SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (SOCIAL CARE AND HEALTH)
Minutes of a meeting held on 23rd
May, 2011.
Present: Miss. S.J.C. Williams
(Chairman); Councillor Ms. V.L. Ellis (Vice-Chairman); Councillors
Mrs. M. Kelly Owen, N. Moore, Mrs. M. Randall and J.W. Thomas.
Also present: Councillor Mrs. D.M.
Turner.
47
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE -
These were received from Councillors Mrs. S.M.
Bagstaff, Mrs. M.E.J. Birch, S.C. Egan, Mrs. K.A. Kemp and C.L.
Osborne.
48
MINUTES -
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the minutes of the
meetings held on 7th March, 2011 and 11th
May, 2011 be approved as a correct record.
49
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST -
No declarations were received.
50
SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL SERVICES FOR WALES: A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION (REF
- MIN. NO. C1264) -
The report had been referred to the Scrutiny
Committee by Cabinet on 16th March, 2011. In
February 2011 the Welsh Assembly Government (now known as Welsh
Government) Deputy Minister for Social Services had announced a new
strategy for putting social services on a sustainable footing, a
copy of the paper was appended to the report. The Director
had prepared the report to ensure that the Cabinet had had an
opportunity to consider the policy statement which outlined the
programme of change that the Welsh Government was proposing.
The paper itself contained a number of
messages which had been similar to those set out in the report of
the Independent Commission for Social Services. It made clear
that changes were needed not because social services was in some
way broken but because of significant changes in the social and
financial context within which they were delivered. The Welsh
Assembly Government intended to oversee some changes in government
arrangements for social services, by taking on greater
responsibility for driving the direction of services within a new
framework of national outcomes. The report also stated that
it 'will ensure that everything is not done 22 times' and there
would be clear expectations that more services would be planned,
commissioned and delivered on a regional or even a national
basis. The number of partnerships would also be greatly
reduced. By the end of 2011, local government would be
required to present outline proposals for the way in which these
expectations could be met. In his report the Director of
Social Services advised that the Vale had already embarked on a
considerable programme of change to increase the scale of
partnership working by social services through the South East Wales
Improvement Collaborative (SEWIC) and the Memorandum of
Understanding with Bridgend County Borough Council. Further
details in relation to both the SEWIC and the partnership with
Bridgend County Borough Council were contained within his
report.
In considering the report Members referred to
the Council's eligibility criteria and whether any amendments were
being considered. The Director stated that in his opinion it
would be advisable to wait for further guidance from the Welsh
Government on this matter, particularly in light of the recent
judgement in England where an authority had been obliged to
reconsider changes in policy because of a failure to consult
properly. The Director also agreed to present a report to a
future meeting of the Committee on the changing needs of older
people within the Vale and Cardiff.
It was subsequently,
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the report and the
document “Sustainable Social Services for Wales: A Framework for
Action” be noted.
Reason for recommendation
That the Scrutiny Committee is aware of the
proposals by the Welsh Assembly Government.
51
SOCIAL SERVICES CHANGE PLAN 2011 - 2012 (REF - MIN. NO. C1292)
-
In September 2010 the Cabinet had endorsed the
improvement priorities for social services that had been set out in
the Director's Annual Report and had also agreed the formulation of
a new three year Change Plan to incorporate the priorities.
The new Change Plan was a replacement for the previous three year
Plan that had been successfully completed in 2010. It had
been considered by Cabinet on 13th April 2011, who had
referred it to the Committee and authorised the Director of Social
Services and the Cabinet Member for Social and Care Services to
agree minor changes to the plan. The plan before the
Committee was, therefore, the latest version.
In presenting the report, the Director stated
that the Plan set out formally the long term strategic plan for
social services with details of the key actions, responsible
officers for delivering those actions and the timescales for
completion. The Plan would be sponsored and overseen by the
Corporate Management Team as a key programme of work and would be
delivered by a formal implementation group comprising officer
representatives from across the Council. The Director
considered that the Plan was appropriately ambitious and
comprehensive and that all staff understood the changes required
and acknowledged that they had a key role to play in delivering the
actions detailed within.
