Agenda and minutes

Adults and Safeguarding Committee - Monday 15th March, 2021 6.00 pm

Venue: Vitrual Meeting

Contact: Jan Natynczyk Email:  jan.natynczyk@barnet.gov.uk  Please note that this will be held as a virtual meeting. An audio and video live stream of the meeting can be accessed on the link below:

Link: Click here for the meeting

Items
No. Item

1.

Chairman's Introduction

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed everyone to this virtual meeting, explaining how the process would work.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 238 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2020, be agreed as a correct record.

3.

Absence of Members

4.

Declarations of Members' Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Interests

Minutes:

Councillor Cooper declared a non-pecuniary interest regarding agenda item 7 (Adults and Safeguarding Delivery Plan), as she was employed by the Royal Free and provided clinical input to a CCG Service directly referred to in this report.

5.

Report of the Monitoring Officer (if any)

Minutes:

None.

6.

Members' Items (if any) pdf icon PDF 402 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman drew attention to the following Members’ Items:

 

 

 

Member

 

Item

Councillor  

Paul Edwards

 

 

Paying former Fremantle workers at least London's Living Wage

 

 

It's been a while since the Committee looked at the affordability of paying at least London's Living Wage (LLW) to the former Fremantle workers.

 

All other care workers employed by Your Choice Barnet (YCB) and The Barnet Group (TBG) are already paid at least London's Living Wage, and it is TBG policy to pay all staff at least LLW.

 

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted once again the need to pay the former Fremantle care workers at least the London Living Wage.

 

I ask that the Committee, Barnet Council and The Barnet Group give a commitment to ensure Barnet's former Fremantle workers are paid at least LLW, with the funding to be allocated in the forthcoming budget for implementation in 2021/22.

 

The Chairman reported that the issue had already been raised at Full Council, discussions were held with Your Choice Barnet and provision had been made in the budget.

 

RESOLVED that the current position, as outlined by the Chairman, be noted.

 

Councillor

Anne Clarke

 

Integration of Health & Social Care

 

As Government legislation on Integrated Health and Social Care may soon become law, there remains several concerns across all political parties.  Local Councils need assurance that local authority social care budgets do not become consolidated into Health.  The pandemic has rightly highlighted the dedication and professionalism of all those working for the NHS.  It has equally brought a spotlight on the dedication and professionalism of those who work in the social care sector, whilst equally revealing the disparity in resources available to social care compared with health, including fundamentally different fiscal constraints.

 

We are concerned that local government, which is responsible for social care, does not become the poor relation. We understand the 2014 Care will be repealed and replaced with new legislation, although at this stage the ramifications for local authorities are unclear.

 

We request that officers brief the committee on what might be expected from new legislation on Integrated Care Systems and the proposed white paper on Integration and Innovation, with members of HOSC also invited.  What are the strengths and weakness of the new proposals?   What are the challenges the local authority faces as the new arrangements unfold?  What assurances are there that the NHS and the Local Authority will have equal status in the new arrangements?

 

The Chairman suggested that a Member Briefing be held on this issue during the late spring with relevant parties in attendance.

 

RESOLVED that the Chairman’s suggestion be endorsed by the Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.

Public Questions and Comments (if any) pdf icon PDF 339 KB

Minutes:

The following comment has been received from Phil Cohen in relation to agenda item 7:

 

The Adults and Safeguarding Committee Delivery plan 2021/22 paper’s section 4.2 on Bringing health and care together

This raises some very worrying issues that I as a Barnet resident and health consumer would like some clarity on. These are:

1.       Plans in the Government’s White Paper for an ICS NHS Body to run all health, social care and public health services with a single capped budget amount to an NHS takeover of social care. The language of ‘integration’ is a misnomer as the LGA has said - on the face of it there is very little local government representation on these bodies. This has disturbing implications for democratic control by elected councillors.

2.       The NHS and social care operate different eligibility criteria and funding sources – what happens to them?

3.       The White Paper appears to open the way to more private contracting of health and care services. Covid-19 contracts worth £19.7 billion mainly to the private sector show the direction of travel.

4.       I am concerned the increased stress on digital health and technology in the White Paper means face to face consultations become the exception and undermines the vital doctor-patient relationship.

 

The Chairman suggested that the item be noted and linked to the Members Briefing on bringing health and social care together.

 

RESOLVED that the public comment be noted and dealt with as outlined above.

 

8.

Adults and Safeguarding Committee Delivery plan 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 244 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Chairman explained that this report set out the Delivery Plan Priorities for Adults and Safeguarding Committee for the financial year 2021/22.

 

Members asked several questions with Officers responding accordingly. There were also some issues raised which would be addressed outside of the meeting with Officers emailing Committee Members.

 

Councillor Edwards requested that recommendations 1 and 2 be dealt with separately, in terms of the voting process.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the Committee approve the Delivery Plan 2021/22 as set out in this report.

 

 

For

6

Against

0

Abstained

5

 

 

2.   That the Committee approve the extension of the Fit and Active (FAB) Framework to the end of March 2022. (unanimously approved).

 

9.

Quarter 3 (Q3) 2020/21 Delivery Plan Performance Report pdf icon PDF 763 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman noted that this report provided a thematic overview of performance for Q3 2020/21 focusing on the activities to deliver both the corporate and committee priorities in the Adults and Safeguarding Recovery and Delivery Plan.

 

The Chairman invited Officers to report specifically on the impact on Leisure and reopening.

 

Members asked several questions with Officers responding accordingly.

 

There were also some issues raised which would be addressed outside of the meeting with Officers emailing Committee Members.

 

 

RESOLVED that it be unanimously agreed to note the review the performance, budget and risk information for Q3 2020/21.

10.

Adult Social Care Case Management System Implementation Update pdf icon PDF 369 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman noted that this report provided an update on implementation of Adult Social Care Case Management System, Mosaic.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee agrees to unanimously note the progress made in implementing the case management system.

11.

Update on the Delivery of the Prevent Duty pdf icon PDF 441 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman noted that this report provided an update on the Delivery of the Prevent Duty.

 

The Chairman also invited the appropriate Officer to address the Committee on the delivery of the Prevent Duty, particularly for the benefit of new Members of the Committee.

 

RESOLVED that the Adults and Safeguarding Committee unanimously agrees to note the contents of this report.

12.

Any other items that the Chairman decides are urgent

Minutes:

The Chairman reported that there were no urgent items, but noted that this was the last meeting of the current municipal year, thanked Officers for their assistance and pointed out that there was not a work programme for this meeting to consider as it had been completed for the year. A new work programme for 21/22 would be brought to the June 2021 meeting.