Agenda item

Mrs C Bell (Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health) and Mr R Smith (Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health) were in attendance for this item.

1.    Mrs Bell introduced the item which served as an update on the progress made over the previous six months to deliver against ‘Making a Difference Everyday: Our Strategy for Adult Social Care in Kent 2022-2027,’ following a call-in of the decision to adopt the Strategy in May 2022. She explained that delivery had progress largely as planned, though a few delays in some areas. A longer than expected reorganisation of teams as part of the transition to the Locality Operating Model as well as delays to the implementation of the government's adult social care reforms were cited as the main impediments for the programme.

2.    Mr Smith gave a presentation. The contents of the presentation included a summary of the strategy development process as well as the progress made implementing the Locality Operating Model; a new place-based way of working; Digital Front Door; Digital Self Serve; Self-directed Support; and Technology Enabled Care. He reminded Members that the strategy was in its second of its five-year transformation programme and that user feedback had been included as part of the ongoing programme evaluation along with cost benefit analysis.

3.    Mr Smith emphasised, following a question from a Member, that Making a Difference Everyday was designed as an efficiency and practice improvement model which focused on a transition from a traditional care to community and digital model, rather than an explicit savings vehicle. 

4.    Additional information on the diagnostic process undertaken, including the cost to the Council, was requested by a Member.

5.    In relation to the developments cited in the presentation as to be completed by December 2022, a Member asked whether they were expected to be completed on time. Mr Smith confirmed that there had been a minor delay to the starting of the Quality Assurance Board, which he would be chairing the first meeting of in January 2023, due to the finalisation of membership. He added that the Self Assessment Tool had also experienced minor delays due to a longer than expected process of platform development.

6.    A Member asked how implementation of Making a Difference Everyday had strengthened workforce resilience. Mrs Bell acknowledged that the provider market both in Kent and nationally faced significant staff shortages which impacted morale. Mr Smith added that over 90% of Kent’s adult social care provision was commissioned and that a recruitment campaign and investigations into attracting new recruits to health and social industry were underway. It was noted that new digital roles would attract other professionals to social care and further diversify the workforce. He emphasised the importance of health and social care integration for strengthening workforce resilience across both sectors.

7.    Mr Smith reassured the Committee that the Locality Operating Model was designed to improve integration with the wider health system and partnerships.

8.    Members commented that further improvements to information sharing between the NHS and social care were required to maximise the service efficiency.

9.    Mrs Bell agreed to provide a further update to the Committee at the appropriate time. Dr Sullivan asked that the questions with outstanding answers be addressed in the future update.

RESOLVED to note the update on the Making a Difference Everyday (MADE) Strategy.