The seven priorities detailed in the Plan were
reported as follows:
·
Integrating Health and Social Care Services
·
Commissioning
·
Integrating social care for Children and Young People’s
Services
·
Human Resources
·
Information: use of different channels and media to improve access
to information services
·
Resource Management and
·
Co-production and equality impact.
The Director took the opportunity to commend
the work done to produce the Plan and advised that all departments
had contributed to the document. Members were pleased to note
that the use of support services within the Council had been
pivotal in its planning and that delivery was genuinely a corporate
approach.
Having considered the report it was
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the contents of the new
Change Plan for Social Services be noted.
Reason for recommendation
In recognition of the overarching framework
for sustained service improvement and a coherent direction for
social services.
52
TELECARE SERVICES (DSS) -
The Telecare service is a means whereby care
and support can be provided to people through the use of
telecommunication and technology in their homes. The Scrutiny
Committee had requested an update report on Telecare services and
its take up. The Telecare service within the Vale was known
as Telev and TeleV+ - TeleV being a self referral service offering
the service user a choice of packages aimed at safety or security
and TeleV+ a service tailored to the needs of more vulnerable
groups who were in receipt of health services or who had been
assessed as requiring community care services.
The Head of Service advised that the
development of the TeleV+ service within the Vale was being
prioritised in the following service areas:
·
Reablement Services
·
Dementia Services
·
Learning Disability Services and
·
Long Term Chronic conditions.
There were currently over 300 Telecare
packages in place compared with 136 that had been in place March
2009.
In considering the report, reference was also
made to the potential for Telecare to help provide respite for
carers as they were able to receive support via the system through
three different approaches:
·
alerts from Telecare sensors could be made direct to the mobile
phone which enables carers to continue working or shopping in the
knowledge that they would receive immediate notice of any problems
at home
·
alerts from Telecare sensors direct to a mobile receiver unit that
alerts them in the property at any time and
·
stand alone equipment which may provide local audio alerts.
Members considered the benefits to carers was
an important factor, enabling families to be comfortable in the
knowledge that should they leave their family member they can be
contacted through the services available and advised of any
problems at home. This was a positive aspect which Members
considered needed to be further promoted. Members also
considered whether the authority was competitive with its rates in
comparison with other local authorities and suggested that this
area be reviewed. In the purchasing of equipment reference was made
to economies of scale and it was suggested that this be
looked into.
In their discussions Members further
requested:
·
that officers consider the implications for the Housing Department
in particular the different types of systems of technology that had
been installed in various Council properties over the years and
whether these were regularly tested and maintained or whether
Telecare equipment would be more suitable and / or more cost
effective and
·
in relation to planning that consideration be given to the
provision of such equipment as Telecare within planning
applications.
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T the work being undertaken to deliver Telecare services be
noted.
(2) T H A
T a further progress report be presented to the Scrutiny Committee
in 12 months to include details of the take up of the service, the
impact on the Council's budget and any implications for the housing
and planning departments.
Reason for recommendations
(1&2) To ensure that the Scrutiny
Committee exercises effective oversight of the key service for
promoting independence and enabling vulnerable people to remain in
their own homes.
53
ACTIVITIES IN RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AND THE USE OF THE Wii GAMES
SYSTEM (DSS) -
Following a Request for Consideration of
Matter by an Elected Member it had been subsequently recommended
that the use of the Wii Games System in Council run residential
homes be piloted. The report before the Committee provided an
update for Members on activities that were available to care home
residents and the use of the Wii Games System following its pilot
introduction. The Head of Service outlined that, in the Vale,
a number of homes employed an activities co-ordinator who was
responsible for organising activities which took place both in the
home and in other settings of interest to the residents. This
was the approach taken by Hafod Care in the two homes that they run
in partnership with the Council. Within each of the
residential homes run directly by the Council, there was a
programme of activities for the residents and activities played an
important part in the everyday life of the home. Some of the
activities included in each three-weekly activities programme were
reported as quiz sessions, musical afternoons, armchair aerobics,
basketball, skittles, card games, knitting, crochet, card making,
jewellery making and day trips etc.
