ITEM 2

AT A MEETING of the SOCIAL CARE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Friday 19 November, 2004

PRESENT

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

K.C. Chapman; Mrs. P. Dickens; A.G. Dowden; Mrs. J.K. Frankum; Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown; Mrs. C.A. Leversha; Mrs. A.M. McNair-Scott; Mrs. P.G. Peskett; Mrs. E.M.F. Randall; Mrs. P.A. West.

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

195 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed 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 regard 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 was discussed..

Councillor Mrs. Dickens declared a personal interest in items 9 and 10 in that she is employed by the NHS.

196 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the committee held on 17 September, 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

(a) Minute No. 192 - The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England

The Chairman reported that she had not yet written to the Minister requesting information on the funding of the strategy as the Director of Social Services was endeavouring to ascertain the correct Minister to write to. It was suggested that when the letter is written it be copied to all Hampshire MPs.

197 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

(a) Star Rating

The Chairman reported that Hampshire Social Services had again received a two star rating.

RESOLVED:

That the Social Services staff be thanked for their hard work and efforts put in to retaining the two star rating.


(b) Primary Care Trust

The Chairman reported that following the rearrangement of Primary Care Trusts two of the partnership managers, Pauline Owen and Yvonne Le Brun had been appointed as Deputy Chief Executives of Trusts.

RESOLVED:

That Pauline Owen and Yvonne Le Brun be congratulated on their appointments.

198 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

There were no Members' questions to this meeting.

199 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations to this meeting.

200 CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL SERVICES SUB-GROUP - PROGRESS REPORT

The Director of Social Services presented a report from the Sub-Group which considered children's residential care provided by the County Council (Item 6 in the Minute Book). The report provided details of the issues affecting the way in which residential services for children and young people were structured and how factors around service delivery were addressed to ensure that the service provided good outcomes for children and young people. Councillor Jenny Wride, Chairman of the Sub-Group, thanked her colleagues on the Group for their hard work and gave details of the work undertaken and the developments that had taken place regarding the structure for developing residential services including short-term units and family group conferences.

RESOLVED:

That:-

(a) The Sub-Group be thanked for their hard work and the development work undertaken thus far be welcomed.


(b) It be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Social Care that:-


(i) The model of shared care building on family strengths as illustrated in paragraph 6.3.2 be developed to include other children's residential units.


(ii) Development work continues regarding the assessment and referral process for children and young people who require a residential service.


(iii) Family group conferences become the usual method of decision making when a child is to be looked after in the residential service.


(iv) Further work be carried out to determine whether line management structures for short-term residential units should be centralised as part of any development and opportunities that the Children Act presents.


(c) The Chairman writes to residential care staff thanking them for their hard work and commitment.

201 ENHANCE - NURSING CARE INVESTMENT STRATEGY PROGRESS REPORT

The Director of Social Services presented a report on the progress of the nursing care strategy (Item 7 in the Minute Book). He outlined the background to the strategy and gave details of the building progress; recruitment of staff; IT and operational planning.

RESOLVED:

That:-

(a) The progress of the nursing care investment strategy be noted.


(b) Members of the Committee be invited to an open day, prior to the formal opening of the first nursing home and local members to visit the sites in their constituency.

202 CLINICAL GOVERNANCE STRATEGY TO SUPPORT CLINICAL SUPPORT EMPLOYED FOR NEW NURSING HOMES AND EXISTING RESIDENTIAL HOMES

The Director of Social Services presented a report on the reasons for the need for a Clinical Governance Strategy and how it would be implemented to improve services for older people (Item 8 in the Minute Book). He said that Clinical Governance was a framework through which organisations were accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safe-guarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care would flourish. He outlined the necessary accountability and reporting procedure and the costs involved.

RESOLVED:

That the implementation of the Clinical Governance Strategy to support clinical staff working in the County Council's new nursing homes be commended, and that the approach also supports quality improvement in residential care.

203 HAMPSHIRE'S INNOVATION FORUM

The Director of Social Services presented a report on the project which was being developed jointly with the NHS to promote the well-being of frail older people and reduce their needs for emergency services, especially emergency hospital stays (Item 9 in the Minute book). He gave details of the scope of the project, how it had been set up, and the monitoring and management arrangements. To date progress had been fastest in the Fareham and Gosport PCT area with sizable caseloads having been established. The other PCTs involved had been more limited by resourcing issues but were now getting underway. Joint working at the operational level had been excellent.

RESOLVED:

That progress on the project be noted and a progress report be presented to the Committee when the project had been operational for a full year.

204 ANNUAL REPORT OF ADULT PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS IN HAMPSHIRE

The Director of Social Services presented the annual report of adult protection arrangements in Hampshire (Item 10 in the Minute Book). He outlined the joint arrangements with the County Council and Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils and the significant progress made in developing an effective response to the issue of the protection of vulnerable from abuse in Hampshire in 2003/04. Members were keen for the issues to be highlighted and requested that the question of adult protection be brought to the attention of the Health Review Committee and asked that those members who observe on Primary Care Trust should raise its awareness with the Boards and that local County Councillors be invited to Local Adult Protection Action Group meetings.

RESOLVED:

That:-

(a) The report be noted.


(b) Adult protection be brought to the attention of the Health Review Committee.


(c) Members who observe on Primary Care Trust Boards be requested to raise the board's awareness of adult protection.


(d) Local County Councillors be invited to attend Local Adult Protection Action Group Meetings.

205 MEMBERS' ATTENDANCES AT CONFERENCES

The Chief Executive presented a report giving details of the conferences attended by members since the last meeting of the Committee (Item 11 in the Minute Book). Councillor Mrs. Peskett gave details of the National Social Services Conference which she had attended in Newcastle along with Councillors Felicity Hindson; Mrs. Banks and
Mrs. Leversha.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and Councillor Mrs. Peskett be thanked for her presentation.

206 COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME

The Director of Social Services presented the committee's forthcoming work programme (Item 12 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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