Issue - meetings

• Care Homes
• Domiciliary Care Services
• Children’s Social Care Services

Report CS16011

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report providing an annual update on the quality monitoring of commissioned care services, including the arrangements for monitoring contracts and progress made to raise standards in domiciliary care, extra care and supported living schemes, care homes and children’s services, and recommending the addition of five care agencies to the Domiciliary Care Framework.

The Local Authority had commissioned care placements from the Domiciliary Care Framework since 2012.  When the Domiciliary Care Framework was originally established, the Local Authority reserved the right to add new contractors, should one or more of the original providers withdraw or be suspended or removed from the Framework.  Three existing providers on the Framework were no longer providing care in Bromley.  It was therefore proposed that five new providers who had previously operated successfully under spot contracts and were delivering care within the rates for domiciliary care set by the Local Authority be added to the Domiciliary Care Framework. 

In considering the report, a Member noted the focus by the NHS on reducing admissions and facilitating discharge as soon as patients were stable and no longer required acute care, and queried the proportion of weekend discharges from hospital.  The Assistant Director: Commissioning reported that the Local Authority was only involved in supported discharges, which required social care involvement, but that a very small proportion of these took place at the weekend.  The Chairman confirmed that the Winter Pressures Update, due to be considered at Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee on 25^th February 2016 would also include an evaluation of step-down beds at Orpington Hospital.

In response to a question from a Member, the Assistant Director: Commissioning advised that care home and domiciliary care providers were charged to access the comprehensive programme of training delivered by the Local Authority in conjunction with Skills for Care, Health partners which helped raise the standards of care across the Borough.  Additional information regarding the proportion of the cost of the training that was covered by the charge would be provided to Members following the meeting.

A Co-opted Member informed the Committee that Healthwatch Bromley was currently undertaking an evaluation of Extra Care Housing provision in the Borough. 

RESOLVED that:

1)  Members’ comments be noted;

2)  Members undertake a programme of visits to Care Homes in the Borough during 2016/17; and,

3)  The Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree that Daret, Krislight, Fabs Homecare, LifeComeCare and Independent Care be added to the Domiciliary Care Framework as providers.