Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Quarter 1 Improvement Plan Monitoring Report for the Living Well priority  be received; and

(b)       That the Committee refer back to the Cabinet and Audit Committee the position regarding the red risk area on fragility and sustainability of the care sector.   

The Chief Officer (Social Services) introduced a report to present the monitoring of progress for the first quarter of the Improvement Plan 2016/17 priority ‘Modern and Efficient Council’ relevant to the Committee.  The Chief Officer referred to the detailed sub-priority report which was attached as appendix 1 to the report. 

The Chief Officer advised that there was one main red risk area for consideration in the priority Living Well concerning the fragility and sustainability of the care home sector.  He advised that Flintshire’s Residential Care Review had been completed and the Authority had continued to work with care providers, locally, regionally, and nationally to address the complex and broad range of issues.  The sector remained fragile and continued to be a key priority for the Council.  The Chief Officer explained that a Project Manager had recently been appointed to work on behalf of the Authority to look at how to increase provision, capital funding, and business support.  He commented on the issue of the quantity of care home provision in Flintshire and referred to the need for a good supply of local provision for the residents of Flintshire so that it was an option to consider.  Following discussion the Chief Officer agreed to refer the Committees concerns to Cabinet with regard to the red risk  area on fragility and sustainability of the care sector.  Members also requested that the issue be raised with the Audit Committee.

Councillor Cindy Hinds asked if the Authority could work in partnership with the private sector to fund the capital for building new care homes in Flintshire and referred to S106 agreements.

In response  to a question from Councillor Dave Mackie regarding the red risk highlighted for the  care home sector, the Chief Officer referred to the  requirement for Councils and Health  to work more closely, including the need to pool funds to share costs for services such as care home provision.  During discussion Officers responded to the further queries and concerns raised by Councillor Mackie regarding the data presented in the report relating to people with learning disabilities and vulnerable people and the percentage of identified carers. 

Councillor Paul Cunningham congratulated the  Cabinet Member, and the Chief Officer and his team  for the work in developing ‘dementia friendly’ support services in Flintshire.

Councillor Hilary McGuill commented on the increase in the number of child referrals.  The Senior Manager Safeguarding and Commissioning advised that whilst there had been an increase, some of which were via the Police, there had also been an increase experienced in neighbouring authorities.  She suggested that a report on the Early Intervention Hub could be added to the Forward Work Programme for the joint Committee with Education and Youth in 2017.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Quarter 1 Improvement Plan Monitoring Report for the Living Well priority  be received; and

(b)       That the Committee refer back to the Cabinet and Audit Committee the position regarding the red risk area on fragility and sustainability of the care sector.