Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bromley Civic Centre

Contact: Kerry Nicholls  020 8313 4602

Items
No. Item

20.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND NOTIFICATION OF SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Angela Wilkins, Lynn Sellwood and Barbara Wall.

 

Members and Co-opted Members of the Education, Children and Families Select Committee had been invited to the meeting to contribute towards the scrutiny of Item 15a: One Year Extension to Agreement for the Provision of Direct Payment Support and Payroll Services and apologies for absence were received from Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP, Councillor Yvonne Bear, Councillor Peter Fortune, Councillor Will Rowlands, Reverend Roger Bristow and Angela Leeves.

21.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

22.

Co-option to the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Minutes:

Report CSD18124

 

The Committee considered a report outlining Co-opted Member appointments to the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee for 2018/19.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)  The following Co-opted Member appointments be made to the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee for 2018/19:

 

Co-opted Member

Alternate

Representing

Roger Chant

Rosalind Luff

Bromley Carer

 

23.

QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING THE MEETING

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions to the Adult Care and Health Portfolio Holder or to the Chairman of 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 5.00pm on Thursday 13th September 2018.

Minutes:

Three written questions were received from a member of the public and these are attached at Appendix A.

24.

MINUTES OF ADULT CARE AND HEALTH PDS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 27TH JUNE 2018 pdf icon PDF 151 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee meeting held on 27th June 2018 be agreed.

25.

MINUTES OF HEALTH SCRUTINY SUB-COMMITTEE MEETINGS HELD ON 11TH AND 30TH JULY 2018 pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee meetings on 11th and 30th July 2018 be agreed.

26.

Matters Arising and Work Programme pdf icon PDF 72 KB

Minutes:

Report CSD18102

 

The Committee considered its forward work programme, the schedule of Council Members’ visits and matters arising from previous meetings.

 

A Member noted that at its meeting on 12th September 2018, the Council’s Executive had considered a report on ‘Gateway 1 – Social Care Case Management System’ which had ramifications for the Adult Care and Health Portfolio.  An update on this report would be provided as part of Item 8: Update from the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director: Education, Care and Health Services.

 

RESOLVED that the Adult Care and Health forward work programme, the schedule of Council Members’ visits and matters arising from previous meetings be noted.

27.

UPDATE FROM THE DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: EDUCATION, CARE AND HEALTH SERVICES (VERBAL UPDATE)

Minutes:

The Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director: Education, Care and Health Services gave an update to Members on work being undertaken across the Education, Care and Health Services Department. 

 

Recruitment and retention continued to be a key area of focus and fifteen newly qualified social workers had recently joined the Adult Social Care Service.  Preparations for winter services had been co-produced with key partners and local providers and were being supported by an additional £1M of funding from the Better Care Fund.  A report outlining Bromley’s winter plan would be presented to the meeting of Health and Wellbeing Board on 27th September 2018 for Board Members’ consideration.  Work to develop processes by which the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee could hear directly from service providers and users was ongoing.  Eight providers of high value contracts (with a cumulative value of £5M and above) would be invited to present to the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee during the 2018/19 municipal year, and a service user framework was being designed to support service users to provide their views to the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee in a meaningful way. 

 

At its meeting on 12th September 2018, the Council’s Executive had agreed the procurement of a new Social Care Case Management System to support Social Care staff to meet the challenges of the changing social care landscape.  The service specification for the new Social Care Case Management System was being developed in consultation with key partners and Social Care staff, and it was expected that the new system would be in place in approximately two to three years. 

 

In considering the procurement of a new Social Care Case Management System, the Chairman underlined the need for Social Care staff to be supported with good quality information technology systems until the new system was in place.  The Deputy Chief Executive confirmed that a number of enhancements had been made to existing information technology systems to enable Social Care staff to continue to meet the needs of service users, including enhanced mobile working functionality.  Another Member queried whether tenders received for the new Social Care Case Management System would be evaluated using the Local Authority’s standard 60% price and 40% quality split, and emphasised that the cost of the new Social Care Case Management System should be balanced with the needs of the service.  The Deputy Chief Executive reported that a robust process was in place to procure a Social Care Case Management System that met all criteria to deliver a high quality service, and that regular updates would be provided to the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee as the service specification was developed and throughout the procurement process.  The Chairman led the Committee in underlining the importance of ensuring the service specification for the new Social Care Case Management System met the needs of Social Care staff.

 

RESOLVED that the update be noted.

28.

HOLDING THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER AND EXECUTIVE TO ACCOUNT

29.

PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF EXECUTIVE REPORTS

29a

Gateway Report: Supported Living Services at Johnson Court pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Minutes:

Report CS18168

 

The Committee considered a report outlining the current contract arrangements for the provision of Supported Living Services for seven adults with learning and physical disabilities at Johnson Court which was due to end on 13th January 2020.  The report requested that the Council’s Executive approve a proposal to retender the service for a new five year contract period commencing on 14th January 2020, with the option to extend the contract for up to a further two years.

 

The Supported Living Scheme at Johnson Court formed part of the 155 Supported Living places available in the Borough which had been established to support service users to live as independently as possible within their local community and were viewed as a key resource in meeting the existing and future needs of adults with learning disabilities in Bromley as well as offering a value-for-money alternative to residential care.  The existing contract to provide Supported Living Services at Johnson Court was due to end on 13th January 2020, with no further extension options available.  Following a Gateway Review of the future procurement strategy for the Supported Living Scheme at Johnson Court, it was proposed that the service be retendered in accordance with the Council’s Financial and Procedure Rules for a new five year contract period commencing on 14th January 2020, with the option to extend the contract for up to a further two years.

 

The Senior Commissioner (Education and Care Services) advised Members that the Local Authority’s Commissioning Strategy included commissioning some Supported Living Services as single schemes and others as groups of schemes as this helped ensure a varied provider market within the Borough, including opportunities for smaller local providers.  The Supported Living model offered person-centred support to service users and as providers were Registered Social Landlords, service users were eligible for Housing Benefit top-up payments which helped offset the cost of service charges and provide a value-for-money service.  Supported Living Services also benefitted from a mixed-economy of care where service users could choose to take-up Direct Payments to meet their care needs.

 

In considering the report, a Member noted that the contract to provide Supported Living Services at Johnson Court from 14th January 2013 had originally been awarded via competitive tender with an estimated value of £113k, but that the contract had consistently exceeded this with contract expenditure of £343k estimated for 2018/19.  The Senior Commissioner (Education and Care Services) explained that tenders to deliver Supported Living Services were evaluated on the basis of the hourly cost of support, and that the increase in contract expenditure at Johnson Court, which was fully wheelchair-accessible, was related to changes in service users and an escalation in complexity of need that required additional hours of support.  The current value of the contract was reported in the Contracts Register and Contracts Database report which was provided to the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee on a quarterly basis.

 

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Senior Commissioner  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29a

29b

Supported Living - Five Schemes - Gateway Report pdf icon PDF 208 KB

Minutes:

Report CS18169

 

The Committee considered a report outlining the current contract arrangements for the provision of Supported Living Services to 32 adults with a learning disability at a group of schemes comprising 213 Widmore Road, Lancaster House, Amplio House, Swingfield Court and Goldsmiths Close which was due to end on 11th January 2020.  The report requested that the Council’s Executive approve a proposal to continue to group the schemes together for the purposes of tendering in order to drive the best possible pricing and to retender the service for a new five year contract period commencing on 12th January 2020, with the option to extend the contract for up to a further two years.

 

The Supported Living Schemes at 213 Widmore Road, Lancaster House, Amplio House, Swingfield Court and Goldsmiths Close formed part of the 155 Supported Living places available in the Borough which had been established to support service users to live as independently as possible within their local community and were viewed as a key resource in meeting the existing and future needs of adults with learning disabilities in Bromley and as offering a value-for-money alternative to residential care.  The existing contract to provide Supported Living Services at a group of schemes comprising 213 Widmore Road, Lancaster House, Amplio House, Swingfield Court and Goldsmiths Close which was due to end on 11th January 2020, with no further extension options available.  Following a Gateway Review of the future procurement strategy for Supported Living Services at 213 Widmore Road, Lancaster House, Amplio House, Swingfield Court and Goldsmiths Close,it was proposed that the schemes continue to be grouped together for the purposes of tendering in order to drive the best possible pricing and to retender the service for a new five year contract period commencing on 12th January 2020, with the option to extend the contract for up to a further two years.

 

In considering the report, a Member was concerned at the variation between the estimated value of Supported Living Services contracts and the actual annual expenditure, and suggested that tender evaluation using the Local Authority’s standard 60% price and 40% quality split should be focused more on quality for these contracts.  The Senior Commissioner (Education and Care Services) confirmed that tenders to deliver Supported Living Services were evaluated on the basis of the hourly cost of support, which was expected to vary throughout the contract depending on the complexity of need of service users.  The Interim Director: Programmes observed that Supported Living Services consisted of a mix of personal and collective support and that the collective support element could be better anticipated when evaluating tenders.  Work was also undertaken in all Supported Living Services schemes on an ongoing basis to ensure that service users’ needs were being met and that support was being delivered efficiently.  The Director: Adult Social Care highlighted that Supported Living Services offered a value-for-money alternative to expensive residential or out-of-Borough care.  In response to a question from the Member, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29b

30.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER ITEMS

30a

Shared Lives Service: Update pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Minutes:

Report CS18173

 

The Committee considered a report providing an overview and update on the current position of the Shared Lives Service.

