AT A MEETING of the SOCIAL CARE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Friday, 12 September 2003

PRESENT

Councillors: Mrs P G Banks (Chairman); Jenny Wride (Vice-Chairman);

K G Chapman; Mrs P Dickens; A G Dowden; Mrs J K Frankum;

Mrs P G E Holden-Brown; A R Ludlow

Also in attendance Councillor Felicity Hindson MBE - Executive Member Social Care

101 DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed that they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and having regarding to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter is being discussed.

Councillors Mrs Dickens and Ludlow declared non-pecuniary interests in items 8, 9, 10 and 11 on the Agenda.

102 MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 11 July 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:-

(a) Minute No 90(b) - update on Management Action Plans to Improve
Performance

Members asked if a reply had been received from the national
Care Standards Commission on details of the number of single
rooms available for purchase in Hampshire. The Director of Social
Services said that no reply had been received but he would chase
the matter up.

103 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

(a) Inspection of Children's Services

That the Chairman reported that Peter Cooper, Stephen Hart and Jessica Slater of the Social Services Inspectorate would be attending the meeting to address members on the Inspection of Children's Services and sought the Committee's permission to allow them to speak.

RESOLVED;

That the representatives of the Social Services Inspectorate be invited to address the meeting.


(b) Future Meetings

The Chairman reported that all future meetings of the Committee would commence at 10.00am and that the meeting of the Committee scheduled for 14 November 2003 would now take place on 28 November 2003.

104 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

There were no members' questions to the meeting.

105 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations to this meeting.

106 UPDATE AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION WITHIN SOCIAL SERVICES

The Director of Social Services presented a report on the recruitment and retention initiatives being undertaken within Social Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book). He outlined the key national and local issues and gave details of Hampshire County Council Social Services recruitment for the period 1 March to 30 June 2003 and recent overseas recruitment. The County Council had had a presence at exhibitions, open days and recruitment fairs to promote services and raise the profile of job opportunities. Details were given of the learning and development programme and the number of DipSW students. The key worker housing scheme which enabled equity loans for qualified social workers employed by Hampshire County Council under the Government's Starter Home programme had recently been increased and had generated much interest with a number of staff applying for funding under the scheme.

RESOLVED:

That the current range of recruitment and retention initiatives being developed and implemented in Social Services be endorsed and a further report be presented to the Committee in March 2004.

107 ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICY SUB-GROUP - CHILDREN'S ISSUES

The Director of Social Services presented a report recommending the establishment of a Policy Sub-Group to look at Children's issues (Item 12 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That a Policy Sub-Group be established to make recommendations to the Policy Review Committee, by March 2004, on the care of looked after children comprising Councillors:

Mrs P G Banks
K G Chapman
Mrs J K Frankum
A R Ludlow
Mrs A M McNair-Scott
Jenny Wride (Chairman)
Lib Dem Representative

108 MEMBERS' ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCES

The Chief Executive reported that no members had attended conferences since the last meeting of the Committee.

109 COMMITTEE'S WORK PROGRAMME

The Director of Social Services presented the Committee's forthcoming work programme (Item 14 in the Minute Book). Included within the work programme were details of area briefings that were being arranged and members visits to children's homes. The Chairman urged members to make appointments to visit children's homes. Members requested that the dates for area briefings be circulated to all members of the County Council for their respective areas and that a representative of the relevant district council/s be invited to the area meetings.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and the Director of Social Services advise all members of the County Council on dates for their respective area meetings.

110 INSPECTION OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES

The Chairman welcomed Peter Cooper, Stephen Hart and Jessica Slater from the Social Services Inspectorate who gave details of their inspections of Children's Services and the outcomes. The Director of Social Services presented a report on the inspections (Item 6 in the Minute Book). The Inspectorate representatives explained the evaluation process and said that the County Council was in good shape and that the capacity for improvement was very promising with managers having a good grip on situations, there was good professional challenge, good governance and morale among staff was high. The Director of Social Services talked members through the action plan and highlighted its key points, including areas for improvement.


RESOLVED:

That the Social Services Inspectorate be thanked for coming to the meeting and for their advice and the report be received and noted.

111 HCC REIMBURSEMENT PROJECT, DELAYED DISCHARGES (COMMUNITY CARE) ACT 2003

The Director of Social Services presented a report on the progress of the project to establish adequate systems to ensure a smooth transition to the reimbursement regime following the introduction of the Delayed Discharges (Community Care) Act 2003 (Item 8 in the Minute Book). In parallel to the work of the project, emphasis had been placed upon the work of the Social Services Department to reduce the delayed transfers of care. To support the initiative the County Council had set aside additional funding of £3.5m and a business case was being prepared to release this funding.

RESOLVED:

That the Department's proportion for the implementation of the legislation and associated risks be noted and a report on progress be presented to the Committee in January 2004.

112 PARTNERSHIP WORKING WITH HEALTH

The Director of Social services presented a report on the achievements made in working in partnership with health organisations and other agencies to improve the health of the local population and tackle health inequality and the forward plans for continued improvement (Item 10 in the Minute Book). Concern was expressed at reference in the report to the closure of The Mount Hospital, Bishopstoke and members were advised that this was merely a proposal of the Health Authority at present and no firm decision had yet been made. Members were advised that Felicity Harding, Partnership Manager, North Hampshire, and Mike Gardiner, Partnership Manager, Mid Hampshire, would both be retiring shortly. Members wished them both a long and happy retirement.

RESOLVED:

That:

(a) The progress in developing the partnership with Health be noted.


(b) A letter be written to Felicity Harding and Mike Gardiner thanking them for their services and wishing them a long and happy retirement.

113 COMMISSIONING STRATEGY ACTION PLAN FOR OLDER PEOPLE 2003-2006

The Director of Social services presented a report on the Commissioning Strategy Action Plan for Older People for 2003-2006 (Item 9 in the Minute Book). He outlined the six key objectives for services for older people and the priority action and expected outcomes which would be needed over the next three years to meet the objectives. The strategy would be subject to regular reviews.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and the Executive Member be recommended to approve the action plan.

114 ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE TO MENTAL HEALTH NHS TRUSTS

The Director of Social services presented a report describing proposals for changing the organisational arrangements for the delivery of mental health services to the populations served by North Hampshire and Blackwater Valley and Hart Primary Care Trusts (Item 11 in the Minute Book). He outlined the consultations that had taken place and how services would benefit as a result of the changes.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the proposed changes be welcomed.

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