Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Health & Wellbeing)

The report sets out a proposal to establish a local HealthWatch organisation in Stockport. The Health and Social Care Act introduced the creation of a new local consumer champion for health and social care called ‘Local HealthWatch’.  Most Local HealthWatch organisations will build on the existing LINk membership (Local Involvement Network).

Local HealthWatch will be:

•        An easily identifiable organisation, which will

•        Champion the voice of the public (consumers of health and adult social care services) and exert consumer influence, and

•        Collaborate with other organisations representing user, carer and consumer interests, contributing to holding the health service and adult social care services to account

The Council is developing Local HealthWatch in Stockport as a genuinely lay member-led organisation, governed by a Board, which is elected by its members.  Consultation with local residents and the wider LINk membership has been taken into consideration in designing the Local HealthWatch model for Stockport.

The Executive is invited to:-

·         consider the report and the proposed model for Local HealthWatch in Stockport

·         give approval to establishing ‘HealthWatch Stockport’ in the form described.

Officer contact: Sarah Newsam, 07891 949204, sarah.newsam@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Health & Wellbeing) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to agree to establish a Local HealthWatch organisation for Stockport as a new local consumer champion for health and social care, as required by the Health & Social Care Act 2012.

RESOLVED – That the creation and establishment of ‘HealthWatch Stockport’ on the proposed model and structure described in the report be approved, and that detailed protocols for the Council to exercise its governance responsibilities be preprared.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Adult Social Care)

The report sets out the plan for Stockport for the establishment of a Local HealthWatch by April 2013, as required by the Health & Social Care Act 2012. The aspiration in Stockport is to create a genuinely lay member-led organisation, governed by a Board, which is elected by its members.  This is a relatively unusual model nationally, but it is firmly in-keeping with the original DH vision and it is enabled by and builds on a sound local LINk legacy.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the proposal to establish Local HealthWatch in Stockport.

Officer contact: Sarah Newsam/ Gill Walters, sarah.newsam@stockport.gov.uk / gill.walters@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Adult Social Care) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out progress with the establishment of the HealthWatch in Stockport, as required by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (HSCA). It was emphasised that the approach in Stockport was to have a genuinely member-led organisation that built on the successful legacy of the LINk.

John Leach (LINk Chair) and Maria Kildunne (LINk Manager) were also in attendance to answer questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following issues were raised:-

·         Clarification was sought on the provision of advocacy and signposting.  It was clarified that the HSCA required local authorities to commission an independent advocacy service for NHS complaints. In discussions with the LINk it was felt that during the transitional period it would not be appropriate to add advocacy to the role of HealthWatch. It was also commented that signposting services funded by Adult Social Care were being considered to ensure they were appropriate and did not provide duplication.

·         Clarification was sought on the Enter and View powers of HealthWatch and in particular recognition of the fact that care homes were residents’ homes. It was stated that these visits were only undertaken by trained LINk members in response to concerns raised by residents or carers, or with the express permission of the home concerned. Publicity and awareness raising was done in advance so as not to alarm residents and family members and that these arrangements would continue under HealthWatch.

·         Questions were asked about proposals from the Department of Health to widen the remit of HealthWatch to include children’s social care. In response it was stated that the Council’s response to the consultation was that it would be unhelpful to transfer any such functions before HealthWatch arrangements had had time to become established, and the view of the LINk was that they did not have the knowledge and expertise to take on this role and carry out the work to the level they would want.

·         Clarification was sought on the funding arrangements for HealthWatch. In response it was stated that funding would be provided from the Government in three streams: that currently allocated for LINk; NHS advocacy; and signposting. It was proposed to maintain the current arrangements for funding HealthWatch from the LINk stream, while using the other funding streams to commission the services from other providers.

RESOLVED – (1) That the proposals for the establishment of Stockport HealthWatch be supported.

(2) That the Service Director (Adults & Health) be requested to submit an update on the establishment and functioning of HealthWatch in 12 months’ time.