Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2024.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 17 October 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.

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

There were no call-in items to consider.

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

The report details the progress made against the Strategic Business Plan, learning gained from any Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs), and sets out the priority actions for the coming 12 months.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider and note the progress made over the last year.

Officer contact: Jonathan Burrows | jonathan.burrows@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Adult Social Care submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the progress made against the Strategic Business Plan, learning gained from any Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs), and sets out the priority actions for the coming 12 months.

The Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care (Councillor Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members enquired about the safeguarding adult review referrals and those that were classed as ‘inappropriate’ and how they were categorised. In response, it was noted that the criteria was set out in the Care Act and those classed as ‘inappropriate’ were probably referred for a service and to ensure that needs would be met.

·       Clarification was sought regarding whether there was a formal referral mechanism in place. It was noted that there was a formal referral mechanism in place, with an opportunity to challenge when things were not right or not being safeguarded properly.

·       It was noted that regarding Priority 4 and ‘ensuring that adults with multiple

vulnerabilities or those who were experiencing complex trauma were receiving the right support’ was there a way to ensure that people would get the right support. In response, it was noted that it was a joint priority with the Children’s Partnership to operate a system-wide approach through an adults and safeguarding lens with the safeguarding panels and using the tools available.

·       Members enquired about Priority 5 relating to ‘agreeing an updated and sophisticated performance data to ensure partners have proportionate and relevant safeguarding assurance’ it was stated work was underway to focus on the intelligence to see what was being done right and to identify the gaps and to strengthen the oversight.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive an update on the estates/funding situation at Stepping Hill Foundation Trust.

The Chair informed the Committee that there were no updates from the Stepping Hill Foundation Trust for this meeting, but when a substantive update was available from the Trust it would be submitted to the meeting.

To consider a joint report of the Director of Public Health and the Director of Adult Social Care.

The report provides details based on the 2024/25 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement (PPRA), which was considered by the Committee on 13 June 2024 and approved by Cabinet on 25 June 2024 and the Mid-Year Report focuses on delivery of the portfolio priorities from April to September 2024. It includes forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

a)    Consider the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report;

b)    Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2024/25;

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

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

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

Officer contact: Gaynor Ward, Strategy and Performance Manager

gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk

Paul Graham, CSS Manager (Specialist) Finance – Education & Schools

peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health and the Director of Adult Social Care submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details based on the 2024/25 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement (PPRA), which was considered by the Committee on 13 June 2024 and approved by Cabinet on 25 June 2024 and the Mid-Year Report focuses on delivery of the portfolio priorities from April to September 2024. It includes forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio.

The Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care (Councillor Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members welcomed the report and the work and effort that has gone into preparing the report but also welcomed the innovative things being done in the system.

·       Members enquired about the ‘percentage of people accessing short-term services who l no longer needed long-term care’ as in comparison to last year the forecast was lower. In response, it was noted that the response was not available but ongoing support for people coming out of hospital was supported through the in-house reablement service for just a short period.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) system and the 300 outstanding cases. It was noted that a national tool had been developed to rate the urgency of the response. To date, additional staffing has been brought in through an agency, an AI tool was also being used to increase the pace of work being undertaken together with an annual review of DoLS.

·       It was noted that the number of hits on the mental health pages on the Healthy Stockport webpages does tend to fluctuate and has been higher in the past, however, more recently due to a reduction in the team this number has decreased.

·       Members enquired about the overarching budget of £128m and the pooled budget of £42m and whether it was combined or separate. It was noted that the £127m was the net cash limit budget for adult social care and public health combined. The pooled budget was a subset of the overall budget shared with the Council and the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board.

·       It was commented that N3 was ‘the percentage of home care agencies in Stockport rated as good or outstanding’ and the Care Quality Commission would inspect those agencies and use a rating tool and if there were no concerns about any agency then that inspection could be delayed. It was noted that care agencies in Stockport had been reviewed and there were a number that didn’t have any ratings that were dormant and removed from the measures.

·       Concern was expressed regarding the care agencies not included in the measure but were still being used because there were no ratings. It was noted that a full update would be provided in a report to the Committee detailing the care agencies included and not included and each of its ratings.

·       Members enquired about the work that was continuing to develop the ‘Out of Hospital Urgent Care’ model as part of the Collaborative Health Care pillar. It was stated that work was underway with all partners including the Neighbourhood and Prevention Programme and the Ambulance Service to provide support in an urgent community situation and to avoid unnecessary attendances at the emergency departments.

·       Clarification was sought on the total of £1.309m for Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) that had been spent up to Quarter 2 in 2024/25. It was stated that there were two elements to the mandatory grant facilities and as part of that there were mandatory and non-mandatory equipment. Part of the grant sits between the Better Care Fund and the pooled funding with an underspend of around £200k-£300k at the moment.

·       It was stated that the new MMR measures was a challenging target, and despite Stockport having  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care.

The report outlines the strategic approach in responding to the medium-term financial plan.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the report and the proposals presented within the report relevant to the remit of this committee.

Officer contact: Gill Lawton | gill.lawton@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the strategic approach in responding to the medium-term financial plan.

The Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care (Councillor Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members enquired about the financial assessment works and if the Committee would be informed. In response, it was noted that a survey and  frequently asked questions would be shared with the Committee.

·       Clarification was sought regarding fairer charging and the risks being identified and how it would be monitored. In response, it was noted that everyone affected would be contacted and a care act review would be instigated to assess the ability to make those decisions and providing help and support.

·       It was commented that changes to the funding structure had taken place across the whole of the NorthWest including three councils who have included an overall cap, with Stockport having the lowest cap.

·       Members enquired about the Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) that was required and when it would be available. In response, it was noted that the EIA was already being worked on and would be submitted to the next meeting and would continually be updated.

·       It was stated that the medium term financial plan that the council has was invested into services including adult social care and the challenge was around how much of that demand for extra money could be mitigated within the current budget. It was all about managing the demand without increasing the investment in the MTFP.

·       It was noted that what would happen if someone could not afford the charges for service that were being introduced. It was commented that the national charging framework was used and there were set limits to the charging to ensure that people had enough income to live off and this is subsidised by the Council.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Director of Adult Social Care be requested to submit the EIAs to the Committee relating to he projects identified in the report.

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

The report sets out Stockport’s vision to enable people with Learning Disabilities to have happier, healthier and more independent lives over the next 5 years.

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

Officer contact: David Eckersley | david.eckersley@stockport.gov.uk

With the consent of the Committee this item was withdrawn.

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 circulated) 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.

The Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care (Councillor Keith Holloway) invited members of the Committee to sit on the Learning Disability Strategic Group which had recently had a vacancy following the resignation of Councillor Lisa Smart. Members of the committee were encouraged to express their interest directly to Democratic Services accordingly.

Members reminded the Committee that a request should be made to the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Service to send a representation to the Committee to a future meeting. In response, it was noted that a consistent invite was sent which has not yet been accepted but that the financial recovery plan would be published from Greater Manchester and this would be shared with the Committee.

Members enquired about the Scrutiny Review conducted over the last two years relating to the Ambulance Wait Times. In response, it was noted a draft final report had been collated and shared with the Councillors who were on the scrutiny review and would be submitted to the Committee in January 2025.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Committee Members be invited to sit on the Learning Disability Strategic Group which had recently had a vacancy following the resignation of Councillor Lisa Smart and any expressions of interest be emailed directly to Democratic Services accordingly.

(3) That the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance be asked to submit the Draft Final report of the ‘Ambulance Wait Times’ Scrutiny Review to the January 2025 meeting of the Committee.