Agenda, decisions and minutes

Resolved: the minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a true record.

Resolved: the minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a true record.

Cllr John Paschoud declared a non-pecuniary interest (in relation to items 4 and 5) as having a family member in receipt of a package of social care.

Cllr John Muldoon declared a non-pecuniary interest (in relation to one of the papers under item 4) as a volunteer at the Wildcat Wilderness, a community green space in Catford coordinated by the Rushey Green Time Bank.

Cllr Jacq Paschoud declared a non-pecuniary interest (in relation to items 4 and 5) as having a family member in receipt of a package of social care.

Cllr John Muldoon declared a non-pecuniary interest (in relation to one of the papers under item 4) as a volunteer at the Wildcat Wilderness, a community green space in Catford coordinated by the Rushey Green Time Bank.

Resolved: the committee noted the response from the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Resolved: the committee noted the response from the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Resolved: the committee noted the report.

Joan Hutton (Director of Operation, Adult Social Care) and Tom Brown (Executive Director for Community Services) introduced the report. A discussion followed and the following key points were noted:

4.1       The asset-based approach to adult social care is about working with people to identify their strengths rather than concentrating on their deficits.

4.2       It’s about understanding what’s important to people, what networks of support they have, and what opportunities there are in the community.

4.3       The objective is to keep people healthy and to promote independence.

4.4       It is a significant cultural shift, which has required training, mentoring and coaching to influence the change to practice.

4.5       The approach has been successful so far and is helping to manage demand and ensure financial sustainability.

4.6       While the number of people who make contact with the council is not decreasing, the number of people who need longer term support is.

4.7       Asset-based working is dependent on assets being available in the community.

4.8       The council is working to develop further opportunities in the voluntary sector and bring them together to work as a whole system.

4.9       Preventative services and short-term interventions are becoming increasingly important in terms of supporting people to reach their optimum level of independence before considering any on-going support as people are living longer with more complex needs.

4.11    It is important to regularly review people’s support plans to adjust their care as they recover in order to promote and sustain independence.

4.12    Many people are not accessing all of the welfare benefits they’re entitled to, some of which can help people be more in control of their support.

4.13    There are voluntary sector organisations that provide information, advice and support access to universal benefits.

4.14    Packages of support are regularly monitored and user feedback analysed. Complaints and safeguarding issues are also monitored. Any risks are addressed on an individual basis.

4.15    The emphasis is on early intervention and prevention, rather than waiting for people to meet care threshold.

4.16    Carers are entitled to their own carer’s assessment.

4.17    The committee noted that the Wigan Deal for Adult Social Care, which features asset-based working, involved a major public engagement exercise.

4.18    The committee noted that there need to be sufficient temporary arrangements in place to support people while working out their long-term support needs.

4.19    The committee expressed concern that the council will be less able to support the voluntary sector.

Simone Riddle, Rushey Green Time Bank (RGTB), presented a paper on tackling loneliness and social isolation. The following key points were noted:

4.21    An asset-based approach has been found to work well with lower level need such as social isolation and loneliness.

4.22    It focuses on the skills people have and helps to build confidence.

4.23    Analysis has found that the most important factors for RGTB members are: working together in teams; having something to focus on and work towards; an opportunity to socialise.

4.24    The majority of RGTB members are older and from Rushey Green and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Resolved: the committee noted the proposals but expressed concern about making further reductions to the adult social care budget at a time when the service is already facing difficulties meeting its obligations.

David Austin (Acting Chief Finance Officer) introduced the report. A discussion followed and the following key points were noted:

5.1       Officers have followed the same budget cuts process as last year.

5.2       There is some uncertainty about the level of cuts the council needs to find as the government is yet to provide guidance on funding after 2019/20.

5.3       The Medium Term Financial strategy assumes the need for further cuts.

5.4       There are four proposed budget cuts from the Community Services Directorate.

5.5       Three of the proposals (COM1a, COM2a, COM3a) continue on from proposals from last year.

5.6       The proposals from last year are being successfully delivered and finding the money anticipated.

5.7       Demand management and an asset-based approach is about preventing need.

5.8       The Care Act has enabled a refocus on prevention and early intervention.

5.9       Social care funding can be moved to other areas as long as it is not ringfenced.

5.10    This year, for example, additional social care grant received was put towards children’s social care.

5.11    The committee noted that the increasing number of young people with high support needs transitioning from children’s to adult social care services is going to create significant funding pressures.

5.12    Adult social care funding is under pressure from young people transitions and earlier hospital discharges.

5.13    There is a transitions task and finish group in place looking at the number of young people transitioning to adult social care and the type of care they are likely to need going forward.

5.14    There are longer term plans to develop more services in order to reduce reliance on more costly out-of-borough placements.

5.15    Proposal COM3a will increase revenue by carrying out prompt financial assessments and charging clients six weeks earlier.

Resolved: the committee noted the proposals but expressed concern about making further reductions to the adult social care budget at a time when the service is already facing difficulties meeting its obligations.

Resolved: the committee agreed the work programme.

The Scrutiny Manager introduced the work programme. The following points were noted:

6.1       The Chair noted that he was seeking guidance from the Head of Law in relation to the reform of Clinical Commissioning Groups across southeast London and that this issue will be discussed at the next committee meeting.

6.2       The Chair noted that he had received a briefing on NHS migrant charging from the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign and that having an item on this issue on the work programme would be discussed further at agenda planning.

Resolved: the committee agreed the work programme.

There were no referrals to Mayor and Cabinet.