With regard to the trial of the Wii Games
System in the Council's residential homes, there had been some
problems in purchasing the equipment and as a result of some
residents' poor mobility the system had had to be adapted. However,
staff in both the homes had been committed, motivated and
experienced and keen to pilot the Wii system. Notwithstanding
this, activities in the homes for older people had been affected
understandably by the increasing proportion of residents with
higher support needs and dementia related illnesses. Although
it was thought this might impair their ability to engage in the Wii
pilot, the staff teams had met the challenge positively and sought
to ensure that residents would have assistance to use the handsets
and that needs were taken properly into account. The
potential for increased interaction and wellbeing as a consequence
of using the Wii Fit and the balance board was continuing to be
monitored.
In Cartref Porthceri, they had been using the
Wii as part of the activities programme at least twice
weekly. Up to six service users were currently involved,
playing Wii sport and Wii sport resort. The home only had one
handset at present but they would be purchasing another in order
that residents could compete against each other. The home had
found that the Wii was a good form of motivation, fun and exercise
for the service users who had taken part, and good fun for the
other residents who had liked to watch.
In Southway residential care home, the pilot
had gone quite well with 5 - 6 residents involved and others
watching and enjoying the fun of the games. The League of
Friends at Southway had also been supportive in promoting the use
of the Wii in the home, which would enable more residents to
participate. The Wii was generally in use three times a
week. Wii Sports and Sports resort discs especially bowling,
golf, tennis and Frisbee were popular and, although most residents
could not work the normal remotes independently staff used the
buddy buttons that had been demonstrated in the training
sessions.
The report also highlighted that, due to
demographic trends, the number of older people with
dementia-related illnesses was increasing. This had created
new challenges for care providers, including residential homes and
day services. In general, staff in these settings had the
skills and knowledge needed for providing responsive personal care
and support to the people in their care. However, in some
specific areas, managers had identified a shortfall in appropriate
awareness, knowledge and experience and the provision of
appropriate recreational activities and sensory stimulation was one
such area.
Research had shown that some symptoms of
dementia (such as apathy, anxiety, disorientation and aggression)
had responded well to recreational activities, and to sensory
stimulation. For example, a study by Alison Mahoney in 2003
found that age- and stage-appropriate activities reduced agitation
and increased positive emotions. Immediate positive effects
were observed within 10 minutes of appropriate activities. The
study concluded that, "activities that give a sense of purpose,
stimulate the senses, and cater to individual preferences and
capabilities, are important to improving quality of life for people
suffering from all forms of dementia”.
The Vale of Glamorgan was committed to
providing high quality of care to the most vulnerable older people
in its communities and a time-limited project was to be established
which would involve exploring good practice in the area of work and
demonstrating how it could be applied in all provider settings and
in partnership with the statutory, voluntary and private
sectors. The project was expected to last six months and
would involve employing a specialist worker on a part-time
basis.
Having fully considered the report it was
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T the level of activities generally available in care homes in the
Vale of Glamorgan be noted.
(2) T H A
T the progress made in piloting the use of the Wii Games System in
the Council run residential homes be noted.
(3) T H A
T the time limited project designed to ensure improved provision of
appropriate recreational activities and sensory stimulation to
service users who have dementia related illnesses be noted.
Reason for recommendations
(1-3) In order that the
Scrutiny Committee exercises oversight of developments in services
for older people.
54
PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND PERFORMANCE PANELS (CX) -
The Clerk advised that Performance Panels had
been in existence since July 2008 and had been designed to enable
panel members to become experts in scrutinising performance
generally and in specific subjects/policy areas. In view of
the fact that Panel members had now become experienced in
monitoring performance the need for and attendance at Panels had
therefore decreased. It was proposed that Performance Panels
be disbanded and potentially be reintroduced as a development tool
for Members following the local government elections in 2012.
