Agenda item

(a)       That the Committee noted the findings arising from the CSSIW report and supported the development of an action plan in response to the recommendations;

(b)       That a progress report and final draft of the action plan be submitted to the meeting of the Committee scheduled to be held in July 2014; and

(c)        That a letter be sent to the local newspaper concerned to put forward the views of the Committee and highlight the positive work which had been undertaken by the Authority to support dementia care in Flintshire.

The Commissioning Manager introduced a report on the outcome of a national review of commissioning in adult social care.  She advised that the review included an inspection of how well services for people with dementia and their carers were being commissioned in Flintshire.  The CSSIW report on commissioning arrangements in Flintshire was appended to the report. 

The Commissioning Manager gave background information and reported that Flintshire was the only authority in North Wales to be selected for inspection.  She advised that overall the CSSIW report on commissioning arrangements in Flintshire was positive about the services in place within the Authority for people living with Dementia in Flintshire.    The report identified a number of areas of “best practice” in Flintshire and referred to the “Living Well” domiciliary care team, the North East Wales Carers Information Services (NEWCIS), and Flintshire’s Community Care Brokerage Service.  The report recognised Flintshire’s contribution to the development of a Regional approach to commissioning through its work with the North Wales Regional Commissioning Hub and the development of a Regional Framework for domiciliary providers.  It also highlighted Flintshire’s focus on ‘quality and responsiveness of services’ and described relationships with providers as “Very positive and very collaborative”.

The Commissioning Manager advised that the report also raised a number of concerns regarding levels of specialist EMI nursing home placements within Flintshire boundaries and that “partnership  arrangements with BCUHB for people with dementia were not as effective or developed as they should be”.  The report made three recommendations to improve the services for people living with dementia in Flintshire and the Commissioning Manger gave an outline of the work to be undertaken to take the recommendations forward and referred to the development of a detailed action plan, in consultation with partners, to strengthen dementia care by the end of June 2014.    Councillor Hilary McGuill asked that a copy of the action plan be provided to the Committee for consideration.     

Councillor Cindy Hinds referred to a recent report in a local newspaper concerning dementia care in Flintshire which she felt had been unduly critical.  During discussion it was agreed that a letter be sent to the newspaper concerned to put forward the views of the Committee and highlight the positive work which had been undertaken by the Authority to support dementia care in Flintshire.

Councillor Peter Curtis commented on the greater demand for EMI care in the future.  

Members expressed their congratulations to the Director of Community Services and the Commissioning Manager on the positive outcome of the CSSIW review and thanked them for their hard work and achievements.  

RESOLVED:

 (a)      That the Committee noted the findings arising from the CSSIW report and supported the development of an action plan in response to the recommendations;

(b)       That a progress report and final draft of the action plan be submitted to the meeting of the Committee scheduled to be held in July 2014; and

(c)        That a letter be sent to the local newspaper concerned to put forward the views of the Committee and highlight the positive work which had been undertaken by the Authority to support dementia care in Flintshire.