Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2021.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 25 November 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider an update of the Director of Public Health.

The update provides an update on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to discuss and note the update.

Officer contact: Jennifer Connolly, email:Jennifer.connolly@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided an update relating to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for Stockport.

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:-

·           Members commented on the success of the vaccination programme and thanked the Social Health & Care staff for the support provided during the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine.

·           Members enquired about the links between underlying health conditions and the likelihood of being more severely affected by the virus. In response it was stated that there were two broad groups of individuals who were more likely to require hospital care which included the unvaccinated and older population. It was expected that the number of hospital admissions amongst the older population would reduce as the booster vaccination roll out was increased.

·           Requested increased signage be placed at the Trinity Methodist vaccination site in Bramhall.

·           Commented on the activity of anti-vaccination groups and whether information shared by this group was having an impact on vaccination rates. In response, Members were assured that their activity was being reported through NHS England to deliver a co-ordinated response and ensure that residents were educated to make an informed decision.

·           In response to a question in relation to security measures at vaccination sites within the borough, Members were advised that the Council and NHS were working closely with Greater Manchester Police to provide security and where an incident had occurred this was shared with the police as appropriate.  

·           In response to concerns in relation to the infection rates amongst young people within schools, Members were informed that the Council were working with education colleagues to minimise disruption to education as much as possible. The contingency framework in place enabled the Council and schools to implement a phased response on an individual basis to respond to outbreaks which included reintroducing face coverings and additional testing, if necessary.

The Chair thanked the Director for the most up to date data and informed the Committee that an item relating to the Covid-19 Update would be on the agenda for the next meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and thanks be expressed to all the team for their continued hard work.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive.

The Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resources Report (PPRR) for the Adult Care and Health Portfolio is presented for consideration by the Committee.   This provides a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programmes and other key projects in the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September). It includes forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·           Consider the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;

·           Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2021/22;

·           Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

·           Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

·           Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer Contacts: Peter Owston on 0161 474 3274 or email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk; and Paul Graham on 0161 474 4674 or email: paul.graham@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Adult Care and Health Portfolio. The report provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September). The report also included a forecast on performance and financial data (where this was available) for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

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:-

·         Welcomed the development of the enhanced front door approach, however raised concerns in relation to the number of calls to the Referral and Information Officers that had not been answered or called back and the delay in the implementation of the portals. In response Members were informed that the delay had been caused due to a planned system upgrade by the providers and ultimately this had been out of the council’s control. It was envisaged that the soft launch of the system would take place in January and it was hoped that the introduction of the portals would help manage the increased demand through the front door to ensure that all vulnerable residents in the borough received support when they needed it.  

·         Concerns were raised in relation to the red RAG status of the proportion of older people (65 and over) who had received re-ablement / rehabilitation services after discharge from hospital. In response it was stated that the reduction in re-ablement was likely due to referrals to the REaCH service being paused following the CQC inspection alongside an overall increase in discharges. Members were advised that the referrals were diverted to a separate team managed by the Council and there was no notable difference in service for residents.

·         In response to a question in relation to the Prevention Wellbeing & Independence underspend, Members were informed that budgets were set in accordance with the anticipated level of activity which was monitored throughout the year. In regard to the Prevention Wellbeing & Independence service, there had been a reduction in activity which accounted for the underspend.

·         It was commented that there were a number of Care Homes within the borough who required improvement. In response, Members were advised that the Council was working closely with Care Homes and Home Care providers to address the issues identified within the inspections. It was stated that the CQC had continued to undertake inspections throughout the pandemic which had resulted in the downgrading of a number of ratings and the sector was also experiencing issues nationally around recruitment and retention of staff.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive an update from representatives of the Dental Services from across Stockport.

The Director of Primary Care, Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the provision of, and access to, NHS Primary, Secondary, and Community Dental services and delivery of Oral Health Improvement activity across the locality of Stockport since March 2020. It also highlighted the actions taken to address health inequalities and to improve access to dental services to ensure patients were able to receive dental care and oral health improvement in a safe way.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·      Thanked the officers and dental services representatives for a detailed presentation and time in responding to Members questions.

