Agenda item

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Directors for Corporate & Support Services and Place Management & Regeneration.

Policy priorities for 2020/21 were set out within the Council Plan, which was adopted at the Budget Council Meeting in February. This incorporates the shared outcomes from the Borough Plan alongside specific priorities of the Cabinet. These priorities, re-shaped to take account of One Stockport and Building Back Better (building on Covid19), are articulated within the Portfolio Agreements, which form the basis for regular in-year reporting. Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs and CPRRs) will assess progress against key objectives, priorities, outcomes and budgets, enabling Scrutiny Committees to hold the Cabinet to account and for the Cabinet to identify current and future risks to delivery. 

This report presents the draft 2020/21 Agreements for the Adult Care and Health Portfolio for consideration and comment by the Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to review and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreements.

Officer contact: Peter Owston, Strategy and Performance Manager at peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk (474 3274) or Paul Graham (Specialist Finance) paul.graham@stockport.gov.uk (474 4674)

Representatives of the Corporate Directors for Corporate & Support Services and Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft 2020/21 Agreements for the Adult Care and Health Portfolio for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee.

The agreements provides the policy priorities for 2020/21 that were set out within the adopted Council Plan, incorporating the shared outcomes from the Borough Plan alongside specific priorities of the Cabinet. The priorities within the Portfolio Agreements would form the basis for regular in-year reporting through the Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports, enabling Scrutiny Committee to hold the Cabinet to account.    

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.  

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         It was noted that there has been an increase in “long Covid” without any awareness of what to do. In response, it was noted that throughout the pandemic there were lessons to be learned including about “long Covid”, as a result a programme of support has been rolled out to support recovery work with those who have had the virus.

·         Members welcomed the collaborative approach across agencies and encouraging behaviour changes for people to take responsibility.

·         Clarification was sought on the progress of joining the Mental Health Services and Adult Social Care services. In response, it was noted that all provisions to adults would be reviewed and it was discovered that some services were dis-jointed in terms of delivery. As a result it was agreed and communicated with partners to bring back the line management and leadership of some of the social workers and associated staff back into the Council to be directly line managed.

·         It was commented that young people were showing signs post-Covid virus of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and there should be some awareness raised and preparations made for this forthcoming spike.

·         Local residents and staff were congratulated for all the work and effort that had gone into coming together to provide advice and support during this pandemic.

·         It was noted that a report produced by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) referenced the impact of Covid-19 on adult social care and its finances in England. In response, it was noted that the long awaited “green paper” was still outstanding and had prevented a long term funding solution plan. It was also stated that an adult social care task force had been established and recently information from Government was that monies committed for infection, protection and control would be extended up to March 2021.

·         Clarification was sought on what the ‘One Stockport’ was and how it would improve the health and wellbeing across the communities. In response, it was noted that the ‘One Stockport’ could be submitted as an agenda item to a future meeting with more details. It was also noted that it encompasses how the Council works, connects and develops communities at a neighbourhood level while looking at the ambition of health and wellbeing of Stockport.

·         It was noted that the delayed transfer of care at Stepping Hill hospital had been reduced to zero and that the proportion of nursing bed capacity in Stockport with an overall CQC rating of good or outstanding had reduced from 80% to 60.9% over the last 6 months. In response, it was noted that the delayed transfer of care had been reduced mainly because of the national charge to discharge patients from hospitals and no longer carrying out health care assessments within a hospital setting. It was also noted that in relation to the nursing bed capacity there was a smaller resource in Stockport with 11 nursing homes in comparison to other authorities with 60 establishments. This meant that following CQC indicators, nursing homes had moved ratings from ‘good’ to ‘requires improvement’.

·         Concern was expressed regarding the deprivation of liberties safeguards being transferred. It was noted that there had been a delay due to the pandemic with the practice guidance being published.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.