With regard to performance monitoring reports
the current system in operation was that Heads of Service or
Operational Managers attended Scrutiny Committee meetings on a
quarterly basis to respond to queries relating to their respective
service areas. This had also been the case even when no
performance issues had been identified via respective Performance
Panels. It was therefore proposed that in future, Scrutiny
Committee Agenda Conference meetings be used to agree the need for
officers to attend full Committee meetings particularly where no
performance issues were identified.
However, in recognising that the remaining
Members of the relevant Committee may also wish a particular
officer to be present at Scrutiny Committee it was suggested that
such requests should be made to the Scrutiny and Committee Services
Officer by no later than 3.00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
Members concurred with the recommendations
within the report but suggested that the time of 3.00 p.m. on the
day of the meeting be amended to 12.00 noon for Members to request
officer attendance.
It was therefore
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the revised arrangements
contained within the report in relation to performance monitoring
and Performance Panels be endorsed subject to the notification by
Members of officer attendance at the Scrutiny Committee meeting
being no later than 12.00 noon on the day of the meeting.
Reason for recommendation
To streamline arrangements for certain
elements of performance monitoring and officer attendance at
Committees, to address the role of Performance Panels and allow
officers sufficient notice of attendance at meetings
55
SCRUTINY DECISION TRACKING OF RECOMMENDATIONS (DLPPHS) -
The Appendices to the report detailed the
progress in relation to recommendations made by the Scrutiny
committee. Members were requested to review the progress against
each recommendation, to assess where further action may be
required, to ensure required action was undertaken and to confirm
which recommendations were to be accepted as completed.
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T the following recommendations contained within the report be
accepted as completed:
|
P.I. Description
|
Comment
|
|
25 September 2008
|
|
Min. No. 352 - Adult Services:
1st Quarter Performance Monitoring -
Recommended
|
|
That the Adult Services Quarterly Monitoring
Report be noted and, on receipt of the WAG Guidance, the Scrutiny
Committee be informed accordingly. [...WAG guidance was
also awaited in relation to issues about whether financial
responsibility lay with either the LHB or the Local Authority
...]
|
Recommendation deemed completed as Guidance
has been received and addressed in various reports that have been
presented to the Scrutiny Committee.
Completed
|
|
8 March 2010
|
|
Min. No. 969 - Third Quarter
Performance Monitoring (DSS) - Recommended
|
|
(i) Children and Young
People’s Services -
(2) That TransAct be requested to
provide in future performance monitoring reports a breakdown in
percentage terms of the long term and short term sickness
absences.
|
TransAct to include the information on
Ffynnon.
Completed
|
|
Min. No. 974 - Scrutiny Forward Work
Programme 2010/11 (DLPPHS) - Recommended
|
|
(2) That
the Scrutiny Committee keeps the issue of resourcing scrutiny
support under review.
|
Recommendation reaffirmed following
consideration of work programme for 2011/12 at the meeting on
7th March 2011.
Completed
|
|
19 July 2010
|
|
Min. No. 213 - End of Year Performance
Monitoring Reporting (DSS) - Recommended
|
|
(iii) Children
and Young Peoples Services -
(2) That a
representative from the Education Department be invited to future
Scrutiny Committee meetings when relevant performance indicators
for the Children's Services area are being presented.
|
The Education representative has agreed to
attend the end of year Scrutiny Committee meetings when PI
information is to be presented i.e. each year in July.
Completed
|
|
6 September 2010
|
|
Min. No. 353 - Request for
Consideration - Councillor R.F. Curtis - Investigation of the Cost
and Benefit of Introducing Wii Fit Games into Council Care Homes to
Help Elderly Residents keep Mentally and Physically Active
- Recommended
|
|
(2) That a
pilot scheme be implemented to use Wii Games Consoles in Council
run residential homes as set out in Paragraph 12 of the report be
endorsed and that a further report be presented to this Scrutiny
Committee in 6 - 9 months quantifying any benefits from the
initiative.
|
Update report on agenda for May meeting.
