Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that:

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2013 be agreed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. Bridget Perry, who was absent due to Council Business.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

Councillor Sachin Rajput, the Cabinet Member for Adults, presented the ‘Local Account for Adult Care Services’ which outlined the action that the Local Authority had taken to during 2012 to support people with social care needs.  The report also outlined the authorities’ plans to develop and improve services in 2013 – 2014.  

A Member commented on the importance of enabling people to live in their own homes where possible.  Karen Jackson, the Adult Social Care Assistant Director advised the Committee of the importance of using modern equipment and technology such as ‘’Telecare’ in order to reduce risk and improve care. 

A Member noted that the current edition of ‘Adult Social Care in Focus’ had been published in April 2013, and asked what response had been received to date.  The Cabinet Member for Adults advised that this matter was on the Agenda for the forthcoming Senior Management Team Meeting, and that a response to the Committee would be forwarded to the Committee following the meeting.

A Member referred to the ‘Right to Control Programme’ and questioned how the scheme worked, and how the 200 people in Barnet who had benefited from the ‘Right to Control’ scheme in Barnet had been chosen.  The Cabinet Member for Adults advised the Committee that ‘Right to Control’ was a government Pilot Scheme that Barnet had bid for which allowed disabled people to decide what support would be best for them and to take control of planning their own support services. Responding to a question from a Member about how funding was given, the Adults Social Care Assistant Director advised the Committee that funding streams were combined this included adult social care funding. 

A Member commented that loneliness and isolation can cause and contribute to mental health problems.  The Cabinet Member for Adults advised the Committee that it was important that people weren’t left in isolation. 

Cllr. Kate Salinger, noted a reference in the ‘Local Account of Adult Social Care’ that stated that from June 2013, there would be Later Life Planners across Barnet to support people over the age of 55 about the future, and questioned how many Later Life Planners there would be.  The Adults Social Care Assistant Director advised that this figure would be circulated to the Committee following the meeting.

Cllr. Kate Salinger asked the Cabinet Member for Adults if Council-ran Adult Social Care residential settings paid its staff the London Living Wage.  The Cabinet Member for Adults advised that Barnet definitely paid the Minimum Wage, and that Officers would confirm whether the London Living Wage was paid, and that this figure would be circulated to the Committee.

A Member referred to the ‘Celebrating Excellent Care’ Conference that took place in January 2013, and noting the caption to the photograph within the report, advised that the award winners should be referred to as good, not ‘lucky’.

RESOLVED that:-

1)    The Committee note the Local Account of Adult Social Care Services;

2)    The Committee request to be informed of the response  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Cabinet Member for Adults, Cllr. Sachin Rajput presented a report that provided the Committee with an update on the current provision of Telecare within Barnet, and outlined the future plans for the development of the Council’s Telecare Strategy.  The Cabinet Member for Adults advised the Committee that Telecare was about signposting people to the individual support that they need.

A Member questioned how the Council was able to help individuals who didn’t need funding for Telecare, but wanted information on the services available.  Karen Jackson, the Adults Social Care Assistant Director, advised the Committee that residents were able to contact the Council to obtain free advice.  Ms. Jackson also advised the Committee that Telecare can be used to complement a care package, and was also a very good way of supporting people with dementia.

A Member advised the Committee that the Borough had hosted a Telecare conference eight years ago, and noted that the Borough had been ahead of its time in the respect of this type of care at that time.  The Member commented that whilst Telecare could enhance the care that a person can receive, it did not assist with social isolation, and noted the importance of maintaining contact with individuals in order to tackle the problem of loneliness.  The Cabinet Member for Adults advised the Committee that it was important that the use of Telecare and social isolation did not increase together.

RESOLVED that the Committee note the current position on the use of Telecare and the future plans for the development of the Council’s Telecare Strategy. 

The Cabinet Member for Adults introduced a report which outlined the findings of a Peer Review of Adult Safeguarding in Barnet.  The Peer review has replaced the CQC inspection of Adult Social Care Departments. 

The Cabinet Member for Adults advised the Committee that in March 2013, Adults and Communities undertook a Local Government Association / Association of Directors of Adult Social Services Peer Review, which reviewed Barnet’s approach to Safeguarding.  The Cabinet Member for Adults informed that Committee that the following strengths had been identified in the findings of the review:

• Barnet focuses on outcomes for users and carers although this could be

strengthened to put people fully in control of their safeguarding problem.

• The involvement of people using services is valued.

• Safeguarding and personalisation are integrated.

• Barnet has a ‘one team approach’ to safeguarding in adult social care.

• Safeguarding is quality assured by integral practice governance

framework. This means:

-       Practitioners are well supported by managers, specialists, each other, the risk panel and safeguarding champions in teams.

-       There are on-going learning and improvement opportunities and

feedback loops via case file audit, interviews with a forum of people

using services and professional practice forums.

-       Staff are enthusiastic, with a professional approach and genuinely

wanting to develop social work practice.

Responding to a question from a Member about the different features of a CQC inspection and a Peer Review, the Cabinet Member for Adults advised the Committee that whilst a CQC inspection might show what an Authority was doing well, the Peer Review enabled Councils to learn best practice from other Local Authorities.  The Cabinet Member for Adults advised the Committee that this review was the first of its kind in London, and the ninth nationally.

RESOLVED that the Committee note the findings of the Peer Review of Adult Safeguarding in Barnet.

The Committee considered the Advanced Notice of Executive Decisions.

Cllr. Kate Salinger noted the Advanced Notice of Executive Decision in relation to the Catalyst Contract Renegotiation - The Future Role of Fremantle Trust in Care Provision”, which was due to go to Cabinet Resources Committee on Monday 24 June 2013 for decision.

Some Members the Committee expressed concern about the necessary Safeguarding standards being met in relation to this decision, and asked questions of the Cabinet Member for Adults, who was in attendance.  Committee Members commented that as the Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee, they would have wanted to have had the opportunity to scrutinise this item before the decision was taken. 

Following discussion by the Committee, it was resolved that  the Vice-Chairman, Cllr. Kate Salinger would attend the Cabinet Resources Committee on 24 June 2013 on behalf of the Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee in order to speak, and request that Safeguarding issues were given the necessary consideration when taking this decision. 

RESOLVED that:-

1)    The Committee note the Advanced Notice of Executive Decisions;

2)    The Committee resolve that Cllr. Kate Salinger attend the meeting of the Cabinet Resources Committee on 24 June 2013 on behalf of the Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee in order to speak and request that Safeguarding issues are given the necessary consideration when taking the decision of the Catalyst Contract Renegotiation - The Future Role of Fremantle Trust in Care Provision” item.

The Committee considered the Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme for 2013/14 as set out in the report.

RESOLVED that:-

1)    The Committee note the Forward Work Programme;

2)    The Committee request to receive an item on the Council’s actions in relation to tackling sexual exploitation, abuse and grooming at a future meeting.

There were none.

RESOLVED that:-

The Committee note the exempt information.

There were none.