Minutes:
The
Committee scrutinised the following matters:
Cabinet
Board Proposals
3.1 Revised Adult Services Assisted Transport
Policy
The Committee received an overview of the Revised Adult Services
Assisted Transport Policy, as detailed in the circulated report.
Discussion took place on the need for Policies to be
written in a way that is clear and understandable by all, especially when they
were subject to consultation. Officers
agreed that in future all policies for consultation would be accompanied by an
easy read version and where appropriate to include case studies as examples.
Confirmation was given that the proposed policy would
affect existing and new service users.
Clarification was sought by Members that service users in
receipt of mobility allowance would not be disadvantaged if they used the
allowance to fund mobility transport aids rather than purchasing a car via the
mobility scheme. Officers agreed that
the wording within the policy would be amended to allow for further explanation
of criteria as not all recipients of mobility allowance would be prevented from
receiving transport it would be dependent on the individual’s needs.
The Committee asked what was the intention of revising the
assisted transport policy was it to realise savings as part of the Forward
Financial Plan. Officers confirmed that
the aim was not to achieve savings but to update the policy in line with the
Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. It was possible that some savings would be
generated but this was not the purpose of the update.
Members queried whether, as part of the monitoring
arrangements, comparative data be made available to ascertain the impact of the
changes. Officers explained that as part
of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 at the point of any
changes or on an annual basis care plans would be reviewed.
Members asked that the post consultation report be brought
back to the Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee for
consideration.
It was queried why the Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)
stated that there was no Workforce Impacts, if the Council was withdrawing
transport for some service users, would it impact on the transport section? Officers explained that it applied to
external companies.
Further queries were raised in regard to the EIA and why
only two groups, age and disability were affected under protected
characteristics. Officers explained that
this was the data collected by the Council but that this would be revised after
the consultation period.
Member asked why there was a positive impact on protected
characteristics of these two groups by proposing they access transport via
family/friends rather than transport being provided by the Council. This would be a negative impact due to
reducing independence. Officers
explained that the provision of transport would be based on individual need so
there would be no negative impact.
Following scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the
proposals to be considered by Cabinet Board, subject to the following
proposals:
1.
That an easy read version be developed; to include case studies where
appropriate;
2.
That the wording around accessibility to transport based on receipt of
mobility allowance be clarified.
3.
That Cabinet Members consider the Equality Impact Assessment.
3.2 Adult Services Equitability of Service
Provision Policy
Members received an overview in regard to the Adult
Services Equitability of Service Provision Policy, as detailed in the
circulated report.
The Committee highlighted the need to make policies
clear and understandable as discussed in the previous item. In addition, policy
titles needed to be clear and concise and Members asked that consideration be
given to amending the word Equitability in the title. Also, that an easy read version be developed
and where appropriate to include case studies.
In response to the queries in regard to Direct
Payments. It was explained that the
Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 allows Councils to set the
level of payments by assessing what was reasonable and allows for choice. Additional costs above what was reasonable
was paid for by the individual.
Discussion took place on the savings that could
arise as a result of the implementation of the policy and whether the impact of
the changes would be monitored. It was
confirmed that the assessments were undertaken on a needs led basis and any
savings would be an outcome of the re-assessment of need. The Policy was developed to ensure
consistency in the provision of services.
Similarly, to the previous report discussion took
place on the Equality Impact Assessment and how the impact was positive. Cabinet Board was asked to re-consider the
Equality Impact Assessment.
The Committee was pleased that the person centred
approach was being taken when carry out assessments. It was important to engage
with clients and families when developing outcomes for the individual.
Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
Cabinet Board subject to the following proposals:
1.
That an easy read version be developed to include case studies where
appropriate;
2.
That Cabinet Members consider the Equality Impact Assessment.
3.3 Children and Young People and Adult Services – 3rd Quarter
(2018 – 19) Performance Report
Members received an overview of the Children, Young People
and Adult Services 3rd Quarter (2018 – 19) Performance as detailed in the
circulated report.
Concern was expressed at the focus of the performance
indicators and the need to ensure information contained within the report was
identifying key areas. Concern had been
raised corporately on the number of indicators that were not identifying useful
information. It was agreed that in
future a suite of indicators for adult’s services would be developed for
Committee’s information.
It was explained that children/young people were
re-registered on the child protection register due to deterioration in their
current situation. The decision to
re-register was a multi-agency decision and was difficult to predict but risks
were always a consideration at the multi-agency conference.
Clarification was received on the increase in the rate of
people who remained in hospital awaiting social care packages. An explanation was given that the delay was
due to the complex care packages needed. In addition, it was identified that
there was a capacity issue within the service which had been addressed and
indications were proving positive as a result.
Members were pleased that the average age of entry into a
care home had increased to 85 years.
The Committee asked whether monitoring arrangements were in
place for people who were referred to the voluntary sector for support. An
explanation was given that monitoring arrangements did not take place on an
individual basis, but all voluntary organisations which provided support on
behalf of the Council, was contracted via a Service Level Agreement, which was
reviewed on an annual basis.
The Committee made reference to the adult and children’s
services first point of access service and asked for further details on the
progress of the co-location. It was explained that work was on-going and
quality assurance audits were undertaken as part of the monitoring of the
service. Data would be included in
future performance reports but there was no mechanism for monitoring the return
rate of clients who were given advice only.
Members observed the increase in the number of complaints
being received and asked if there was a pattern emerging. It was acknowledged that there was an
increase in the numbers of complaints received and a report would be submitted
to a future meeting of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Cabinet Board
containing details of all complaints.
The Committee noted that the numbers of vacancies had
increased and queried whether this had resulted in an increase in caseload
numbers within children’s services.
Members were reassured that caseloads had continued to be low and
vacancies were monitored and were manageable as there was no agency workers
employed in the service. In addition,
any savings generated contributed to the forward financial plan.
The Director was asked if there were any areas of concern
that needed to be raised with Committee.
Confirmation was given that future reports identifying areas for further
scrutiny would be submitted to Committee in due course.
Following scrutiny, the report was noted.