Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report :

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area

1.1. Following the 2008 Commission of Inquiry into the future of adult social care in Hampshire, a model of personalisation is being developed which will transcend adult social care. Personalisation has been defined as the business of the whole County Council and extends to all corporate functions.

1.2. Recreation and Heritage services have a significant contribution to make to the personalisation agenda through the wide and various innovative and informal activities and services constantly being evolved to improve wellbeing, build capacity and enhance quality of place within the county.

1.3. Recognising the benefit to the communities of Hampshire of Recreation and Heritage services working more closely with Adult Services to deliver personalisation's `Universal Offer `, a jointly led workshop to explore possibilities for future working was run in January 2009. Outcomes from this workshop have already resulted in joint working opportunities being identified and resourced.

1.4. These initiatives build on existing work with Adult Services and are the forerunners of future joint working projects that will be shaped by the Hampshire Model pilot being developed currently for the Basingstoke and Deane Borough area.

2) Recommendations

It is recommended that:

2.1. The Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Communities supports the emerging work of Recreation, Heritage and Communities services with Adult Services in the key area of personalisation.

MAIN REPORT

1) Purpose of the Report

1.1. The concordat Putting People First : a shared vision and commitment to the transformation of Adult Social Care published in 2007 made a manifest commitment to transforming care services by 2011. Transformation involves moving to a more person centred or `personalised' adult care social care system.

1.2. This report highlights the emerging Recreation and Heritage work with Adult Services taking place within and contributing to Hampshire County Council's personalisation agenda.

2) Contextual information

2.1. Demographic pressures are increasing. People are living longer and the proportion of older people in our society is growing. By 2026, it is predicted that the largest growth in population in Hampshire will be the number of people aged 85 and over. Advances in medical knowledge and practice mean that disabled people are living longer and leading healthier lives. In addition, increasing expectations from people wanting to lead active lives at home means that the current system of care and social services (which still relies heavily on residential and institutional forms of care) is not sustainable.

2.2. Building on evidence and recommendations made through the 2008 Commission of Inquiry into the future of adult social care in Hampshire, a model of personalisation is being developed which will transcend adult social care.

2.3. Hampshire has undertaken to make a universal offer to all citizens of access to free good quality information, self assessment, advice and advocacy. The three domains of the Universal Offer are :

· Customer access - ensuring that people get the information and advice that they need

· Place shaping - ensuring that public services are accessible and meet their needs

· Wellbeing and Prevention - ensuring that there are a range of community based activities and responses that help people remain independent, active and involved

2.4. Recreation and Heritage services' contribution to personalisation and the `Universal offer ` lies in continuing to improve wellbeing, build community capacity and enhance quality of place. To achieve this more effectively the department is building on current work with Adult Services to develop joint working further.

3) Popley Fields workshop

3.1. A very successful jointly led workshop was held on 16 January 2009 for managers from Recreation and Heritage and Adult Services departments. The purpose of the workshop was twofold :

_ To brief managers on Hampshire's vision for the personalisation agenda, the range of services and activities provided for adults by Recreation and Heritage services and to provide a perspective on work for Older People in Basingstoke.

_ To enable managers to consider together how the two departments could develop joint working to help drive the personalisation agenda forward. The key areas for future joint working identified by managers here and in subsequent discussions between lead officers in the two departments are :

_ HantsDirect Local - improving the quality of access to information and advice and to signposting services

_ Safeguarding adults - how to support keeping people safe

_ Leisure menu - developing and promoting wellbeing activities in libraries and at other R&H sites.

Adult Services are particularly interested in the current service and future development potential that the Home Library Service and Mobile Library Service have to offer in all three of these development areas. In addition, they view the two library clubs being launched at Romsey and Hedge End Libraries in March this year for people who have difficulty getting to the library or may just like the confidence of having help when they get to the library as also having considerable potential.

Lead officers from both departments are currently developing a strategy for supporting and implementing the Hampshire Model for adult social care in the pilot area of Basingstoke and Deane Borough focusing on the three key areas above. Led by the R&H Lead Officer, a joint working group of local Recreation and Heritage and Adult Services managers will be tasked with developing and delivering an action plan to underpin this strategy.

