Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 30 June 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides a summary of the implications of the Care Act.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Vincent Fraga on Tel: 474 4401 or email: vincent.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Adult Social Care) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with an update on the key features of the Care Act that received Royal Assent in May 2014.

Key themes of the Act included:

·         introduction of the principle where a person’s overall well-being was at the forefront of their care and support

·         the promotion of the integration of care and support with health services

·         putting people and their carers in control of their care and support

Implementation of the Act would be in two phases: the first in April 2015, which would include the majority of the provisions, and the second in April 2016, for the introduction of care accounts, a cap on care costs and an appeals process.

The Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services) (Cllr Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to answer questions from the Scrutiny Committee on implications of the Act for Stockport.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The implications of the introduction of national criteria on the ability of the Council to tailor services to meet local community needs, and the impact of the criteria on existing service users.

·         Confusion in the report about professional boundaries and where these were to be reinforced, or to be overcome, particularly in relation to housing. Providing seamless service to users was to be preferred.

·         The new role of the Care Quality Commission in assessing provider’s financial stability.

·         Concerns raised about the extent of the consultation and whether this would include service users and other stakeholders.

·         The importance of improving performance on delayed discharge and that this would feature in the Better Care Fund plan.

·         Further guidance was awaited on the proposed appeals process for assessments.

·         There was no prescription within the Act in relation to the form of assessments and who could complete them.

·         Concerns were expressed about the imposition of a financial model on Local Authorities and more detail was needed.

·         Although the focus on prevention and the underlying principles of the Act were welcomed, concerns were expressed about the impact of the detailed provisions of the Act on service users and the cost implications for Local Authorities. Concerns were expressed about the lack of detail and clarity on a number of key areas, particularly given the April 2015 implementation date.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Adult Social Care) be requested to submitted a further report on the following aspects of the Care Act 2014:-

·         national eligibility criteria for care and the impact on the Council’s ability to make decisions locally;

·         implications of changes to the private pension system on rates of charges and how deferred payments would operate in practice and the impact on Stockport;

·         further detail on the delegation of local authority functions and mechanisms for ensuring appropriate oversight and control by the Council;

·         cross border payments and the impact on Stockport;

·         impact on existing services users of new eligibility criteria, particularly if they were subject to a review;

·         further detail on the financial modelling;

·         feedback received from the first phase consultation; and

·         any other information or developments.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Services to People.

The report provides an overview of the Supporting People service and some associated functions and teams.

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

Officer Contact: Vincent Fraga on Tel: 4747 4401 or email: vincent.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Adult Social Care) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the work of the Supporting People service and its associated functions. The Service had recently come within the remit of this Scrutiny Committee following its transfer into the Adult Care Services portfolio.

The report provided commentary on key areas of work and activity, including:-

·         the development of an outcomes focus, working in partnership with other services and agencies to address multiple factors preventing an individual from living independently;

·         Multi Agency Adults at Risk System (MAARS) to share data and target support towards the most vulnerable in the community;

·         housing related support services for older people to maximise independent living;

·         Stockport Local Assistance Scheme to provide support to those in crisis due to welfare and benefit changes.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Referrals to the Supporting People Service (SP) could be done by any agency or by self-referral by an individual through an online form.

·         Challenges for the service relating to welfare reform, particular under-occupancy and sanctions. Work was underway to prepare for the implementation of Universal Credit, including basing workers within the Job Centre.

·         It was important to have honest conversations with service users to make sure they were able to make better choices, to build resilience and to reduce dependency as a means to promote independence.

·         The Care Act would also have implications for housing and independent living and these would be addressed.

·         SP was able to work flexibly to provide innovative solutions and support and worked closely with other agencies and services wherever possible.

·         The MAARS project was a welcomed development.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Adult Social Care) be requested to

·         provide a further update to a future meeting on the Multi Agency Adults at Risk System (MAARS);

·         provide further information on the outcomes based commissioning pilot and its impact locally.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report requests the Area Committee to consider the process for the selection of Scrutiny Review topics to be carried out during the 2014/2015 municipal year.

The Scrutiny Committee are requested to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact:  Craig Ainsworth on Tel: 474 3204 or email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Scrutiny Committee to consider the process for the selection of Scrutiny Review topics by Scrutiny Committees to be carried out during the 2014/2015 municipal year.

RESOLVED – That consideration of the report be deferred until the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.                                                        

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: Damian Eaton 474 3207 email: damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director of Corporate and Support Services be requested to provide an interim progress report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review ‘Impact of Welfare Reform’ to the 1 December 2014 meeting.

(3) That in accordance with the resolutions of this Committee, the Democratic Services Manager be requested to programme further agenda items on the Care Act implementation and the Multi Agency Adults at Risk System.