Completed
|
|
4 October 2010
|
|
Min No. 501 - Occupational Therapy
Availability (Local and National) (DSS) - Recommended
|
|
(2) That
the recommendations of the Budget Working Group be monitored.
|
The Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources)
will be receiving regular update reports in relation to
recommendations to the Budget Working Group and will therefore be
monitoring progress.
Completed
|
|
13 December 2010
|
|
Min. No. 748 - Six Monthly Update POVA
(DSS) - Recommended
|
|
(2) That
the Scrutiny Committee continues to receive six monthly updates on
the work undertaken on the Protection of Vulnerable Adults
arrangements (POVA).
|
Update scheduled for June 2011 meeting.
Completed
|
|
Min. No. 749 - Implementing the Action
Plans Developed by the Council and the Local Safeguarding Children
Board (LCSB) in Response to the Care and Social Services
Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) Review of Safeguarding Arrangements
(DSS) - Recommended
|
|
(4) That
the Scrutiny Committee receives quarterly/six monthly updates to
future meetings.
|
Report presented to Committee on
7th March 2011 where it was recommended
(1) That the content of the report
be noted.
(2) That the updated Council
Action Plan attached at Appendix 1 be endorsed.
(3) That the updated LSCB Action
Plan attached at Appendix 2 be noted.
(4) That the Scrutiny Committee
ceases to exercise oversight of implementation and that future
monitoring of the plans be completed through normal accountability
processes.
(Min. No. 981 refers)
Completed
|
|
7 March 2011
|
|
Min. No. 980 - 3rd Quarter
Performance Monitoring (DSS) - Recommended
|
|
(2) That the Chairman refer the
suggestion of Members that Ffynnon should include a column on
remedial action that should take place to address performance to
the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee Chairmen and
Vice-Chairmen Group.
|
Reported to the Scrutiny Chairmen and
Vice-Chairmen Group on 29th March 2011 who agreed
that officers should be advised to detail any remedial action to be
taken in the comments boxes on Ffynnon.
Completed
|
|
Min. No. 983 - Scrutiny Forward Work
Programme 2011/12 (DLPPHS) - Recommended
|
|
(1) That
the work programme for the Scrutiny Committee (Social Care and
Health) for 2011/12 be confirmed as detailed in paragraphs 4 and 5
of the report subject to the following deletions and
additions:-
·
The six monthly updates in respect of implementing the action plans
developed by the Council and Local Safeguarding Children Board be
deleted
·
a report on the transition arrangements for children into adulthood
in particular with regard to learning needs be added
·
a report on the implications for the Vale of Glamorgan following
the judicial review of care home views on Pembrokeshire Council be
added.
|
Work programme schedule amended as requested
by Committee.
Completed
|
|
(2) That
the priority topic for review to be forwarded to the Scrutiny
Committee Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen Group for consideration and
determination be Integration with the Health Service and Social
Services Department.
|
Reported to the Scrutiny Chairmen and
Vice-Chairmen Group on 29th March 2011 who
confirmed the priority for Scrutiny reviews for 2011/12 was Youth
Provision.
Completed
|
|
(3) That
the Scrutiny Committee keeps the issue of resourcing scrutiny
support under review.
|
As this issue is a standing item on agendas
for the Scrutiny Committee Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen Group, the
Committee may wish to agree that it does not need to continue to
appear under Scrutiny decision tracking.
Completed
|
(2) T H A
T the sickness absence update referred to in Minute No. 752 be
reported to the June 2011 Scrutiny Committee meeting and not July
2011.
(3) T H A
T details of the Scrutiny Committee work programme schedule for the
forthcoming year be forwarded to all Members for their
information.
Reasons for recommendations
(1) To
maintain effective tracking of the Committee's recommendations.
(2) In
order to consider the matter at the earliest opportunity.
(3) To
inform Members of the Scrutiny Committee work programme schedule
for the forthcoming year.