3.2 Two funding initiatives were also established following the Popley Fields workshop:

Books in Libraries for Adults with Learning Disabilities

Following the Popley Fields workshop, £6k has been allocated from Adult Services to libraries in order to support the development of a book project targeting the needs of those with learning disabilities currently using Day Services in Basingstoke but also for anyone else with a learning disability not using mainstream services such as those on offer at Basingstoke Library. The aim of this pilot project is to improve our understanding of how libraries might engage more effectively with these potential customers. Early indications from an initial discussion are that the project will be designed to ensure books are purchased to meet the needs of the users and that the group will be supported in the use of the new books available at Basingstoke Library. Probable actions include :

· Day Services and library staff organise and facilitate a fun exercise for local adults with learning disabilities to inform book selection

· A welcome session held for the group at the library and members of the group supported in the use of the new reading material

· Introduction of the concept of a library club or book group challenging current reading habits and initiating new reading

· Consideration of other means to access a library club. For example, a film group where members talk about the same DVD watched in advance

The estimated timescale for the project is 6 months: March to August 2009 inclusive.

Basingstoke Library redecoration

Following the Popley Fields workshop, Adult Services have contributed £50K to the redecoration work relating to making the library lift accessible for disabled users.

4) Action research and pilot project

4.1. This will be a one year action research programme targeting three areas of the county. Its purpose is to research effective cross-agency working to achieve access to the Recreation and Heritage offer for older people at risk and contribute to their wellbeing and independence.

4.2. The pilot will address the wellbeing agenda and focus on active engagement with Recreation and Heritage activities and sites .It will build new partnerships and connect to and build on existing partnerships that will enhance the development of District plans, linking with voluntary sector and services provided by Adult Services and the Older Persons Well Being team. The pilot and action research is scheduled to begin in April 2009.

4.3. Looked for outcomes are :

_ Better co-ordinated and more responsive R&H cultural offer for older people

_ Visible increase in cross-generational activity on sites

_ Visibility and take up of R&H cultural sites by older people across the county

_ Recorded instances of feelings of increased well being by participants

5) Arts Service `Activehearts'

Activehearts is a well received programme provided by the Arts Service which takes musicians and artists into residential homes to create stimulating activities for the residents.

5.1. Network Support Groups

Five network training days are planned to take place throughout the year for Adult Services Activity Co-ordinators. These network groups are a combination of informal creative training by professional visual and performance artists, the sharing of ideas and best practice. Feedback to date suggests Adult Service staff are more confident in delivering effective wellbeing programmes to service users in council residential and nursing homes across the county.

5.2. Pact Training Days

On behalf of Adult Services, `Activehearts' will deliver six specialised dementia activity and reminiscence training days for the voluntary and private sector in Hampshire. This programme helps employers meet the priority areas for learning and development identified in the National Minimum Care Standards.

5.3. Special Projects

Activehearts special projects in care settings will continue throughout 2009. These special projects are aimed at meeting residents specific interests and are in addition to the regular `Activehearts' programme. During 2008 these included eight creative dance workshops delivered by Winchester Theatre Royal, a music intergenerational project with a local junior school, and as part of the National Year of Reading, a poetry residence at Forest Court Nursing Home with Hampshire's own poet laureate - Alison Orlowska.

5.4. Research work with Adult Services.

In partnership with Adult Services Quality and Monitoring section, Activehearts will be taking part in a case study to compare the benefits of planned activities as against the use of antipsychotic drugs for persons with a dementia. This is in relation to the Government's recent white paper ` Always A Last Resort', an enquiry into the prescription of antipsychotic drug use in care homes.

5.6 Basingstoke & Deane Borough : Day - Centre outside visits

These outside visits will be bespoke visits to Milestones Museum. Milestones has a lot of use from adult day care groups, social groups who are often aged 50+, and from individuals with personal carers. These bespoke visits however, will differ enormously from the normal party booking group approach since the visit is more personalised. Older persons will be engaged more fully by participating in a themed reminiscence workshop and by listening to their life stories. This brings an added sense of value and purpose to their visit. This programme is being extended to all three Adult Services homes in Basingstoke and Deane Borough during 2009.

6) Sports Service

6.1. Work within the Sports Service team has focused on falls prevention and some work with green exercise.

7) Conclusions

7.1. Recreation, Heritage and Communities services have an important role in contributing to Hampshire's personalisation agenda.

7.2. The emerging work with Adult Services is integral to this key contribution.

8) Recommendations

Please see Executive Summary for recommendations.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Race and Equalities Impact Assessment:

Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

2. Crime Prevention issues.

The County Council has a legal obligation under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to consider the impact of all the decisions it makes on the prevention of crime. The proposals in this report have no impact on the prevention of crime.