Agenda and minutes

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personalinterest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it.  If in doubt please contact Democratic Services before the meeting.

13.1     No declarations of interest were made.

The Committee to approve Cllr Hastain (Chichester District Council) and Zoehy Harries (Healthwatch West Sussex) as co-opted members of the Committee.

14.1     Resolved – that the Committee approves the co-optees appointed by Chichester District Council and Healthwatch.

The Committee is asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2023 (cream paper).

15.1     Resolved – that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2023 are approved as a correct record and are signed by the Chairman.

The Committee is asked to note the responses to recommendations made at previous meetings of the Committee.

16.1     There was a concern raised that the Committee had not been updated on the proposed introduction of a Linear Accelerator (Linac) at St Richard’s hospital, Chichester – Action: Executive Managing Director, NHS West Sussex, to update the Committee as soon as possible, and at the Business Planning Group at its November meeting.

16.2     Resolved – that the Committee notes the responses.

A report by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Support Services setting out the corporate performance, finance, workforce, risk and capital programme positions as at the end of June 2023.

The Committee is asked to examine the data and supporting commentary for the Performance and Resources report and make any recommendations for action to the relevant Cabinet Member.

17.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Support Services (copy appended to the signed minutes).

17.2     Summary of responses to members’ questions and comments: -

Adult’s Services Portfolio

·             The Council understood the impact of current/future demand on services and the associated costs and was lobbying government on levels of social care funding

·             A number of one-off grants are being used to mitigate the overspend, reducing it to £2m

·             Savings targets have been challenging with issues regarding delivery (e.g. the fragility of the market) and timescales – the Council was looking at re-profiling the targets so they can be delivered over a longer timescale

·             The Council needs to continually recruit good quality  permanent and interim staff

·             A programme is in place to improve transition arrangements from Children’s to Adults’ Services to cater for increased demand

·             Diagnosis was not a factor in the increased demand as the Council works on level of need under the Care Act, not diagnosis

·             Transition, complex needs and the increase in the number of older people is covered in the budget

·             Although there is an improved position in the usage of Shaw beds – currently at 92% - any non-usage of a Shaw bed means an increase in spend in other care home beds where market prices are increasing. As we go into winter with increased levels of covid and flu there is a risk with maintaining this improved usage.

·             There was a query as to the Care Quality Rating for Shaw homes Action - information will be provided by the service to members outside of the meeting on the current Care Quality Commission ratings

·             Neighbouring authorities have similar issues with social care in general and adults’ services in particular. The Council is learning from others including by meeting treasurers from around the country

·             Modelling of next year’s budget uses realistic assumptions based on current trends so that an achievable budget can be set

·             The Prevention Assessment Team sits in Community Services and works with NHS primary care, including GPs, before people receive a service and has a short waiting list

·             Social care assessments are prioritised by needs (including mental health) and although the number of people waiting for an assessment has remained fairly static, individuals do not have to wait too long for an assessment

·             Reviews of individuals’ care needs are carried out on a priority basis depending on their circumstances and includes information provided by individuals, families and care providers - service provision continues even if a review is still outstanding

·             Hospital discharge assessments are also prioritised, but people may need to wait for services to be put in place before being discharged - due to improvements in the market, this wait has reduced

·             The target of reviewing 80% of assessments every year may be reassessed as being too high taking into account risk – any proposals to change the target will come to the Committee for discussion

·             The Council works with the NHS  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Report by Director of Adults and Health (DASS).

The Committee is asked to consider the self-assessment at Appendix A and provide any comments to the Cabinet for its meeting on 17 October.

18.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Adults & Health (copy appended to the signed minutes).

18.2     Summary of responses to Members’ questions and comments: -

•      The Committee praised the self-assessment document, but thought that it could be made easier for the public to understand

•      The mental health assessments mentioned in the document are those carried out by social care

•      The next version of the document will include benchmarking against other local authorities and importantly, stakeholder feedback

•      Design panels will be created to work with the voluntary sector to help direct the way services are developed

•      The measure for annual reviews doesn’t include the fact that some people have more than one review a year – People with the most complex needs do get annual reviews

•      During the inspection it is expected that the Care Quality Commission will speak to a number of people from a group chosen at random who are receiving care and support and are willing and able to give their consent

•      The Council currently works well with Police concerning people with mental health issues

•      The Council has a suite of services to support people living at home including commissioned reablement services which are being reviewed with national support

18.3     Resolved – that the Committee asks for: -

                      i.       Clarity on “mental health services” and that it relates solely to West Sussex social care services

                     ii.       The language in the self-assessment be aimed at a wider audience, particularly on areas for improvement

                    iii.       The Service to consider whether work with the police concerning mental health should be included as part of the Care Quality Commission self-assessment, or considered as part of wider work for the Committee

                    iv.       Its Business Planning Group to consider the approach scrutiny may wish to take in terms of challenge to the service as ahead of the Care Quality Commission inspection

Extract from the Forward Plan dated 1 September 2023 – attached.

An extract from any Forward Plan relevant to the Committee’s portfolio published between the date of despatch of the agenda and the date of the meeting will be tabled at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to consider whether it wishes to enquire into any of the forthcoming decisions within its portfolio.

19.1     Resolved – that the Committee notes the Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

The Committee to review its draft work programme taking into consideration the checklist at Appendix A.

20.1     Resolved – that the Committee asks for: -

                     i.        An update to be provided on the stroke services consultation and future plans as part of the recommendations tracker and the Business Planning Group in November

                    ii.        The Business Planning Group to confirm arrangements for the winter planning item at the November meeting

                   iii.        The Business Planning Group to consider whether further scrutiny is required relating to the impact of the cessation of contract of Impact Initiatives

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 22 November at 10.30 am at County Hall, Chichester.  Probable agenda items include:

·       NHS Winter Planning

·       Adults’ Services Improvement Plan (to include transition from Children’s to Adults’ Services)

·       End of September 2023 (Quarter 2) Quarterly Performance and Resources Report

Any member wishing to place an item on the agenda for the meeting must notify the Director of Law and Assurance by 7 November 2023.

21.1     The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 22 November 2023 at 10.30 am at County Hall, Chichester.