Agenda item

The Director of Adult Social Care, introduced a progress report on the adult social care transformation programme and an update on the adult social budget.

The 4 year programme which began in 2015 included 25 different projects. Of these 12 had been completed, 11 were still ongoing and 2 had still to be delivered. The most significant project was the restructuring of Adult Social Care by creating three locality teams with a focus on asset based and strength based conversations and connecting people to the range of support and services available in their communities. Other projects included the reconfiguring of learning disabilities provision, SPACE contracts and housing related services. 

A Member requested that a cross-party approach to lobby for ASC funding be considered. The Director indicated that this could be discussed with the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care. A Member asked why there was an increased amount of money being spent on nursing home costs, it was explained that the price increases were due to the local authority having limited control over all beds and that the service providers can sell the beds to the open market whereas the local authority cannot compete by buying beds in block purchases to compete with other authorities operating in the locality. 

The total budget had been falling between 2013-2017 but there was some additional funding for the last two years via the adult social precept and new one off national funding for the next 3 years which had been agreed by government through the improved Better Care Fund.

Resolved-  (a) That the report be noted

  (b)That the Panel note and agree the updated changes to the   ASC Transformation Plan 2015-2019.