Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2018.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 September 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Board members 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.

To achieve any announcements from the Chair on matters related to the activity of the Board.

The Chair made no announcements.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

The report outlines proposed changes to the Terms of Reference and membership of the Board arising from a series of workshops with Board Members and designed to enhance the effectiveness of the Board’s operation.

The Board is invited to consider the report and recommend to the Council Meeting that it adopt the proposed changes as detailed 3.2.1 – 3.2.4 of the report and in the revised Terms of Reference set out in Appendix 1.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining proposed changes to the Terms of Reference and membership of the Board arising from a series of workshops with Board Members and designed to enhance the effectiveness of the Board’s operation.

RESOLVED – That revised Terms of Reference for the Board ant the stated purposed of the Board as set out in paragraph 3.2.1 of the report be supported, subject to the rephrasing of provision 9.09 of the draft Terms of Reference and the Council Meeting be recommended to adopt the changes.

To consider a report of the Stockport Safeguarding Adult Board.

The report summarises the work of the Safeguarding Adults Board in Stockport during 2017/18, highlighting key issues in the borough.

The Board is invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer contact: Nuala O’Rourke, Head of Safeguarding and Learning, 0161 474 5659

Gill Frame, Independent Chair of the Stockport Safeguarding Adult Board, accompanied by Lee Woolfe, Safeguarding Adults Board Business Manager, attended the meeting to present the Board’s Annual Report for 2017/18 (copies of which had been circulated) and to answer questions from the Health & Wellbeing Board.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·           Further information was sought on the changes that were likely to take place in respect of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards regime. In response it was stated of most significance in the draft legislation currently before Parliament was that the burden of the new regime would be more on care homes to carry out ‘best interest’ assessments, and to ‘mainstream’ activity for frontline social workers. Many agencies had concerns about the emphasis on care homes and lobbying was taking place to seek changes to this. The Chair reminded members of the work that the then Health Scrutiny Committee had undertaken an investigation into the impact of the DOLS regime in Stockport, and had written to the Chief Coroner and the Local Government Association expressing concern about the unintended consequences of DOLS.

·           Clarification was sought on the contribution of the North West Ambulance Service to the Board given their contact with vulnerable residents. In response it was stated that the Trust were active participants in the Board and their input was valued.

·           The report indicated a reduction in the cases of neglect and comment was sought on whether this correlated with increased levels of training or whether this should lead to increased levels of identification. In response it was acknowledged that it was counterintuitive to see a reduction after efforts to raise awareness but that it may be reflective of improvements in the categorisation of cases. Assurance was also given that the situation was being monitored.

·           Comment was sought on whether no cases of modern slavery and child sexual exploitation was a concern. In response it was stated that there was a complex safeguarding team working across the children’s and adults boards addressing such cases should they arise.

·           The positive impact of the Equip Team, a partnership between the Council and CCG, on the quality of local care homes was highlighted and welcomed.

·           Assurance was sought about commitment from partners to the priorities for the children’s and adults safeguarding boards given the changes in the statutory responsibilities. In response it was stated that partners had reaffirmed their commitment and the joint working arrangements would be maintained. Given the pressure on resources it was important for partners to try to mainstream safeguarding activity and to work closely on whole age vulnerability.

·         It was commented that from the perspective of GPs increasing training and simplifying process was to be welcomed it often seemed that the children’s and adults safeguarding system operated in different ways. Support was offered from the CCG /GPs in providing detailed feedback into developing new systems.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That Gill Frame and Lee Woolfe be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

To note the Minutes of the Better Care Fund Sub-Committee held on 17 October 2018.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

The Minutes of the Better Care Fund Sub-Committee meeting held on 17 October 2018 were submitted (copies of which had been circulated) for information.

Concerns were expressed about the cancellation of an Urgent Care Winter Summitt and the possible impact this would have an preparations for winter pressures.

In response it was stated that this meeting had been cancelled due to pressures on partners and the need to respond to growing challenges with patients ‘stranded’ in the hospital (defined as adults with a length of stay of seven days or more). Regrets were expressed that this had not been communicated appropriately to Summit invitees and assurance was given that the actions identified at an early Summit meeting would still be taken.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Minutes of the Better Care Fund Sub-Committee meeting held on 17 October 2018 be noted.

(2) That the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to include an item on a future Board agenda in relation to stranded patients.