 

The Shared Lives Service had been established in 2006 to recruit, train and support paid Carers to provide quality placements within their own family homes in the community.  The scheme provided vulnerable adults with a cost-effective alternative to traditional residential and day support with the aim of supporting them to maintain a level of independence and maximise their quality of living within their own community.  There were 36 Carers participating in the scheme as at August 2018, who were providing 33 long term placements and one emergency placement, as well as eight carers providing 16 respite placements to specific vulnerable adults and two carers providing Day Support placements.  The Shared Lives Service was registered with the Care Quality Commission and had been awarded a ‘Good’ rating in all areas following its last inspection in July 2016.  Another CQC Inspection was expected to take place shortly and a service self-evaluation had been completed to ensure readiness for the inspection and implement learning towards the achievement of an ‘Outstanding’ rating.  A range of monitoring processes were in place to ensure service users received a high quality service including the use of Quality Checkers.  Additional information tabled at the meeting showed the uptake of the Shared Lives Service in Bromley as a proportion of total local population compared to neighbouring local authorities.

 

A Member outlined work undertaken by the Placement Panel for the Shared Lives Service which included representation from a number of local authorities and was an excellent example of inter-borough co-operation.  The Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Health Services confirmed that she would be attending the next meeting of the Placement Panel where she would have the opportunity to meet service users and carers participating in the Shared Lives Service. 

 

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Director: Adult Social Care advised that measurable outcomes for the Shared Lives Service were prescribed by the Care Quality Commission and aimed to ensure service users were engaged, well cared for and integrated in the community.  Work to further develop the scheme was ongoing with the aim of recruiting more carers and service users and better understanding future demand for the Shared Lives Service.  Further updates would be provided to the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee when available.

 

RESOLVED that the overview and update on the current position of the Shared Lives Service be noted.

30b

Contract Register and Contracts Database Report Part 1 (Public) Information pdf icon PDF 129 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CS18175-1

 

The Committee considered an extract from the Contracts Register which provided key information concerning contracts within the Adult Care and Health Portfolio with a total contract value greater than £50k.

 

There were 91 contracts within the Adult Care and Health Portfolio with a total value greater than £50k as at 29th August 2018.  Two contracts had been flagged as being of concern.  This was in relation to procurement timescales for the Older People Dementia Post-Diagnosis Support Service contract and that no supporting strategy was in place for the Direct Payments Support and Payroll Service contract, and work was underway to address both these concerns.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)  The review of the £50k Contracts Register be noted; and,

 

2)  It be noted that the corresponding Part 2 (Exempt) Contracts Register (Report CS18175-2) contained additional and potentially commercially sensitive information in its commentary.

31.

QUESTIONS ON THE ADULT CARE AND HEALTH PDS INFORMATION BRIEFING pdf icon PDF 156 KB

The briefing comprises:

 

  • Blue Badges (To Follow)

 

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:

 

http://cds.bromley.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CId=559&Year=0

 

Printed copies of the briefing are available on request by contacting the Democratic Services Officer.

 

This item will only be debated if a member of the Committee requests a discussion be held, in which case please inform the Clerk 24 hours in advance indicating the aspects of the information item you wish to discuss.  Questions on the briefing should also be sent to the Clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting.

 

Minutes:

The Care Services PDS Information Briefing comprised one report:

 

  • Blue Badges

 

The Deputy Chief Executive confirmed that the Local Authority was awaiting further clarification from the Government on changes to Blue Badges eligibility criteria and that a further update would be provided to the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee when more information was available.

 

RESOLVED that the Information Briefing be noted.

32.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) ORDER 2006 AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

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.

 

Minutes:

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.

33.

EXEMPT MINUTES OF ADULT CARE AND HEALTH PDS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 27TH JUNE 2018

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the exempt minutes of the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee meeting held on 27th June 2018 be agreed.

34.

PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF PART 2 (EXEMPT) EXECUTIVE REPORTS

34a

One Year Extension to Agreement for the Provision of Direct Payment Support and Payroll Services

This item will be considered jointly with the Education, Children and Families Select Committee.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report and supported the recommendations.

35.

PART 2 (EXEMPT) POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER ITEMS

35a

Contract Register and Contracts Database Report Part 2 (Exempt) Information

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report and supported the recommendations.

Appendix A: Written Questions to the Adult Care and Health PDS Committee pdf icon PDF 93 KB