Agenda item

Mr Gough (Directorate Business Manager, Adult Social Care and Health) was in attendance for this item

(1)        Mr Gough introduced the report which set out the strategic risks relating to the Adult Social Care and Health Directorate, in addition to the risks featuring on the Corporate Risk Register for which the Corporate Director is the designated ‘Risk Owner’.

Mr Gough then responded to comments and questions from Members, including the following: -

(a)  Mr Gough referred to the Business Disruption risk (ref AH0011) within Appendix 2 to the report and explained that the Adult Social Care and Health directorate would plan for potential business disruption relating to the Corona Virus and take its lead from the Director of Public Health, Andrew Scott-Clark. He confirmed that business continuity plans were in place and were tested and reviewed regularly. He referred to the Risk Management report which would be submitted to the Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee on 6^th March 2020 and said that Mr Scott-Clark would be present at the meeting to respond to questions which related to the Corona Virus. Officers emphasised the importance of ensuring that staff were kept up to date in relation to the potential impact that the Corona Virus could have, explained that contingency plans were in place to minimise business disruption and confirmed that it would be covered within the risk register.

(b)  Ms Tidmarsh emphasised the importance of continuing to deliver care and support to Kent residents and highlighted the potential risk to Adult Social Care and Health’s workforce in relation to Corona Virus. She confirmed that workforce plans were in place and explained the measures which had been taken.

(c)  Ms Tidmarsh referred to business continuity plans in relation to Brexit and said that work had been undertaken with Kent’s schools and colleges to promote careers within health and social care and to offer apprenticeships and training packages to ensure that Kent’s care sector continued to grow.

(d)  Ms Maynard referred to Kent’s commissioning intentions and the importance of considering the workforce, career progression, staff retention and the establishment of career paths. She referred specifically to the recruitment and retention of staff from other countries and said that Kent were working very closely with the care sector to better understand pressure points.

(e)  Ms Tidmarsh referred to change in need and demand in relation to the care sector and said that although some of Kent’s care homes had closed, this meant that individuals were able to stay at home and remain independent for longer. Ms Maynard referred to Kent’s Accommodation Strategy which focused on demand profile and individual’s changing needs and said that Kent County Council continued to work closely with providers to diversify and ensure that accommodation was fit for purpose for Kent’s residents.

(f)   Ms Tidmarsh further explained the strategies used to attract staff to work within the health and social care sector in Kent.

(g)  Mrs Bell (Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health) emphasised the importance of working closely with health partners and said that she had met with the newly-appointed Accountable Officer for the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, Wilf Williams, who was keen to tackle workforce issues within the NHS, in partnership with Kent County Council.

(2)        RESOLVED that the report be noted.