Agenda item

To receive verbal updates from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

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

a)    Kent and Medway Joint Health and Wellbeing Board

The Kent and Medway Joint Health and Wellbeing Board had recently focused on addressing health inequalities across Kent. Mr Gibbens expressed the importance of addressing health inequalities and confirmed that a report would be submitted to the Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee on 13 March 2019 which would set out the work that Kent County Council had undertaken to collaborate andcoordinate a whole-systems approach through the Sustainability TransformationPartnership, and with wider partners, to address widening health inequalities.

b)   Meeting with Age UK Chairs in Kent

An annual Age UK meeting took place on 25 February 2019 in which the Chairmen of Age UK’s across the county gathered together to discuss the proposed plans to change Age UK’s current grant arrangements to a commissioned basis. Mr Gibbens said that the event was well attended and that the discussions in relation to supporting small organisations and providing better outcomes for Kent residents were positive.

c)    Safeguarding Update

A Safeguarding Member’s briefing took place on 26 February 2019 and case studies which related to safeguarding issues in Kent were shared.

d)   Sustainability and Transformation Plan Update

A Local Government Association summit took place on 27 February 2019 which focused on addressing local care needs, reducing admissions to A&E and increasing focus in relation to GP practices.

2.          In response to a question relating to accommodation for ex-offenders, Mr Gibbens confirmed that Kent County Council received a letter from the Ministry of Justice which could be shared with Members of the Committee outside of the meeting. The letter stated that The National Probation Service for England and Wales were responsible for caring for individuals on a one-to-one basis once they had been released from custody. He said that a further update on the matter could be provided at the next meeting of the Committee.

3.          Penny Southern (Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health) welcomed Richard Smith (Interim Portfolio Manager) to his first meeting of the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee, and then she gave a verbal update on the following issues:

a)          Past Year Reflection

Mrs Southern reflected upon the key events and achievements within Kent County Council’s Adult Social Care and Health directorate in 2018, as she had been in post as Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health for a year. Some of the key events highlighted were: staff members had been shortlisted for the Social Worker of the Year awards, the Kent Supported Employment team received two awards, the County Placement team received a Chairman’s Award, and Emma Peasgood, a Senior Practitioner Social Worker received a scholarship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and visited Finland and Sweden to work with Deaf children, digital technology global screening, and Kent’s Learning Disability Services Day Opportunities received a Chief Constable certificate.

b)   Visit to Hertfordshire

Mrs Southern talked about a recent visit to Hertfordshire and said that a positive meeting had taken place in which Kent County Council and Hertfordshire County Council shared knowledge and experiences in relation to Adult Social Care and Health and obtained information relating to Hertfordshire County Council’s 15-year direction of travel, accommodation strategy and assisted technology strategy.

4.          RESOLVED that the verbal updates be noted.