Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd March, 2016 were signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Briefing Note of the Director of Adult Services

The Scrutiny Board considered a briefing note of the Director of Adult Services which informed of the recommendations arising from the Adult Social Care Peer Challenge which took place from 23^rd to 25^th February, 2016 and detailed the actions to be progressed to address the issues raised. A copy of the feedback letter from Keith Skerman, who led the Peer team; their feedback presentation; and the Adult Social Care Action Plan in response were set out at appendices to the briefing note. Councillor Abbott, Cabinet Member for Adult Services attended the meeting for the consideration of this item. 

The briefing note indicated that the Peer Challenge was part of the sector led improvement approach across Adult Social Care and provided an opportunity to have an objective assessment of how well a service was performing in a specified area, highlighting any areas for improvement.

Prior to the review, a case file audit of 20 social work cases was undertaken by two principal social workers. The overarching question which formed the basis of the challenge was: ‘How equipped is Coventry City Council to enable people who come into contact with Adult Social Care to make active choices about how outcomes are met.’ In examining this question the Peer Challenge focused on four key lines of enquiry: the approach to both new and existing customers; the approach to workforce development; and commissioning and financial management processes.

The Peer Challenge summary highlighted that performance was being maintained despite significant financial reductions. Examples of innovative service delivery were identified and these along with a ‘can-do’ attitude within the directorate leadership and workforce and positive relationships with health partners and other stakeholders was seen as a good foundation for further improvement.

As anticipated the team identified that progress had not been made in an evidential way when delivering personalised support for Coventry residents. There was an acknowledgement that the Coventry and Rugby CCG had continued to use the Better Care Fund to protect Adult Social Care which had increased in 2016/17 but that the lack of a single plan for the health and social care system could be a barrier to progress.

The findings focused significant effort on the workforce, the processes used to support Adult Social Care, and the way the market was engaged to support the delivery of the changes required to make the delivery of personalisation more of a reality for Coventry residents.

The briefing note highlighted the seven recommendations from the Peer Review Team along with responses from the Directorate. In relation to Safeguarding and to ensure that a personalised approach was being taken in this area, a separate action plan was in place. It was intended that this work would include an independent evaluation of progress in this area later in 2016. All actions set out in the briefing note were included in the action plan which would be used by Adult Social Care as a basis for delivering and measuring progress. The action plan covered the following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved

For the benefit of new Members, the Board received an update from David Spurgeon, Co-opted Member about the purpose and work of Coventry Healthwatch, which was the independent champion for health and social care in the city.

Healthwatch undertook the following:

(i) Asked people what they thought about services to see what worked well and what should be improved

(ii) Influenced the planning and delivery of NHS and social care services based on what local people told them

(iii) Provided information to the public about local health and social care services

(iv) Provided information and support for people making an NHS complaint.

Healthwatch had legal powers to enable them to gather information, visit services and to get a response to their recommendations.

The Board were informed that Ruth Light, Chief Officer and John Mason, Chair, were both members of Coventry’s Health and Wellbeing Board. Members were invited to attend Healthwatch’s Annual General Meeting which was taking place on Tuesday, 19^th July, 2016.

Jane Moore, Director of Public Health reported that a party of MPs on the Health Select Committee visited Coventry on 23^rd May to take a closer look at the city’s efforts to reduce health inequalities and how the policy objectives of the Marmot report on health inequalities had been implemented. The Committee met a range of partners and public health practitioners and were particularly impressed with the strong partnership work and all the enthusiasm for making improvements to peoples’ health and wellbeing, quoting Coventry as ‘inspirational’.