Archived decisions
Hampshire County Council |
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Social Care Policy Review Committee |
Item 3 |
22nd March 2002 |
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Progress Report of the Best Value Review of Carers' Services and Respite Care 2001/2002 |
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Report of the Director of Social Services |
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Contact: Chris Taylor, ext 7275/Alison Heywood, ext 7235
1 Recommendations
1.1 That the Social Care Policy Review Committee approves the action outlined below to be carried out as part of the Best Value Review of Carers' Services and Respite Care. This action follows the recommendations of the Social Care Policy and Review Committee on 22nd February 2002 that further consultation with stakeholders be carried out before a revised outcome report is submitted to the PRC on 31st May 2002.
2 Next Steps
2.2 The current improvement plan (attached) contains key action points for improving services together with the costs and intended outcomes. It should be noted that the action points under Outcome 4, `increased cost effectiveness and consistency of local carers' support services', were not agreed by the PRC on 22nd February. The revised outcome report will include an agreed set of proposals regarding the future development of carers' support services arising from the consultation with stakeholders. The remaining Outcomes and sets of action will be unchanged.
2.3 A seminar is planned for April 2002 to consider a range of options for delivering carers' support services across the county. The event will be facilitated by Jenny Heath, Corporate Performance Manager, who is independent of the Social Services Department and the Review Team. Participants will have the opportunity to consider alternative models of carers' support services which include the current configuration. A representative from Surrey County Council Best Value Review of Carers' Services will be invited to inform participants about the Surrey model of carers' support services.
2.4 Nominated members (Councillor Mrs West and Councillors Gillett, Heath & Ludlow) will be invited to participate in the seminar together with the corporate sponsor, Bob Lisney (Environment Grouping) and representatives from the following:
- Princess Royal Trust (Winchester & Andover);
- Eastleigh Community Services;
- Carers Together in Hampshire;
- In-house carers' services in Alton/Aldershot and Fareham/Gosport.
2.5 Whilst not a decision-making forum, this seminar will provide a full and open opportunity for debate around the pros and cons of alternative models. A formal report of the issues raised at this event will form part of the revised outcome report brought back to the 31st May Policy Review Committee.
Best Value Review of Carers' Services and Respite Care 20001/2002
Improvement Plan
Outcome 1. Improved access for carers and professionals to information about help and services available to carers. | |
Action |
Cost |
Create a new electronic database of resources that are available to carers. |
Ongoing additional cost of £29,000 per year to be met by reallocating budget associated with The Carers' (Recognition & Services Act). To be reviewed each year. |
Set up a web site to allow carers and professionals access to the new database and other facilities with links to local and national information sources. | |
Employ a development worker to maintain the new database and website and publicise information sources. | |
Establish baselines for the database and website and monitor performance over 3 years. | |
Commission survey of carers (to include questions about access to specific sources of information relating to Social Services). |
One-off additional cost £6,000 to be met from The Carers' Special Grant |
Outcome 2. Improved communication with carers from hard to reach groups and wider recognition of their needs. | |
Action |
Cost |
Incorporate a requirement to target communication with specified groups of carers who are hard to reach in contracts with carers' support services. |
No additional cost |
Develop a programme of briefings for carers' support services outlining their responsibilities in relation to the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 and Social Services' policies. |
No additional cost |
Establish links with carers from Black and minority ethnic groups and consult on their needs by extending the remit of the outreach worker (Direct Payments). |
Additional one-off cost to be met within £10,000 NHS/Social Care Award. |
Ensure membership of Carers' Helpline steering group includes a Black or minority ethnic carer. |
No additional cost |
Commission training for residential staff to promote awareness of the needs of gay carers. |
Cost to be identified by April 2002 |
Incorporate the needs of gay carers and carers from ethnic minorities in care management training. |
No additional cost |
Outcome 3. Improved access to assessment for carers to ensure recognition of their needs. | |
Action |
Cost |
The Best Value Review of Care Management/Reception and Assessment* to make recommendations to address carers' difficulties in accessing care managers and delays in assessments. |
* Cost to be identified in this Review by May 2002 |
Commission survey of carers' views including ease of access to assessment and care management. |
See Outcome 1 |
Outcome 4. Increased cost effectiveness and consistency of local carers' support services. | |
Action |
Cost |
Manage all contacts with carers' support services from one source. |
Costs to be met within the current contract envelope £155,500 |
Extend existing contracts/service level agreements with carers' support services for one year. | |
Consult with stakeholders to deliver a cost-effective and consistent model of carers' support services using the `hub and spoke' model as a template. | |
Agree a common set of standards and measures for carers' support services and monitor performance against these. | |
Commission work to identify management on costs of carers' support services. | |
Outcome 5. An increased range of flexible services to enable carers to take a break when they need it. | |
Action |
Cost |
Roll out voucher-type schemes to deliver flexible carer replacement services across the county. |
Additional ongoing cost met from annual increase in the Carers' Grant; £260,000 (2002/03) £560,000 (2003/04) |
Implement schemes to provide intensive support for children with complex needs. |
Additional ongoing costs to be met from Quality Protects funding. Estimated ceiling = £23,000 per child. |
Raise ceiling for number of families receiving Direct Payments. |
No additional cost |
Develop additional respite facilities for children with a disability in targeted areas (as identified in the county-wide audit of respite services 2001). |
Cost to be identified in report to cabinet April 2002. |
Identify options to increase availability of respite care for parent carers at peak times. |
Costs to be identified by April 2003. To be funded from Partnership bid. |
Commission survey of carers' views including services to enable carers to take a break. |
See Outcome 1. |
Outcome 6. Improved efficiency of in-house resources providing respite care. | |
Action |
Cost |
Care group leads to outline initial approach to improving efficiency of in-house resources providing respite care. |
No additional cost. |
Learning Disability sector to analyse reasons for under occupancy and identify appropriate measures. |
Capital issues to be scoped as part of this work. |
Outcome 7: More responsive services to support carers of people with Mental Health problems. | ||||
What |
Who |
When |
Cost | |
Involvement |
_ Ensure there is a `carer champion' on each LIT and PCT to promote need for funding and highlight Carers agenda. Also ensure carer representation on Patient Forums at PCT and Trust level. _ Develop mechanisms to pay carers for their time and involvement |
MH leads on PCTs and LITs. MH Training Manager/ Commissioning Team |
From April 02 October 02 |
Opportunity cost MH Training Manager to cost |
Information |
_ Develop a MH Information Pack for Carers _ Develop joint Adult Mental Health Information System |
LIT/ CPA Lead Officers/ SSD Commissioning Team. Joint Information Project Board covering three Health Authority areas |
April 03 2004 |
Additional cost contingent upon joint funding agreement. Significant, joint funding by Health/ SSD. |
Assessment |
_ Develop draft eligibility criteria between Health and Social Services _ Develop joint format for carers' assessments and care plans |
MH leads on PCTs,/ LITs/CPA Lead Officers and SSD Commissioning Team |
October 02 June 02 |
Opportunity cost |
Services |
_ Develop a plan to improve the range of respite and other services for carers (based on MH Service Map) |
Service Managers MH Multi-agency group |
April 03 |
Opportunity cost |
Training |
_ Deliver multi-agency training to raise awareness and responsiveness of professionals in carers issues and rights. _ Develop a range of MH-specific training for carers |
MH Training Manager |
From April 02 |
MH Training Manager to cost |
Promotion |
_ Highlight carers' agenda in MH health promotion schemes |
MH leads on PCTs |
From April 02 |
Contingent upon Health funding via NHS Plan |
Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents
The Following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.