Minutes:
1. The verbal update was provided by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Mr Dan Watkins and Corporate Director for Adult Social Care, Mr Richard Smith. Mr Watkins highlighted the following in his report:
a) A public consultation on changes to wellbeing services was scheduled to launch at the end of November 2024. The services are delivered by voluntary community organisations to help prevent, reduce or delay the need for people to receive care and support by keeping them well and independent. The proposal had been developed with the strategic provider and a full briefing will be circulated to Cabinet Committee Members prior to launch.
b) The Care Quality Commission Assurance visit took place at the end of September / beginning of October 2024 and the initial report is anticipated in early December 2024.
c) World Mental Health Day took place on the 10 October 2024 and the official theme was prioritising mental health in the workplace and Kent County Council supported this in a variety of ways.
d) Mr Watkins confirmed that he joined Mr Jordan Meade and Mr Andrew Kennedy, both of whom are KCC Mental Health Champions, on part of their tour of mental health charities around Kent (on 20 October 2024).
e) Mr Watkins confirmed that he would be attending the Kent and Medway Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Conference on the 26 November 2024 at the Detling Showground.
f) Mr Watkins confirmed as part of his tour of Adult Social Care and Health Services, he visited the Southfields Short Break Centre in Ashford on the 16 October 2024.
g) The Kent Dementia Show Case and Dementia Friendly Awards took part on the 21 October 2024. Mr Watkins confirmed that he presented the awards at Vally Park Secondary School in Maidstone.
2. Mr Kennedy confirmed that he was also attending the Kent and Medway Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Conference and requested that his thanks to Mr Streatfeild be recorded, in recognition for organising three successful visits to organisations within his division on World Mental Health Day.
3. Mr Kennedy explained to Members that he recently launched an initiative in his division called The Community Bridge which has been put together with the Kent County Council Mental Health team and Tonbridge and Malling Council provided financial support. The website is: communitybridge.co.uk
4. The Corporate Director for Adult Social Care, Mr Richard Smith highlighted the following in his verbal update:
a) Mr Smith gave his thanks to all staff involved in the CQC Assurance visit. He confirmed that the first report would be received during the last week of November / beginning of December and once he had taken the opportunity to review the contents for the purposes of challenge, question and check accuracy levels, the rating would then be published. An improvement plan would then be developed.
b) October was Black History month and there were various engagement opportunities throughout KCC. Mr Smith gave thanks to all staff involved with the planning and implementation.
c) A Festival of Practice will be held to allow Adult Social Care, in particular social workers, the opportunity to showcase their work. 57 people have indicated through DELTA that they would like to share examples of good practice.
d) Occupational Therapy week had just concluded. This also provided opportunities to show case good examples of preventative work carried out by OTTs (Occupational Therapists Teams).
e) Mr Smith confirmed that he attended a Kent and Medway Health and Care Symposium run by the ICS (Integrated Care Service). The focus was on prevention and a range of providers were also in attendance.
f) Adult Social Care won two silver awards and Social Work of the Year award. The awards were collected by Mr Peter Zein.
5. In answer to a question concerning the NHS’s potential future involvement with the Prevent scheme, Mr Smith commented that, whilst he was not able to answer on behalf of the NHS he could comment in his capacity as Corporate Director that new monies had gone into the NHS and there were going to be some organisation changes and clarity of roles and responsibilities between the Integrated Care Board, the Trusts and NHS England. This meant that the Integrated Care Board were more focused on community services and prevention.
6. RESOLVED the Committee to note the verbal updates.