Agenda item

The Panel received a comprehensive presentation from the Interim Director for Adult Social Care on the activity being undertaken on the Five Year Plan Outcome 6 – ‘More people will take responsibility and manage their own health, care and support needs’.  It was the first time that progress made on the outcome had been presented in detail to the Panel and it also provided an opportunity to Members to shape the plan for 2016/17.

(Councillor Shah joined the meeting)

The actions undertaken to deliver against the outcome aimed to encourage people to take more responsibility for managing their own health and social care needs; a stronger focus on prevention; encouraging physical activity, improving health outcomes and reducing social isolation.  The Panel received an update on current and future activities in relation to the following areas:

1.  Encourage all residents to manage and improve their health – including a new TB screening service and bowel cancer pilot.

2.  Target those individuals at risk of poor health to become more active more often – including major capital investment in leisure facilities and new neighbourhood activity programmes.

3.  Develop preventative approaches to ensure that vulnerable people are more able to support themselves – including activities undertaken through the Better Care Fund such as the new falls service and more support for people with complex needs.

4.  Build capacity within the community and voluntary sector to enable more people to manage own care needs – through the new outcomes based strategy and re-commissioning of voluntary sector services.

5.  Put in place new models of social care for adults with a focus on asset based approaches and direct payments – including new direct payments support services and innovative approaches to change the way social care worked.

6.  Ensure people are at the centre of the adult safeguarding process and are supported to manage risks – by ensuring compliance with new Care Act responsibilities and reviewing all contracted services.

(Councillor Chahal joined the meeting)

Work on the new action plan for 2016/17 was well underway and would include a further priority on the integration of health and social care.  By March 2017 a new local plan would be needed about the future shape of health and social care services to embed integration ahead of the ending of the Better Care Fund in 2020.

The Panel asked a number of questions about the VCS commissioning process and the communication with local communities and organisations about the implications for services locally.  It was responded that the SPACE consortium were well placed to connect with local communities to try to ensure residents had a better understanding of the services and support available than they had been in the past.  The contract was in its early stages in this process would take time.  A Member asked about the key performance indicators for the SPACE contract, including how they would be compared to the performance of previous contractors and whether there was specific target to identify more carers in Slough.  The contract included a number of clear targets and performance indicators and further information could be provided to the Panel if required.  In relation to the direct payments, there was a target to increase the figure from circa 20% to 60% over the next three years.

The Panel discussed the information and advice service formerly provided by Citizens Advice Bureau and was assured that the new provider, Shelter, had the necessary expertise and experience to further information the service available.  The SPACE consortium was unique to Slough and was designed to meet the specific needs locally, based a new strategy which was clearly focused on outcomes rather than activity.  The Panel was informed that CAB locally had chosen not to be part of the SPACE consortium; however, Officers had held discussions with the CAB nationally about the future opportunities to provide services in Slough.

A Member raised the future of learning disabilities services and it was noted that the SPACE information and advice service was the first port of call for residents to access services.  More generally, the service was being remodelled from residential care to supported living and a review of day centre provision was underway.  Mental health services for people at crisis point were discussed in relation to reducing suicides.  Mental health services in Slough were generally considered to be good and the Panel were briefed on the wide range of activity underway to further improve services by identifying and supporting the most vulnerable people.  Specific online services were available for young people.

A range of other issues were discussed including the implementation of the leisure strategy; the ‘road map’ for the next year in moving towards the outcomes and the role of the Panel in scrutinising and support delivery.  Members would have an ongoing role in reviewing progress in the next municipal year and a further report would be considered at a future meeting on the ‘road map’.  At the conclusion of the discussion, the Panel thanked Officers for the presentation and noted progress to date.

Resolved –

(a)  That the activity undertaken to support the delivery of Outcome 6 of the Five Year Plan be noted.

(b)  That the Panel receive a further report in the new municipal year detailing the ‘roadmap’ of activity in 2016/17 to contribute to the overarching 5-year outcome.