Agenda item

The Adult Social Care Programme Manager introduced a report that updated the Panel on the progress being made on the Adult Social Care Transformation Programme introduced in 2015.  The programme aimed to oversee improvements to social care practice under the Care Act 2014, develop new ways of working, improve integration with the NHS and deliver £7.9m savings by 2019.

The Panel noted the context in which the transformation programme was being delivered including demographic pressures from a growing population with more complex health and care needs and financial pressures arising from reductions in central government funding.  The main projects in Tranche 1 of the programme were summarised, such as the Learning Disability Change Programme, Housing Related Support, review of Drug & Alcohol Services and a new voluntary sector contract with the SPACE consortium.  The three key areas were strengths based conversations to help people help themselves; asset based community development; and a shift to locality community based teams.  The Panel noted a number of benefits of the programme including improved client outcomes; a total of £4.8m of the targeted £7.9m savings over the four year programme had been achieved to date; an increase of 42% in direct payments and reduced staff turnover and recruitment of permanent staff.  The future funding position was uncertain with the Better Care Fund due to end in 2020 and the approach for the second tranche of the transformation programme focused on increase integration with the NHS, consolidating the strengths based approach and promoting self care.

Members discussed a range of issues including the different ways in which adult social care was seeking to work with clients and the recruitment issues both in terms of social workers and in the care sector more widely.  Officers recognised the particular workforce challenges of recruitment and retention in the domiciliary and care home sector.  It was noted that there was a workforce strand in the Sustainability and Transformation Programme to address the issues more widely.  A Member raised concern that the 17% reduction in the net budget since 2013 meant that the proportion of the Council’s budget spent on adult social care was 32.1% which was circa 3% lower than the national average.  In response, it was noted that despite the financial pressures, Slough had a younger population and it was not always possible to make like for like comparisons with other Councils.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the update on the transformation programme was noted and it was agreed to receive a further report in twelve months time.

Resolved –

(a)  That the presentation on the progress of the Adult Social Care Transformation be noted.

(b)  That an update to the Panel be received annually.