Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of 26 January 2015 are agreed as a correct record.

Apologies were received from Councillor Thompstone. Councillor Finn was present as a substitute.

The following interests were declared:

There was none.

The Chairman addressed the Committee in regard to the recent Your Choice Barnet inspection and made the following points in summary

• That he had informed officers that he was to bring this as an Urgent Member’s Item to the present meeting, but that he would now provide a brief statement prior to the public questions to assist all present and to remind the public therewith of the rules concerning public questions and comment.  He also informed the committee that the topic will also be considered later in the agenda as a Member’s Item had been submitted in the name of Councillor Rawlings.
• That the Barnet Supported Living Service has five schemes across the Borough, providing support to adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs and autism. Three of the schemes are self-contained flats and two are shared houses, and all schemes are staffed 24 hours a day and are overseen by a registered manager.
• That the Service was inspected by the CQC on 6^th and 7^th August 2014 – using a new inspection process which was then in pilot phase– with a report which was published on CQC’s website on 26^th February 2015 (and then updated on 3^rd March 2015).  He indicated that the delay between the inspection visit and the publication of the report, including the ratings is a matter of concern. 
• That Officers advised that Your Choice Barnet were not informed of the inspection outcome until 1^st February 2015, and council officers were then made aware of the inspection report and the rating by YCB later that month, on 13^th February 2015, and that he had been made aware thereafter. At this point, the inspection report was embargoed by CQC until publication. 
• That he had instructed officers to write to the CQC expressing concern about the delay.
• That the Service had previously been inspected on 29^th January 2013 and on 9^th September 2013 under the CQC’s previous inspection regime and received positive inspections.
• The January 2013 inspection found that four out of the five standards were met and the September 2013 inspection found that all five standards were met.
• He provided an outline of the new CQC inspection criteria.
• That Council Officers confirmed they had been working with Your Choice Barnet on the actions needed to address the issues set out in the report, through the formal contract management procedures.
• That Officers from Adults and Communities confirmed they had been making regular monitoring visits and the care needs and safety of all service users were being reviewed by a member of the Learning Disabilities social work team.
• That a detailed action plan is being developed by YCB and agreed by the YCB Board in order to ensure progress is made against all the issues highlighted in the report.
• That he had requested Officers to bring a report to the next Adults and Safeguarding Committee on the progress of implementing improvements to the Service.

Details of the questions asked and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Barry Rawlings introduced his Members’ Item relating to the Care Quality Commission inspection rating for Your Choice Barnet.

The Committee provided the following instruction on the Member’s Item:

-       RESOLVED that a report containing the following be provided to the Committee’s April meeting:

·         The status of care provision provided by Your Choice Barnet will be provided to the next meeting of the Adults and Safeguarding Committee.

·         Whether any reviews of care plans highlighted any issues before the inspection.

·         An analysis of the increase in use of agency / temporary staff from 2010/11 to date.

·         An analysis of the impact of changing the management structure to only one Manager across 5 sites.

·         An update on implementation of the action plan since the inspection.

The Chairman introduced the report, which provided an update on the implementations of the “Your Choice Barnet Task and Finish Group”, which reported to Cabinet on 25 February 2014. 

The Chairman invited Helen Davies from UNISON to address the Committee.

The Committee discussed the report which provided an update on the Your Choice Barnet Task and Finish Group.

The Committee noted that they would receive a report on Your Choice Barnet at their meeting on 23 April 2015. 

RESOLVED that the Committee note the progress made on implementation of the recommendations by the Your Choice Barnet Task and Finish Group.

Dawn Wakeling, Commissioning Director for Adults, introduced the item, which set out the five-year Commissioning Plan from 2015/16 to 2019/20. Ms. Wakeling noted that the final key performance indicators as specified in the plan have now been set.

The Chairman moved to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The vote was carried and the following was therefore RESOLVED:

That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee approve the Commissioning Plan for the Committee as set out at Appendix A, taking rigorous consideration of the consultation responses set out in Appendix C and the equalities analysis.

The Chairman introduced the report relating to the Implementation of the Care Act 2014, with attention on eligibility, increased demand, carers contributions and care arrangement fees.

The Chairman moved to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The vote was carried and the following was therefore RESOLVED:

1. That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee approve the adoption of the Assessment and Eligibility Policy for Adults in Need (Appendix 1).

2. That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee approve the adoption of the Assessment and Eligibility Policy for Carers (Appendix 2).

3. That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee approve the recommendation to continue with its existing policy of not charging for carer’s services as set out in paragraphs 2.7 to 2.10 and specifically referenced in paragraph 2.9.

4. That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee approve the recommendation on charging a care arrangement fee for people who pay the full cost of their care as set out in paragraphs 2.11 to 2.21 and specifically referenced in paragraphs 2.17 and 2.19 of this report.

5. That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee note the remodelling of the first point of contact enabling it to manage the increase in demand arising from the Care Act 2014 (paragraphs 2.22 – 2.28).

The Chairman introduced the report relating to the Implementation of the Care Act 2014, with attention on market shaping and provider failure

The Chairman moved to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The vote was carried and the following was therefore RESOLVED:

1. That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee note that a refreshed Market Position Statement is being developed to meet the new market shaping duties under the Care Act 2014.

2. That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee approve the adoption of the Market Failure Policy (Appendix 1).

The Chairman introduced the report relating to the Implementation of the Care Act 2014, with attention on carers, prevention, information, advice and advocacy.

The Chairman moved to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The vote was carried and the following was therefore RESOLVED:

1. That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee note the new rights of carers to care and support under the Care Act 2014 (Appendix 1).

2. That the Committee note the joint working between Adults and

Communities and Family Services with respect to Carers and Young Carers (paragraphs 2.1 to 2.2).

3. That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee approve the adoption of the Prevention Policy (Appendix 2).

4. That the Adults and Safeguarding Committee approve the adoption of the Information, Advice and Advocacy Policy (Appendix 3).

The Chairman introduced the report which sought approval to extend funding of Community Focus through an existing funding agreement to 31 March 2016.

The Chairman moved to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The vote was carried and the following was therefore RESOLVED:

1. That, subject to the council’s Standard Conditions of Grant Aid, the existing funding agreement with Community Focus, subsidising places on its courses for older and disabled people to improve their resilience and capacity to live independently, be extended for a further twelve months beyond 2014/15 to 31 March 2016.

2. That a grant of £51,300 to Community Focus be approved for 2015/16.

3. That the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Finance be authorised to finalise terms and conditions in relation to the grant.

The Chairman introduced the report which related to Community Focus – Extension of Funding Agreement, 2015/16.

The Committee voted on the item as follows:

The vote was carried and the following was therefore RESOLVED:

1. That, subject to the council’s Standard Conditions of Grant Aid, the existing funding agreement with Community Focus, subsidising places on its courses for older and disabled people to improve their resilience and capacity to live independently, be extended for a further twelve months beyond 2014/15 to 31 March 2016.

2. That a grant of £51,300 to Community Focus be approved for 2015/16.

3. That the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Finance be authorised to finalise terms and conditions in relation to the grant.

The Governance Officer introduced the report.

The Committee discussed and considered the contents of the report.

The Committee noted that following the Member’s Item considered at Agenda Item 6a (Care Quality Commission inspection rating for Your Choice Barnet), a report would be bought to the Committee’s next meeting on 23 April 2015.

RESOLVED:

-       That the Committee note the report.

There were none.