Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Reg Adams, David Jefferys and Diane Smith. Also from Brebner Anderson, Angela Clayton-Turner, Lynne Powrie and Angela Harris, Peter Moore attended as her alternate. 

?  Councillor Judi Ellis declared that both her parents were residents in a care homes in Bromley. 

?  Councillor Mrs Anne Manning declared that she was the Chairman of the Carers Organisation Group

?  Leslie Marks declared that she had a son in a Bromley care home

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions to this Committee must be received in writing 4 working days before the date of the meeting.  Therefore please ensure questions are received by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on 7^th March 2013.

Three questions were received from Mrs Sue Sulis, Secretary, Community Care Protection Group and these are attached at Appendix A.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions to the Portfolio Holder must be received in writing 4 working days before the date of the meeting.  Therefore please ensure questions are received by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on 7^th March 2013.

No questions were received.

Peter Moore raised concerns that since the Kershaw report there had not been an opportunity for discussions and asked if someone would be appointed to answer questions. There were a number of areas of concern they would like to discuss.

The Chairman reported that a meeting would take place on with the Chairman and Chief Executive of Kings.  She added that they would be more than happy to go to organisations to answer questions.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th January 2013 be agreed.

Following a request at the Health Scrutiny Sub Committee on 14^th February 2013 1 Dr Angela Bhan had produced hospital mortality rates for the period April to November 2012.  However the request had been for the rates for the previous 2 years and presented by speciality. The Chairman and Dr. Bhan had agreed that she would make a full presentation to the next Health Scrutiny sub committee in July.

Peter Moore would inform Bromley LINk of this action.

Report No. RES13039

The Committee considered its Work Programme for 2012/13 and progress on the matters arising from previous meetings.

Councillor Mrs Manning highlighted that the forward programme indicated the annual fostering panel report would be an information item in the future but this was not the case.

On the list of visits to care homes that had taken place the visit to the Glebe was not listed.

The Portfolio Holder requested that feedback on these visits was presented to the Policy Development and Scrutiny committee.

RESOLVED that the report is noted

The Care Services Portfolio Holder to present scheduled reports for pre-decision scrutiny on matters where he is minded to make decisions.

The Committee considered the latest budget position based on activity to the end of January 2013.

Whilst the Care Services Portfolio was projected to under spend by £3,572k in this financial year, the majority of this under spend (£2.6m) related to 2013/14 budget savings which had been delivered early and some one-off savings which would not continue through to next year.  Based on service volumes as at the end of January the Care Services Portfolio had full year cost pressures of £612k in 2013/14, so management action would need to be taken over the next few weeks to identify options to offset these costs. 

The report was now in a different format giving a prediction for the forthcoming year.

The issue of voids in the extra care housing allocations was again raised and officers would bring back a full report on the extra care housing to the next meeting of the Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee. This report would also include a comparison of the costs of extra care housing as opposed to residential care.

 In addition members were concerned at the costs of services being provided to service users.  Officers explained that costing had been based on the average number of hours service users would receive.  However workers had assumed this to be a minimum number and therefore the number of hours offered was high and this had led to an overspend.  Officers would address this by meeting with supervisors and explaining care planning.

RESOLVED that

1.  the projected underspend of 3,572k forecast on the controllable budget, based on information as at January 2013, is noted;

2.  the full year effect for 2013/14 as set out in paragraph 3.3 is noted;

3.  the Portfolio Holder is requested to draw down the Adoption Reform Grant;

4.  the report is referred to the Portfolio Holder for approval.

On 6th February 2013, the Executive received a report summarising the current position on capital expenditure and receipts following the 3rd quarter of 2012/13 and presenting for approval the new capital schemes supported by Council Directors in the annual capital review process. The Executive agreed a revised Capital Programme for the five year period 2012/13 to 2016/17. This report highlights in paragraphs 3.2 to 3.7 changes agreed by the Executive in respect of the Capital Programme for the Care Services Portfolio. The revised programme for this portfolio was set out in Appendix A.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be asked to confirm the changes agreed by the Executive in February 2013.

Members considered a report on the outcome of the consultation process to change the registration with the Care Quality Commission of two Care Homes for Adults with a Learning Disability to Supported Living as approved by the Executive on 25^th July 2012.

The proposed change of registration would provide more independence for the people living in these two houses in accordance with the Portfolio Plan for Education and Care Services and the Council’s policy on Building a Better Bromley and Government policy.

One member raised concerns that evidence of the consultation with residents was not contained on the report.  However officers explained that this had formed part of the paper that was submitted to the Executive and would provide a copy for the member.

With regard to staffing members were assured that there would be a staff presence at all times.  There would also be support for residents who required extra help.

The new schemes would be monitored.

Resolved that:

1.  The report is noted.

2. The Portfolio Holder is asked to agree that the Care Quality Commission registration of:

·  St Blaise Avenue be changed from a Care Home to a Supported Living Service;

·  Orchard Grove be changed from a Care Home to a Supported Living Service.

The Fostering National Minimum Standards 2011 requires the Fostering Agency to produce a report on fostering activity to the Agency Executive and an updated Statement of Purpose on an annual basis.

Therefore the committee considered the details of activity from 1 April 2012 to date, together with the updated Statement of Purpose.

Members were pleased to note the percentage of children and young people who have experienced three or more placement moves currently stands at 11.56% which had improved from 15.60% in 2011/12 and that 11 new carers were in the process of being assessed.

Councillor Mrs Manning, a member of the Fostering Panel, queried that on the Committee Work Programme the Fostering Annual Report was marked as an information item; her understanding was that it would be a full report to the Committee. The work programme would be amended.

