Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and to note the attendance of any substitute members.

The Panel noted the attendance of the following substitute member:

Councillor Mrs McCracken for Councillor Virgo

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 11 October 2011.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 11 October 2011 be approved as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman.

Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, including the existence and nature of the party whip, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

Councillor Baily declared an interest in Item 6, the petition in relation to Ladybank Residential Care Home, as the Home was located in his ward.

Any other items which, pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman decides are urgent.

There were no urgent items of business.

To receive submissions from members of the public which have been submitted in advance in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme for Overview and Scrutiny.

There were no submissions submitted from members of the public in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme for Overview and Scrutiny.

To consider, in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, a petition with approximately 1200 signatories requesting the Council to keep Ladybank Residential Care Home open. The petition will be introduced by Mrs Carol Brooker.

Councillor Baily declared an interest in Item 6, the petition in relation to Ladybank Residential Care Home, as the Home was located in his ward.

Carol Brooker presented a petition, on behalf of a resident of Bracknell Forest Mrs Walsh, in relation to the future of the ‘Ladybank Older Persons Home’ consultation. Approximately 1,200 signatures had been received and the petition had been referred to the Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Panel for consideration.

Approximately one hundred questionnaires were being analysed in relation to the consultation regarding Ladybank Older Persons Home and the petition signatories included a range of residents across Bracknell Forest.

Points raised in the presentation included residents having a choice of where to live, taking into account family views, a tendency to be biased towards home care, offering alternative care provision before the consultation regarding Ladybank had finished. Residents at Ladybank were reported to feel safe at Ladybank and many had not left the Home for years. The thought of leaving Ladybank, for its residents and their families, was inconceivable for some. It was thought that the intention was to reduce some care provision and not to eliminate it.

Ms Brooker thanked the Panel for hearing her presentation and urged the Panel to consider keeping Ladybank Older Persons Home open.

Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were made:

• The consultation in relation to Ladybank Older Persons Home was due to close on 18 January 2012 and a report would go to the Executive on 21 February 2012. The points raised in the presentation would be covered in this report and were noted by the Panel and the Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing who was present at the meeting.
• 108 questionnaires had been received at present in relation to the consultation.

The Chairman thanked Ms Brooker for attending the meeting and giving the presentation.

Martin Gilman, the Chairman of the new Bracknell Forest Older People's Partnership, will discuss the Partnership’s progress to date with the Panel.

Martin Gilman, Chairman of the Bracknell Forest Older People’s Partnership, presented a report on the Partnership’s progress to date.

The Partnership was organising the biannual Voice of Experience Conference event on 30 March 2012, at Easthampstead Baptist Church in Bracknell, which would be used as one of the tools for the refresh of the Older People’s Strategy.

The Chairman commented on the good work being undertaken and achievement by the Partnership.

To consider key themes and priorities for the Adult Social Care and Health Department as outlined in the Council’s Draft Budget Proposals for 2012/13.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Health presented a report on the key themes and priorities for the Adult Social Care and Health Department as outlined in the Council’s Draft Budget Proposals for 2012/13. The key themes included revenue budget, commitment budget, draft revenue budget pressures, draft revenue budget savings proposals, proposed fees and charges, equalities screening record form, capital programme report and summary, and proposed capital schemes.

Adult Social Care and Health major service areas included information and advice, assessment of need, support planning, purchasing and support, direct service provision – residential care, home support, day services, intermediate care/ reablement, commissioning and market management, joint work with health, financial assessment, and regulation/ contract management.

The draft budget proposals included information regarding people receiving support in Bracknell Forest. The majority of the day support was provided by the voluntary sector and funded by Bracknell Forest Council. There were a significant number of staff vacancies in Adult Social Care and Health at present. The cash budget gross spend in 2011/12 was close to £38 million. There was significant income from the Primary Care Trust, including £7.5 million to support people with learning disabilities.

There were significant budget pressures in relation to demographic changes in all care groups, including an increasingly ageing population. The Adult Social Care and Health Department were tracking and monitoring people from a young age regarding the support people received. The Dementia Advisor post had been funded for one year in 2011 and would continue to be funded at present. Self-funding service users sometimes found the funding for their care was exhausted and the local authority then became responsible for funding this care under regulations; £100,000 was spent in 2011 and was found within the budget for this.

The Autism Strategy had been launched and there had been an increase in the number of people presenting with autism for support. There had been a reduction in Supporting People funding. Significant budget reductions were proposed via the reprovision of home support, the recommissioning of Ladybank, Section 28A: demography and Continuing Health Care (CHC) taper, back office costs: management delayering, administration review and personal assistants, underlying underspend, changing working practices, and learning disabilities changes (Headspace/ day services). The first two proposals were out for consultation at present.

The Section 28A: demography and CHC taper involved the transfer of people with learning disabilities. A fixed amount of money was given for the support of people living in Church Hill House when it was decommissioned and when this was no longer needed there was a cost saving. Back office costs including the removal of a management post would result in £148,000 in savings altogether. There was an underspend of £200,000 and changing working practices included electronic monitoring and the creation of an organisation to run Headspace rather than Bracknell Forest Council.

The Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities would be re-located to the Time Square council offices and Waymead would then house day support and overnight  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the second quarter of 2011/12 (July to September) relating to Adult Social Care. An overview of the key issues relating to the third quarter will be provided. A presentation in respect of the Adult Social Care and Health Department’s Service Plan will also be given.

Please bring the previously circulated Quarterly Service Report to the meeting. The QSR is attached to this agenda if viewed online.

Panel members are asked to give advance notice to the Overview and Scrutiny Team of any questions relating to the QSR where possible.

The Panel considered the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Report (QSR) for the second quarter of 2011/12 (July to September) relating to Adult Social Care and received an overview of the key issues in relation to the third quarter.

Neil Haddock, Chief Officer: Performance and Resources, gave a presentation in respect of the Adult Social Care and Health Department’s QSR and Service Plan.

The QSR was a new format, replacing the previous Performance Monitoring Report style of reporting. The new QSR was shorter and more informative. Modernising Older People Services consultations had been undertaken over the last quarter. The new procedure for the Blue Badge Scheme became operational on 1 January 2012 and thirty people had applied under the new scheme at present.

The Adult Social Care and Health Department had considered the structure of the Emergency Duty Service team and a new model was introduced in November 2011. The current contract for the Community Equipment Services was due to end on 31 March 2012. The new provision would be provided by Nottingham Rehabilitation Services starting from 1 April 2012.

The Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities would be re-located, and capital works were due to begin in the next quarter. The Local Account had been produced for the first time and less strong areas had been highlighted in the report. Jobcentre Plus was now ranked green in terms of performance and mobile working financial assessments would be undertaken. There had been some software issues in the financial team which would affect the timing of when this would go live.

There were recording issues with the ‘IS’ system and ways to clean up data would be investigated further. There were five new providers and there was sufficient capacity to absorb new demand. There had been an underspend of £500,000 and the Adult Social Care and Health Department would continue to look for new ways to make efficiencies. Current projected savings totalled £650,000.

The Carers’ Strategy and the Long Term Conditions and Sensory Needs Strategy would be considered by the Executive in March 2012.

Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were made:

• The percentage of jobs gained from Jobcentre Plus improving pathways into employment for people with substance misuse issues would be confirmed. Compared to other local authorities, Bracknell Forest performed well in this area.
• Some posts had been held vacant in the Adult Social Care and Health Department in an effort to make savings and avoid redundancies. Savings proposals would be undertaken next year.
• The recording issue with carers’ risk assessments would be investigated further.
• The needs of individual carers within families would be considered collectively, rather than everyone’s needs separately. The system currently only allowed for the recording of one family member and some manual recording was undertaken.
• Waiting times for assessments and services were currently above target at 91%. The date an assessment was inputted in to the data system appeared as the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

To receive a report advising of changes to the Blue Badge disabled parking permit scheme and the transfer of responsibility to the Council.

Mira Haynes, Chief Officer: Older People and Long Term Conditions, presented a report advising of changes to the Blue Badge disabled parking permit scheme and the transfer of responsibility to the Council.

Training was being undertaken by staff in Reading and thirty people had applied for blue badges so far under the new scheme. Blue Badges would be sent out from the Blue Badge Improvement Service, a project which was expected to be self-funding and to deliver efficiency savings. Enforcement procedures formed part of road traffic regulations and there had been changes to eligibility criteria which were set by the Department of Transport.

There would be an assessment clinic and an appeals process for when Blue Badge applications were refused. More evidence would be needed to support an application but there was no obligation to review an application.

Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were made:

• The charge for Blue Badges was capped at £10, even though the cost of administration, assessment and issuing of Blue Badges could be up to approximately five times this amount.
• Blue Badges would be replaced under the new scheme as existing badges were renewed over the next three years.
• The number of people in Bracknell Forest Borough who qualify for the Blue Badge Scheme would be confirmed.

The Panel noted:

1. The changes and additional responsibilities placed upon Adult Social Care and Health in administering the reformed Blue Badge Scheme.
2. That subject to the outcome of the budget consultation, the cost of a full time Blue Badge Assessor/ Co-ordinator was agreed by the Executive.
3. The Executive had agreed to raise the charge of a Blue Badge from £2 for three years to £10 for three years from 1 January 2012.
4. The progress made in readiness for the reformed Blue Badge Scheme to go live on 1 January 2012.

An update report in respect of the working groups of the Panel is attached.

The Panel noted the update report in respect of the working groups of the Panel.

To suggest items to be included in the Panel’s Work Programme for 2012/13. The 2011/12 work programme, some suggested future review topics and a list of completed reviews are attached for reference.

The Panel considered items to be included in the Panel’s Work Programme for 2012/13 and it was noted that two working groups were still in progress at present.

The Panel is invited to note the attached 2010/11 Local Account and comment on the content for the 2011/12 version.

The Panel noted the report on the Adult Social Care and Health Local Account for 2010/11 as set out in Annex A.

To consider forthcoming items on the Executive Forward Plan relating to Adult Social Care.

The Panel noted the forthcoming items relating to Adult Social Care on the Executive Forward Plan.