Agenda, decisions and minutes

Purpose: To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

There were no declarations of interest.

Purpose: To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on 15 September 2016.

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 September 2016 had

been circulated to Members with the agenda.

Matters arising

Councillor Hilary McGuill referred to page 7 and asked if the response which was received from BCUHB had addressed all the outstanding issues which had been raised by Members at the meeting of the Committee held on 9 June 2016.  The Facilitator explained that a response had been received to all but one and an email had been sent to BCUHB to ask for a further response to all the outstanding  issues around care at home.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 

(a)       That the social care activities being delivered within the third sector in Flintshire be noted; and

(b)       That the Committee annually reviews the social care activity within the third sector in Flintshire

The Chief Officer (Social Services) introduced a report on the social care activity currently being undertaken by Flintshire’s third sector.  He welcomed and introduced Mrs. Ann Woods, Chief Officer, Flintshire Local Voluntary Council (FLVC), and advised that the FLVC was the umbrella and support organisation for over 1200 voluntary and community groups based in Flintshire.  He spoke of the positive work undertaken between the Authority and the FLVC to take forward services locally and corporately and invited Mrs. Woods to give an overview of the work of the FLVC.

                        Mrs. Woods explained that the FLVC worked to promote Health and Wellbeing in Flintshire using the strength of the voluntary and community sector to promote health, social inclusion, and well-being.  The FLVC was an active member of key Local Partnerships including the Public Services Board, the Health Social Care and Wellbeing Partnership, Community Safety Partnership and others. The FLVC was also involved in supporting the learning and development of voluntary services and volunteers across the county.

Mrs. Woods referred to current legislation under the Well Being of Future Generations Act – Healthier Wales, More Equal Wales, ethos of Third Sector, and the Social Services and Well Being Act, which was the driver to ensure agencies looked at an holistic approach to meeting a support need.  She reported on the following examples of positive partnership working between the Authority and the FLVC in Flintshire:

·         Single point of access

·         Families First Board

·         Carers Strategy

·         Health Well Being and Independence Board

·         Health & Safety Care post funded by BCUHB

·         Ageing Well agenda

·         Community resilience

·         Early Intervention Hub

·         Alternative Delivery Model for Adults with Learning Difficulties

Mrs. Woods advised that a stakeholder review of FLVC services was currently being undertaken to see how best the FLVC could support them.  She said any comments or suggestions to assist with the development of the FLVC Strategic Plan and Quality Assurance measures would be welcomed.

The Chair thanked Mrs. Woods for her presentation and invited Members to raise questions.

Councillor Andy Dunbobbin referred to the increased pressure on services due to the current austerity measures and asked what the implications were for the FLVC.  Ms. Woods acknowledged that there had been a reduction in funding from the Authority and in the Welsh Government grant and commented on the need to work more collaboratively and  innovatively.

Councillor David Healey expressed thanks to the FLVC for the work undertaken on behalf of  Flintshire’s residents  to support community services which would otherwise disappear.

In response to a question from Councillor Hilary McGuill, Mrs. Woods advised that the FLVC had a good working relationship with BCUHB and had recently been invited to a management group meeting to discuss the volunteer strategy.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the social care activities being delivered within the third sector in Flintshire be noted; and

(b)       That the Committee annually reviews the social care activity within the third sector in Flintshire

(a)       That the establishment of the Regional Partnership Board as described in 1.09 and 1.10 of the report be supported; and

(b)       That the Committee have an expectation that the new board will  improve communication between BCUHB and the social care sector.

The Chief Officer (Social Services) introduced a report to inform of the requirements within Part 9 of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014 that came into force on 6 April 2016, and requires the establishment of a Regional Partnership Board in each health board region in Wales.  He advised that the Regional Partnership Board would be a statutory body with functions defined by the Act and in subsequent regulations with the force of law.  The Chief Officer reported on the main considerations around the  North Wales Regional Partnership Board, which were as detailed in the report. 

The Chair invited Members to raise questions.

Councillor Dave Mackie referred to section 1.12 in the report and the risk of duplication of work with existing boards.  The Chief Officer gave an assurance that this had been taken into consideration and workshops set up to address this.  In response to the further concerns raised by Councillor Mackie around governance matters and accountability to Flintshire residents, the Chief Officer gave an assurance that there was the  opportunity to put Flintshire’s views forward via himself or the Cabinet Member for Social Services.

Councillor Hilary McGuill welcomed the establishment of the Board, however, she emphasised the need to ensure better and more effective outcomes in health and social care for the residents of Flintshire.  The Chief Officer agreed that it was important that the Board moves forward to improve the care and support provided for Flintshire and across North Wales. 

In response to the concerns raised by the Chair, the Chief Officer advised that delayed transfer of care was not a problem in Flintshire with very low numbers recorded.  Responding to the further question from Councillor McGuill regarding Flintshire residents accessing services at the Countess of Chester Hospital, the Chief Officer explained that two full time hospital social workers were based at the Countess of Chester.  He advised that a report on delayed transfer of care was scheduled for the meeting of the Committee to be held in January 2017. 

During discussion the Chief Officer acknowledged the need for the Board to highlight the issues and concerns in relation to health and social care in North Wales with the Welsh Government.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the establishment of the Regional Partnership Board as described in 1.09 and 1.10 of the report be supported; and

(b)       That the Committee have an expectation that the new board will  improve communication between BCUHB and the social care sector.

(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.   

Purpose: To receive a verbal report from Members of the Committee.

That the report be noted.

Councillor David Healey reported on his visit to Tri Ffordd.  He said the visit had been a positive experience and that he had been impressed with the support and the range of activities that the facility provided for people with a learning disability.  He expressed concerns around the issue of access to the site.  Councillor Healey also said that the staff at Tri Ffordd had expressed some concerns to him regarding their future position.  The Senior Manager Integrated Services explained that regular meetings were held with staff to keep them informed and that a report would be provided to a future meeting of the Committee to give an update on developments.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be updated in accordance with the above; and

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises.

The Social & Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Facilitator presented  the current Forward Work Programme for consideration and referred to the items scheduled for the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 24 November 2016. 

Following a suggestion from the Chair, it was agreed that a report on the residential care sector would be included on the Forward Work Programme for consideration at a future meeting of the Committee.

Councillor Paul Cunningham requested that Double-Click be invited to give a presentation of their work to a future meeting of the Committee.

Councillor Hilary McGuill referred to the item on Population Needs Assessment which was to be considered at the next meeting of the Committee and asked if data on English as a second language could be provided as part of the report to identify the impact on social services.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be updated in accordance with the above; and

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises.

            There was one  member of the press and no members of the public in attendance.