Under 1.6 of the report the support and training role of the Fostering Service would be added.

Councillor Mrs Manning felt that 7.4.5 should include the fact that an employer’s reference was also required.  However officers explained that as this was not a statutory requirement this had not been included.

The attrition rates appeared to be high.  Officers explained that many people who make initial enquiries are unrealistic about what is involved and how long the process takes and therefore they withdraw from assessment.

Members asked how realistic the target of recruiting 20 families per year was. Officers explained it was an internal target and was based on how many families they would need to recruit to cover carers who withdraw from the service due to retirement or other reasons. It was a minimum and if more carers came forward they would all be assessed however they would need to employ agencies to undertake the assessments.

In terms of out borough placements these had dropped.  However some of the out borough long term placements would remain as it was felt it would not be in the child’s best interests to disrupt placements.

In terms of recruitment for carers for children with complex needs current child minders had been contacted to enquire if they would like to foster.

RESOLVED that

1.  The report is noted.

2.  Request the Portfolio Holder to agree the revised Statement of Purpose.

3.  The Portfolio Holder is requested to agree that, in future, the annual report will be presented to the Care Services PDS with interim reports being presented to the Executive Working Party for Safeguarding and Corporate Parenting on a six monthly basis. This will bring the process in line with similar arrangements already in place for the Adoption Service report

Officers reported that since 2010 work to improve services within the Children’s Safeguarding and Social Care Division of the Education and Care Services Department (formerly as part of Children and Young People Services) had been formulated into of an annual performance improvement plan. The plan was effectively the annual business plan for the division. It brought together the range of actions across the division that were desired to achieve the best possible outcomes for vulnerable children and showed how the service strived for continuous improvement.

This report also provided an update on progress against the objectives outlined in the Children’s Social Care Performance Improvement Plan 2012/13.

The following comments on the plan were received from the Committee:

RESOLVED that the report is noted.

The briefing comprises:

• Contract Activity 6 Month Review March –October 2013
• Welfare Reform

Members and Co-opted Members have been provided with advance copies of the briefing via email.  The briefing is also available on the Council’s website at the following link:

CS PDS Information Briefing - 120313

Printed copies of the briefing are available on request by contacting the Democratic Services Officer. helen.long@bromley.gov.uk

There were no questions on the Information.  However members did have a lengthy debate on the Welfare Reform item on the Information Briefing.

The following points were raised and would be addressed by officers, where necessary, outside of the meeting.

·  Bromley Sparks had been asked to do an easy read copy publication to  get the information out to vulnerable people.

·  The Welfare Reform would have a negative impact on the budget

·  Although Bromley was a pathfinder authority it was for a short time as all other authorities would come on line in July 2013.

·  Confirmation that Service personal and Foster carers are exempt.

·  Work is currently underway to establish a policy to facilitate moves.

·  A further report would come to the committee giving a picture of the knock on effects for the elderly, children having to move schools etc.

The Committee considered the draft annual Care Services PDS Committee report to Council, which provided an outline of the work undertaken by the Committee in 2012/13..

The Chairman to move that the Press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed below as it is likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

RESOLVED that the Press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed below as it was likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

The Committee noted the exempt minutes of the meeting held on xxx.

RESOLVED that the exempt minutes of the meeting held on xxx be agreed.

The Committee considered the report and agreed the recommendations.

The committee considered the report and agreed the recommendations.

The Committee considered the report and agreed the recommendations.

The Committee considered the report and agreed the recommendations.

Appendix

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

1.  SHAW TRUST’S PERFORMANCE AS THE ‘HOST’ CONTRACTOR FOR THE STATUTORY BROMLEY LOCAL INVOLVEMENT NETWORK (LINK) SINCE 2008.

Shaw Trust has held this contract to support local volunteers for the past 5 years.

(a)  What are (i) the total contract costs, and (ii) the on-costs, over this period?

(b)  How may volunteers have received training in the relevant legislation to enable them to carry out their responsibilities?  Please list courses and dates.

Response -

(a) (i) The total paid to Shaw Trust to act as host to Bromley LINk since 2008 is £530,175. The contract sum includes expenses for volunteers.

(ii) The “on-costs” associated with the contract during the period are £66,455. This um includes the costs of procurement, consultancy for the emerging LINk and contract monitoring.

(b) Volunteers received training for Enter and View visits on the following dates:

2^nd November 2009

27^th April 2010

20^th January 2011

10^th January 2012

17^th January 2013-03-19

20 current LINk members have received enter and view training. 16 current LINk members have been CRB checked.

27^th January 2010 – Equalities Training 

2. BROMLEY LINK PUBLIC QUESTIONS TO ADULT & COMMUNITY AND CARE SERVICES PDS COMMITTEES.

Since April 2010, at how many meetings have Public Questions been asked by the LINk Representative?

Response -

There have been no questions, either verbal or written, raised by the LINk representative between April 2012 and March 2013.

3. THE FRANCIS INQUIRY & REPORT INTO DEATHS AT MID-STAFFORD HOSPITAL

The scandal of neglect at Stafford Hospital has demonstrated the need for proper scrutiny and for public bodies to listen to patients and the public.

(a)  How will this Committee ensure that the new Healthwatch Bromley is accountable to the public, and encourages people, especially those normally excluded, to speak out?

Response –

Bromley Healthwatch will have a seat on the PDS Committee and on the Bromley Health and Wellbeing Board. This will give both Committees the opportunity to ensure that Healthwatch Bromley is accountable to the public and is meeting the requirement to encourage people, especially those normally excluded, to speak out. The Council will also be monitoring the contract closely.