 12 weeks. However, there had been some delay in deployment. It’d taken longer than originally planned to identify and obtain consent for people to receive the care phones and engagement with domiciliary providers had presented some challenges. Mrs Bell stated that the Assistive Technology project was a one-year project and had not limited vulnerable people from immediately benefiting from the increased social engagement that the device had provided during the most challenging period of lockdown.

(2)        In response to a question regarding the Health and Social Care Recovery Cell’s Action Plan, Mrs Bell confirmed that the plan was currently in draft form and she would update the Committee in due course. She pointed out that high on the list of priorities in the Action Plan was preparedness for winter. Mr Smith added that in relation to winter planning, there was a well-rehearsed, well-documented, comprehensive process in working across Health and Social Care to prepare for winter. He said that the directorate were planning for winter in a way that prepared for a second wave of COVID-19 and seasonal flu.

(3)        In response to a question, Mrs Bell referred to the KRF and Health and Social Care Recovery cell and confirmed that two out of three of the stages had been completed. The focus would shortly move back to Kent County Council as the body responsible for recovery.

(4)        Dr Stewart and Ms Walton presented a series of slides to Committee Members which set out information relating to the digitalisation of care homes and the way in which the Design and Learning Centre co-designed better, safer, cheaper and different care through innovation, digital technology, practice and improved outcomes, person-centered care (ESTHER), co-production with communities, volunteer work, DLC Training Hub, Funding, Research evaluation and links to Kent and Medway Medical School.

(5)        Dr Stewart responded to a series of comments and questions from Members which included the following points:

·         The prevention of individuals having to physically attend hospital or GP appointments

·         ESTHER model – Knowledge of aspects important to the individual

·         The improvement of digital capacity within care homes, prisons and libraries

·         Utilising keen volunteer workers

·         Co-production in technology and finding new, innovative ways to upskill and make it easier for individuals to use technology to stay connected

·         Home monitoring to identify and prevent

(6)        The Chairman suggested that Dr Stewart and Ms Walton present further information to a future meeting of the Cabinet Committee with regards to the work of the DLC, Members wholeheartedly supported this.

(7)        Mr Smith (Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health) gave a verbal update on the following issues:

a)    Digitalisation of our workforce, systems and the people of Kent

Mr Smith emphasised the importance of collaboration between operational teams and of the DLC’s work in providing solutions and fuelling initiatives. He agreed with the comments which had been made by Committee Members in relation to ensuring a person-centred approach to digitalisation.

b)   The diagnostic of ASC and the partnership with PwC

Mr Smith referred to the discussions which had taken place at DMT and CMT in relation to the reorganisation to assist with the diagnostic of Adult Social Care and in terms of response, recovery and long-term sustainability. In relation to the challenges ahead, he stated that the key aspects to focus on in coming months were practice, innovation and meaningful measures. In referring to the partnership arrangements with PwC, Mr Smith confirmed that the outcome of a report which identified areas of opportunity within Kent would be shared with Members in due course. He stated that the piece of work that was commissioned with PwC was not about efficiencies, it was about ensuring that the organisation was fit for purpose and in a position to meet the ongoing challenges that lay ahead.

c)    The structure of ASC and new appointments

Mr Smith welcomed Chris McKenzie, Director for West Kent, on his first day in post, completing the recruitment of the two Directors of both East Kent (Janice Duff) and West Kent. Over the coming weeks, ASC would recruit five Assistant Directors from a selection of internal and external candidates and the AD would focus on ASC’s learning and response from the restructure, but also a structure that would develop and support partnerships. Mr McKenzie and Ms Duff would be locality-based, enabling them to work alongside Integrated Care Partnerships, health colleagues and voluntary organisations. Mr Smith stated that he would provide a progress update at the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee.

d)   Introduction to the Kent Academy

At the beginning of July 2020, Mr Smith and Mr Dunkley (Corporate Director Children, Young People and Education) launched the Kent Academy, a one-stop-shop online service for professionals to access national and international research and support their day to day practice. There were two elements to the Kent Academy, one focusing solely on Adult Social Care, and the other focusing on Children and Young People. He referred to an enlightening presentation which was shown during the launch of the Kent Academy by one of Kent’s carers and emphasised the importance of the carers voice and a mother’s journey into social care. He said that over 250 people from multi-disciplinary and social work teams across the organisation joined the launch and thanked the team.

(8)        RESOLVED that the verbal updates be noted.