Agenda and minutes

The Chairman of the Adults and Safeguarding Committee, Councillor Sachin Rajput welcomed all of the attendants to the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting on 16 June be agreed as a correct record.

Councillor Paul Edwards was absent from the meeting.

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The Chairman introduced the report, which contained a review of the Adults and Safeguarding Committee Commissioning Plan for 2015/16 against the commissioning intentions and outcome measures.  The report also contained a draft of Barnet’s Local Account of Adults Social Care in 2015/16, which set out the work and achievements of the Borough’s adult social care service over the last year.

Ms. Dawn Wakeling, the Commissioning Director for Adults and Health informed the Committee that following the Member’s Item received in the name of Councillor Patel at the last meeting, the report also included detailed commentary on performance including benchmarking information.

The Committee noted that they could suggest changes to the draft Local Account which could be incorporated prior to publication of the final version.

The Chairman noted the increase in the number of requests for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisation and suggested that it be made clear that legislation had been put in place which would likely account for the significant increase in requests from 2014/15 onwards. 

The Committee requested that the following changes be incorporated into the final version of the document prior to publication:

·         That it is made clear that the service users’ feedback on page 8 was received from Barnet service users.

·         That the word, “million” is removed from page 3.

Responding to a comment from a Member about the reduction in carer’s assessments, Matthew Kendall, the Adults and Communities Director informed the Committee that a number of carers go to a carer’s centre to receive assessments, but those assessments aren’t always captured, which could account for the reduction.  The Committee noted that carers are a priority for the Delivery Unit and that a contract improving the offer to carers was about to be awarded.

The Chairman moved to the vote.  Subject to the incorporation points listed above, it was unanimously RESOLVED that:

1.    The Committee note and comment on progress against the Adults and Safeguarding Committee Commissioning Plan in 2015/16 (Appendix A).

2.    The Committee approve the annual Local Account for publication on the Council’s website.

The Chairman introduced the statutory report, which provided an overview of management and performance in relation to dealing with adult social care complaints.

Referring to the report, a Member commented that section 6.5 - Complaints by Service Area, did not contain statistics as to whether the complaint was upheld or partially upheld, whereas section 6.6 – Complaints by Category – did.  The Member suggested that it would be useful to include this information in order to effectively analyse complaints.  Ms. Wakeling informed the Committee that this additional data could be added to the report prior to final publication. 

A Member commented that they had tested the website, but had received an error message.  Ms. Emily Bowler, Head of Communications and Customer Care informed the Committee that work was being undertaken on the transactional part of the website to improve access.

A Member expressed concern about vulnerable people who wanted to complain, but did not have internet access or felt unable to.  Mr. James Mass, Assistant Director – Community and Wellbeing, informed the Committee that the Council commissions advocacy services and that anyone receiving services would be reviewed at least every 12 months which assists in identifying problems.  Mr. Kendall informed the Committee that the Council can also be alerted to potential problems by partners such as GPs or Age UK.

The Chairman moved to the recommendations as set out in the report.  Subject to the data requested in respect of complaints statistics as set out above, the Committee unanimously RESOLVED:

1.    That the Committee note and comment on progress against the Adults and Safeguarding Committee Commissioning Plan in 2015/16 (Appendix A).

2.    That the Committee approve the annual Local Account for publication on the Council’s website.

The Committee considered the Forward Work Programme as set out in the report.

The Chairman noted that any future items of business would be added to the work programme.

RESOLVED that the Committee note the Forward Work Programme.

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