Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults)

The Executive will recall the proposal to explore alternative to explore various options to provide community meals. This report outlines proposals to modernise the Council’s approach to community meals provision and ancillary catering services. This would involve officers reviewing the needs of people currently using the service and working with people (and their families/carers) to make more individually tailored meal arrangements as part of the support planning process using personal budgets as appropriate. The Council would continue to provide assistance to people in arranging meals support but not in future act as a commissioner or provider of the service.

The report explains the reasons why such service change is being considered and identifies potential alternative solutions.

The Executive is asked to:

·         consider the information contained within this report and the rationale for the proposed changes to the current approach to community meals;

·         provide views on the frequency of monitoring and reporting back of progress to the Executive;

·         to proceed with the implementation of the planned changes as outlined in section 2 above;

·         to continue to explore increasing choice and variety for the provision of meals, in particular through the community, business and voluntary sectors.

Officer contact: Vincent Fraga, 0161-474-4401, vince.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider proposals to modernise the Council’s approach to community meals provision and ancillary catering services. This would involve Officers reviewing the needs of people currently using the service and working with people (and their families/carers) to make more individually tailored meal arrangements as part of the support planning process using personal budgets as appropriate. The Council would continue to provide assistance to people in arranging meals support but not in future act as a commissioner or provider of the service.

The report explained the reasons why such service changes were being considered and identified potential alternative solutions.

RESOLVED – (1) That the information contained within the report and rationale for the proposed changes to the current approach to community meals be noted.

(2)That progress be monitored on a six monthly basis and reported back to the Executive.

(3)That the implementation of the planning changes as outlined in Section 2 of the report be proceeded with.

(4)That Officers continue to explore increasing choice and variety for the provision of meals, in particular through the community, business and voluntary sectors.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The Community Meals Service, currently commissioned from Solutions SK, regenerates supplied frozen meals and delivers them hot to individual people in their own homes. The service aims to support people to maintain their independence and stay well.

This paper outlines proposals to modernise the Council’s approach to community meals provision and ancillary catering services. This would involve officers reviewing the needs of people currently using the service and working with people (and their families/carers) to make more individually tailored meal arrangements as part of the support planning process using personal budgets as appropriate. The Council would continue to provide assistance to people in arranging meals support but not in future act as a commissioner or provider of the service.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact Lois Hale on 07800 618305 or email: lois.hale@stockport.gov.uk

A representatives of the Corporate Director for Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining proposals to modernise the Council’s approach to community meals provision and ancillary catering services.  This would involve officers reviewing the needs of people currently using the service and working with people (and their families/carers) to make more individually tailored meal arrangements as part of the support planning process using personal budgets as appropriate.  The Council would continue to provide assistance to people in arranging meals support but not in future act as a commissioner or provider of the service.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults) (Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There were significant financial losses being incurred in the provision of this service.

·         The consultation on the proposals showed that the service was highly regarded by service users.

·         The default position would not be that service users would be required to use online services to access replacement meal provision.

·         It was not anticipated that service users would be disadvantaged in the provision of meals through the use of alternative providers.

·         Concern was expressed about the potential loss of the ‘added benefits’ of the current provision, including contact with service users, the resultant promotion and reminder for people to take meals and the loss of the personal relationships built up between service users and staff.

·         It was important that once the change to service provision had been made, that there was monitoring to ensure that the vulnerable service users continued to get a meal.

·         It was queried what proportion of service users did not receive any other services other than the provision of a community meal as part of their care package.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the loss of preventative care provided through the community meals services which may result in additional costs for the Council in the future.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be forwarded to the Executive for its consideration.