Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2024.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 September 2024 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 a report of the Chair of Healthwatch Stockport.

The report provides details relating to the priorities and projects through 2023/24 including shared experiences, partnership working, the voices of local people and feedback to improve care.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note the report.

Officer contact: Maria Kildunne | 0161 974 0753 | maria@healthwatchstockport.co.uk

A representative of the Chair of Healthwatch Stockport submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the priorities and projects through 2023/24 including shared experiences, partnership working, the voices of local people and feedback to improve care.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members welcomed the report and the how it had been presented.

·       Clarification was sought regarding how it was improving mental health awareness. In response, it was stated that members of Healthwatch were interested in mental health and their involvement has been a voice of individuals and putting pressure on authorities and advocating for mental health services, campaigning and influencing.

·       Members enquired about the reference to the survey completed by parents of children with allergies and that 83% of the parents survey commented that their concerns were initially dismissed by a healthcare professional. In response, it was noted that the survey was completed within the last year but were unaware of any actions arising from the survey.

·       It was commented that members of the Committee would be interested in attending the network events and getting involved.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the waiting time for ‘cognitive behavioural’ therapy and whether anything was being done to reduce this waiting time and the direct payment renewals. In response, it was stated that there was a commitment with experts to improve the experience of direct payments and working with users to make the journey better and simpler. It was commented that a response would be provided to the Committee following the meeting regarding the points raised relating to the waiting time for the ‘cognitive behavioural’ therapy.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Chair of Healthwatch Stockport be requested to provide responses relating to the following points raised during the meeting: -

·       What actions had been undertaken to respond to the survey completed by parents of children with allergies.

·       What actions had been undertaken to respond to the waiting times being reduced for the ‘cognitive behavioural’ therapy.

To consider a report of the Director of Adult Social Services.

The report outlines the proposals for a 5-year Framework for the provision of All Adults Day Opportunities across the Borough and represents the continuation of the strategic approaches outlined in our Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy, Think Carers Strategy 2024-2029 and The One Stockport Health and Social Care Plan.

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

Officer contact: Emma Knight | emma.knight@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Adult Social Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the proposals for a 5-year Framework for the provision of All Adults Day Opportunities across the Borough and represents the continuation of the strategic approaches outlined in our Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy, Think Carers Strategy 2024-2029 and The One Stockport Health and Social Care Plan.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Clarification was sought regarding how the daycare procedure fitted in with the preventative element for service users. In response, it was noted that people who receive day support would potentially get support with more functional and meaningful activities including finding employment.

·       Members commented about the recruitment and retaining staff references in the report and wondered about the assurances that were being given for contracts. In response, it was stated that working with the providers and looking at the real living wage and support employment as commissioners were an ongoing priority at the moment to make it a more sustainable employment opportunity and a more desirable place to work.

·       Members enquired about the impact on over and under 65 year olds and how did Covid pandemic impact on the users. In response, it was note that around 450 people were using the services, but there was not a breakdown available, but would provide it to the Committee following the meeting.

·       It was commented that several of the day services were able to sustain that period of time during Covid and were actually quite critical and stayed open through that period, which was absolutely critical and there was not any major withdrawal from the market.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Director of Adult Social Services be requested to provide further information relating to the following point raised during the meeting: -

·       A breakdown of the 450 people using the services that were under 65 and over 65 years old.

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

The report provides details relating to the Stockport Age-Friendly Partnership being built on the strong local communities and services who will work together to lead the next steps, so all our residents can age well.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider and comment on the report.

Officer contact: Judith Strobl | Judith.strobl@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Adult Social Care submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the Stockport Age-Friendly Partnership being built on the strong local communities and services who will work together to lead the next steps, so all our residents can age well.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members commented about the digital inclusion involving more interaction between the elderly and the young people to encourage interactional activity between those age groups.

·       Members welcomed the actions identified within the report.

·       Clarification was sought regarding how other areas of the Council were being engaged with, for example, outdoor spaces and parks. In response, it was noted that an existing friendly partnership has been ongoing together with good representation from the various areas across the Council and it works well.

·       It was commented that once the final version of the action plan was complete that it would be a good idea to message everyone in the council and advertise the strategy and paction plan to encourage more people to get involved.

·       Members enquired about what was being done to advertise to residents what was on offer as part of the neighbourhood prevention programme and isolation. In response, it was stated that there was a toolkit that had been updated with voluntary partners to share among partners and there was social subscribing continuing as well as signposting to community offers for people seeking or needing that support for their wellbeing.

·       It was stated that support from the Committee would be needed to reach out to the community networks and support the officers with the engagement including the impact on older residents and feeding that back accordingly.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the engagement process and being able to signpost people to the online tools. In response, it was stated that members would be free to share officer email addresses for help as well as postal versions could be shared including the questionnaire which could be returned to the Age UK hub by post.

·       It was commented that information would be available in the libraries across the borough by providing paper versions and online access and work was underway with the Age Friendly Partnerships to share information as well.

·       It was suggested that following the engagement process, the action plan would be finalised between January – March 2025.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides a summary of, and access to, the final and full report of findings and recommendations from the Local Government Association to support Stockport Council and system partners with assurance preparations in readiness for CQC assessment.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review and comment on the findings and recommendations of the report. 

Officer contact: Sam Powell | 0161 474 2205 | sam.powell@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Adult Social Care submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of, and access to, the final and full report of findings and recommendations from the Local Government Association to support Stockport Council and system partners with assurance preparations in readiness for CQC assessment.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members welcomed the detailed report and thanked the officers for the engagement and interviews conducted previously.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the performance metrics and the team around the people. In response, it was stated that a lot of work was being done to explain to people about who and what the service do and pointing people in the right direction and connecting them to the teams. It was commented that the performance matrix  was being looked at but it was not for everyone so it was all about being able to speak to people to understand how they were getting on with life on a day to day basis and attending local appointments.

·       Members enquired about the lived experiences and whether or not any actions had been taken. It was reported that there had been follow-ups, but needed to check the details with those individuals and report back to the Committee following the meeting.

·       Members welcomed the fabulous culture that had been developed at the leadership level and that the staff had spoken so highly about working here.

·       It was commented that the staff were directly and indirectly employed and were frontline staff who were involved in social work, occupational therapy and social care officers and were a great asset to the organisation.

·       It was stated that the waiting times were managed through a “front door” arrangement working with the voluntary and community sector who supported the service. It was quite a proactive service for prevention, advice and information that operated with a multidisciplinary team who supported.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Director of Adult Social Care be requested to provide additional information relating to the following point raised during the meeting:-

·       What actions had been undertaken for those individual people who shared their lived experiences.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for 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: Charles Yankiah on 0161 474 3206 or email: charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been ciruclated) setting out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

Members raised awareness regarding recent press releases relating to the Stepping Hill Foundation Trust and its funding issues. It was requested that a standing agenda item be included for future meetings with an update being provided to the Committee relating to the outstanding repairs and funding arrangements and that health partners and representatives from the Greater Manchester Combined authority be invited to attend a future meeting.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance be asked to include as a standing agenda item for future meetings an update on Stepping Hill Foundation Trust including the outstanding repairs and the  funding arrangements and that health partners and representatives from the Greater Manchester Combined authority be invited to attend a future meeting.