Agenda, decisions and minutes

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the last meeting be agreed as a true record.

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the last meeting be agreed as a true record.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

RESOLVED: that the report be noted.

Tom Brown (Executive Director of Community Services) introduced the report. The committee asked a number of questions and the following key points were noted:

1.1  The council’s review of adult social care expenditure identified opportunities for savings of between £8.5m and £11m. These will be phased over a number of years under the ‘Empowering Lewisham’ programme.

1.2  One of the specific issues that will be addressed is that currently there are too many people who end up in long-term residential care, either because we are too cautious or are not fully embracing multi-disciplinary ways of working.

1.3  Multi-disciplinary ‘ideal outcome’ meetings, involving voluntary sector colleagues, have been set up as part of the trials to look at all options available in the community and potentially avoid the need for a care package. Staff have found these meetings useful and positive.

1.4  A resident engagement plan is also in the early stages of development, and will involve surveys, feedback and collaboration with health partners to align.

1.5  In response to questions about how changes will be embedded, it was noted that principal social workers will be continuously working on embedding the changes in day-to-day working patterns, developing new protocols, new ways of working and engaging with staff forums.

1.6  Staff will also be engaged regularly throughout the programme via staff surveys, regular meetings, managers’ forums and other new tools identified through the review process.

RESOLVED: that the report be noted and that the committee continues to receive regular progress updates, including information specifically in relation to the impact on staff.

RESOLVED: that the report be noted.

James Lee (Director of Communities, Partnerships and Leisure) introduced the report. There was a discussion and the following key points were noted:

1.1  With a strong and experienced leisure partner, core services are now clean, well-run and are being well-received for the first time in many years, and there is optimism that customer numbers will return to pre-covid levels.

1.2  In response to questions about future customer numbers it was noted that the numbers so far in the first quarter have been above projections. The council’s leisure partner is also confident about customer numbers, based on their experience of the industry, and is already looking into ways to grow the business. It was also noted that the council’s family swimming offer is unique for many in the borough.

1.3  In response to questions about the impact of the cost of loving crisis it was noted that leisure prices will not be increasing this year.

1.4  In response to questions about children’s swimming lessons it was noted that the new provider has huge experience in this area and has brought all lessons back in house. Since the new provider started there have be no complaints about the quality and delivery of lessons and the provider is confident that this is an area that will continue to grow over time.

1.5  It was also noted that a feasibility study is currently taking place on the possibility of a new leisure centre on the site of The Bridge leisure centre in Sydenham.

RESOLVED: that the report be noted and further updates are received.

RESOLVED: that the report and the committee’s support for the approval of the proposals by Mayor & Cabinet be noted.

Tristan Brice (Associate Director, Community Support and Care, Lewisham Integrated Commissioning Team) delivered a presentation on future homecare arrangements, including why in-sourcing was not a viable option, the benefits of the new model, and the procurement approach. The committee asked a number of questions and the following key points were noted:

1.1  Providers will be offered longer term contracts, 5 years plus 2 years, in order to build sustainability and confidence in lead providers to invest in their communities. It is expected that prevention will be a key part of their work, which will be informed by engagement with people with lived experience.

1.2  The expected timescales between assessments and service provision will be clearly written into providers’ service specifications and will be informed by those with lived experience. Residents will also be made aware of what the service expectations are.

1.3  The support and remuneration arrangements for those with lived experience who participate will be discussed when the groups get up and running. Healthwatch Lewisham are also being engaged given their ongoing work with voluntary sector organisations in the borough.

1.4  It was noted that the new model is also coming in at a time when health and care partners are also developing an Integrated Care System (ICS) across southeast London. Partners are eager to use this opportunity to link workforces and create opportunities for staff as well.

1.5  The council will use a market insight tool and quarterly quality standards to monitor service satisfactions. All providers, not just lead providers, will have to submit data.

1.6  Providers will also be expected to deliver social value, and as part of this a team of apprentices is being set up to, among other things, promote careers in adult social care and improve data analysis in the sector.

RESOLVED: that the report and the committee’s support for the approval of the proposals by Mayor & Cabinet be noted.

RESOLVED: that the completed work programme for 2021/22 and the committee’s suggested topics for the 2022/23 work programme be noted.

1.1  The committee discussed the work programme and made the following suggestions for future scrutiny:

• The role of Extra Care housing.
• The impact of poverty on health and mental health

RESOLVED: that the completed work programme for 2021/22 and the committee’s suggested topics for the 2022/23 work programme be noted.