·      Recognised the pressures on the workforce and thanked staff for their dedication and hard work in delivering continued services considering control guidance as a result of the pandemic.

·      Concern was expressed on behalf of residents in relation lack of NHS dental service capacity and withdrawal of the Cheadle Practice from delivering NHS services.

·      Members commented that residents were being encouraged to access private dental practices which was unaffordable for many residents.

·      In response to a question in relation to how residents could access dental care should they require it, Members were informed that in March 2020 all practices were required to provide remote telephone triage services and suspend routine non urgent dental care as part of the national response to limit he transmission of COVID-19. Where patients required urgent, face to face, dental treatment, dental practices referred patients to the urgent dental care sites across GM, four of which were situated in Stockport, through a triage process. Residents were able to speak to a member of staff in urgent care by telephoning 0333 332 3800. It was stated that the urgent care number had been advertised via numerous communication channels and the service welcomed any support from Members to promote the number in their local community.

·      Members queried how the service was managing demand in light of the restrictions on practices. In response, Members were advised that the first priority was to ensure that there was sufficient urgent access care provision throughout the winter period as there had been a notable increase in patient figures accessing urgent care services since the start of the pandemic. To manage the increase in demand, additional call handlers had been recruited and number of appointments increased by commissioning some practices to extend their operating hours until March 2022.

·      It was commented that dentist practices were under a large amount of pressure particularly given the reduction in capacity due to Covid-19 guidance and queried the impact of this on targets. In response it was stated that delivery targets were decreased early in the pandemic to enable the practices to implement infection control mechanisms including training and development.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) requested that all public communication materials relating to dental services be shared with Members for circulation.

(3) requested a briefing note outlining the triage process and customer journey be shared with Members.

To consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Care.

The report constitutes the Stockport Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2020/21 and outlines the activities and achievements of the Board and its partners over the last year and how well it has delivered on its priorities and actions in the Business Plan. It is also the account to the community of the work that has been done to safeguard and enhance the wellbeing of adults with care and support needs

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider and note the report. 

Officer contact: Nuala O’Rourke on 0161 474 5659, or email: Nuala.orourke@stockport.gov.uk 

A representative of the Director of Adult Social Care submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the activities and achievements of the Board and its partners over the last year and how well it has delivered on its priorities and actions in the Business Plan. It also provided an account to the community of the work that had been done to safeguard and enhance the wellbeing of adults with care and support needs.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·      Members sought clarification in relation to the expected impact of the transition from Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS). In response Members were informed that in the absence of formal guidance on the implementation of the transition, it was difficult to predict the impact that it would have on the backlog of DoLS, however a Task and Finish Group had been established in anticipation of the guidance which would support the transition.

·      Recognised the additional pressures on safeguarding caused as a result of the pandemic and thanked staff for their hard work and dedication.

·      Commented on the importance of Safeguarding Adult Reviews and the learning opportunities that they provide.

·      The Assistant Director of Adult Social Care offered Members a work shadowing opportunity within the Safeguarding and Adult Social Care Team.

The Committee requested that their best thanks and best wishes for the future be placed on record, for the work untaken by the Independent Chair of the Stockport Safeguarding Adult Board, Gill Frame.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance).

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Georgia Latham on 0161 474 3229, or email: georgia.latham@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any Forward Plan items.

The Chair informed Members that it was unlikely that all the proposed briefings and items on the plan including the outcome of the Scrutiny Review would be considered prior to the end of the current municipal year. It was requested that officers consider judicious priority setting in relation to items for the next agenda dependent on continuing workstreams.

Councillor Wright provided an update on the progress of the Scrutiny Review as Lead Member and informed Members that it the Panel were aiming to conclude the review and report the findings to the meeting of Adult Social Care & Health Scrutiny Committee on 3 March 2022.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.