Agenda item

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Report for the second quarter of 2018/19 (July 2018 to September 2018) relating to Adult Social Care, Health and Housing.  A current comment and an overview of the key issues (risk rated red items) relating to the second quarter will be provided.

Panel members are asked to give advance notice to the Governance and Scrutiny Team of any questions relating to the Quarterly Service Report where possible.

The Panel considered the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Report for the second quarter of 2018/19 (July 2018 to September 2018) relating to Adult Social Care, Health and Housing. A current comment and an overview of the key issues (risk rated red items) relating to the second quarter was provided.

Nikki Edwards, Executive Director: People introduced the QSR and acknowledged it was out of date as the Panel had not met since 11 September 2018 and the QSR for Q2 2018/19 had not been available on the date of that Panel meeting.

The Panel were advised that the dashboard for QSR monitoring was not ready yet and commentary was provided (by exception) for items risk rated red.

1.7.22

Melanie O’Rourke, Assistant Director: Adult Social Care Operations advised the Panel that:

·         She was proud of the achievements to create savings with no direct effect on individuals and no increase in complaints. 

·         Transformation plans had been refreshed. 

·         Future prioritisation was on programme priorities in such a way as to keep delivering.

L178

The current figure of 838 household nights in B&B accommodation (quarterly) was questioned by Members.

Hannah Doherty, Interim Joint Assistant Director: Early Help and Communities, explained:

·         Tenterden Lodge had been closed for major works and needed to be revamped.  Alternative accommodation had needed to be found for those who needed it and this had resulted in higher numbers in B&B accommodation in Q2 but those numbers were now back below the target figure in Q3. 

The Executive Member for Adult Social Care further advised that:

·         There were a couple of places held and kept available at Tenterden Lodge for homeless people in cold periods so a quick response could be provided. 

·         A Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) update would be provided to Councillors in the next few days. 

·         Extensive work was being done to avoid homelessness. 

·         Housing had been asked to indicate the success of our programmes to avoid homelessness in the first place.

4.6.01

Members asked for details of the new Drug, Alcohol and Addiction Therapy (DAAT) programme that had commenced on 6 November 2018.

Melanie O’Rourke, Assistant Director: Adult Social Care Operations advised:

·         The new Drug, Alcohol and Addiction Therapy (DAAT) programme had been implemented, and positive feedback had been received. 

·         The group programme which had been 4 days per week for 8 weeks had changed to 3 days per week for 10 weeks. The content of the programme had been refreshed and the programme met the needs of the people taking part.

·         Feedback indicated that the programme was working.

Budget Position.

Revenue Budget.

Members asked how much of the additional funding of £240m for winter pressures in social care nationally Bracknell Forest would receive and whether there any conditions attached.

Melanie O’Rourke Assistant Director: Adult Social Care Operations advised that:

£364K has been allocated to Bracknell Forest Council, with the condition that this will address Delayed Transfers of Care making sure across the Integrated Care System (ICS) they are aligned to support that.

Further questions were asked by the Panel Members.

In response to these questions Panel Members were advised that:

·         151 individuals and families had been prevented from homelessness since April 2018. 

·         The team had been working closely with early help colleagues in a joined up approach and were achieving successful outcomes.

·         Bracknell Forest was gathering data but has not seen a high impact or rise in homelessness because they worked hard to prevent it. 

·         Intervention was earlier and it did prevent homelessness earlier. 

·         Families were most important to provide whole family support. Early intervention prevented knock on mental health and other family issues.

·         All the teams sat in one Directorate now and that joined up working was having a big impact.

It was observed that there was an underspend on the Public Health Grant (Page 79) and that nationally there were on average 180 operations per day performed in hospital to extract teeth from young children and teenagers. (unreferenced)

A question from a Member asked how many multiple extractions were performed on children and teenagers within Bracknell Forest and whether Bracknell Forest had a prevention programme.

ACTION:  Nikki Edwards, Executive Director: People to reply to these two questions and advise the Panel.