Pre scrutiny / scrutiny areas of investigation and influence

Action/s

Outcome/s

Estimated impact / influence

1. Scrutinising the work of the Executive and the County Council as an organisation

Completion of the in-depth scrutiny review, begun in June 2007:

- Access to services in Hampshire for people with alcohol problems

Identification and initiation of second in-depth review, to begin February 2009:

- how mainstream public services in Hampshire are being age-proofed to promote independence in later life

Report endorsed at Safe and Healthy People Select Committee meeting in April 2008

N/A

The Committee's recommendations were communicated to key decision makers, including the County Council, the PCT and the SHA.

The report prompted responses from all decision making individuals and bodies, promising co-operation with addressing the majority of recommendations

through current or future work streams

N/A

2. Questioning and exploring areas of interest and concern

There has been consideration of various topics at the quarterly Select Committee meetings during the year. (see details in table below)

Various: eg.

- Overview and `real time' scrutiny, as well as overview over a longer period

- No further action

- Liaison with partner agency

(see details below)

See detail in table below

3. Monitoring the strategic management of performance

Monitoring of the following areas:

- social care aspects of the application of the 1983 Mental Health Act

- annual performance against the National Service Framework for Mental Health

- annual performance as assessed by the national mental health Service Users survey

- adult services performance against national ratings

- departmental performance issues, relating these to budgetary issues

See detail in table below

See detail in table below

4. Pre-scrutinising recommendations from the Decision Programme

Consideration of decision lists relating to Adult Services and Regulatory Services prior to each quarterly meeting.

Chairman attendance at and participation in Adult Services Executive Member meetings.

Certain proposals for decisions have been scrutinised by the Committee: eg.

- Capital Programme and Revenue budget (mid year 2007/08 and proposals for 2009/10)

- Substance Misuse Services strategic review

See detail in table below

See detail in table below

Monitoring the impact of external agencies on the people of Hampshire

Integral to the scrutiny review process eg. through the Alcohol Services review (Health agencies, independent sector providers)

Carried out through the questioning and exploring of areas of interest eg. 101 service (Police), Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy service (independent sector provider organisation), prostitution (police)

Carried out through some aspects of performance oversight eg. mental health issues joint with Health

See detail in table below

See detail in table below

DETAIL OF SELECT COMMITTEE WORK

Select Committee role

Type of activity and date

Outcome, including action/s

Impact/Influence

Scrutinising the work of the Executive and the County Council as an organisation

Completion of the in-depth scrutiny review, begun in June 2007:

- Access to services in Hampshire for people with alcohol problems

Report endorsed at Safe and Healthy People Select Committee meeting in April 2008

Responses to key recommendations were identified for monitoring and follow up; this happened throughout the year, at quarterly Committee meetings, following an agreed timetable

The Committee's recommendations were communicated to key decision makers, including the County Council, the PCT and the SHA.

The report prompted responses from all decision making individuals and bodies, promising co-operation with addressing the majority of recommendations through current or future work streams

Outcome monitoring has shown that the review has a continuing influence in the work being carried out relating to alcohol services in general, and to review recommendation areas of work in particular

Identification and initiation of second in-depth review, to begin February 2009:

- how mainstream public services in Hampshire are being age-proofed to promote independence in later life

N/A

N/A

Questioning and exploring areas of interest and concern

Consideration at quarterly Select Committee meetings of the following issues:

a) 101 service

b) Road safety

c) Community Safety service

d) HCC relationship with the Third sector

e) Personalisation

f) Safety of social care/social worker workforce

g) Joint Needs Assessment

h) Prostitution

i) Substance Misuse Services strategy review

j) IMCA service

k) Changes to scrutiny arrangements for Crime and Disorder

Various:

a) Overview completed and no further action

b) Overview led to real-time scrutiny at subsequent meeting

c) Overview completed and no further action

d) Real time scrutiny diaried for 2009/10

e) Overview completed and no further action

f) Performance information requested, and real-time scrutiny at subsequent meeting, followed by recommendation to the Executive Member

g) Overview extended over two meetings. No further action

h) Information received leading to extended overview through liaison with partner agency (police) - ongoing

i) Overview led to pre scrutiny

j) Real-time scrutiny to be followed by further real-time scrutiny in 2009/10. Also, letter to partner agency (Health) to reflect Committee's concerns

k) Overview - ongoing.

Various:

a) Lead Scrutineer issue, raised to address concerns about the future of the service. Member concerns noted, suggestions made, and reassurance provided.

b) Lead Scrutineer issue, raised to address concerns about progress on improvements. Matter scrutinised in real-time at later meeting, to the satisfaction of Members, and recommendation to the Executive Member

c) Real-time scrutiny of progress with county coverage of the service, to the satisfaction of Members

d) Members to monitor progress with development of revised strategy at future meeting

e) Members able to use the briefing to inform their work in general

f) Overview, followed by real-time scrutiny, allowed Members to channel their concerns about the status quo, and to seek to influence the Executive Member

g) Members able to use the briefing to inform their work in general

h) Member responded to issue raised by a Hampshire body (WI), and channelled this into overview of relevant safety aspects through liaison with partner agency

i) Opportunity for Members views to influence strategy development and Executive decision making

j) Opportunity for Members to challenge outcomes of new commissioned service, and to make recommendations to partner commissioning agency (Health)

k) Members kept abreast of legislative changes relevant to the Committee's terms of reference

Monitoring the strategic management of performance

Monitoring of the following areas:

- social care aspects of the application of the 1983 Mental Health Act

- annual performance against the National Service Framework for Mental Health

- annual performance as assessed by the national mental health Service Users survey

- adult services performance against national ratings

- departmental performance issues

Various:

* clarification of issues and

further in-depth information

where this was needed

* encouragement to officers,

where appropriate

Various:

· challenge and dialogue about care and safety issues for people in Hampshire affected by the operation of sections of the Mental Health Act

· highlighting of issues where progress is required

· action by the committee to influence partner agencies to strengthen improvement

· Members assured about improvements over time as recorded through Adult Services performance

· linking of departmental performance issues to budget issues

Pre-scrutinising recommendations from the Decision Programme

Consideration of decision lists relating to Adult Services and Regulatory Services prior to each quarterly meeting.

Chairman attendance at, and participation in, Adult Services Executive Member meetings.

Certain proposals for decision have been scrutinised by the Committee: eg.

- Capital Programme and Revenue budget (mid year 2007/08 and proposals for 2009/10

- Substance Misuse Services strategic review

Exercise of Committee's duty to pre-scrutinise decisions

Challenge to decisions to be made, through real-time scrutiny

Monitoring impact of external agencies on the people of Hampshire

1. Integral to the scrutiny review

process eg. through the Alcohol

Services review (Health

agencies, independent sector

providers, joint agency

partnership))

2. Carried out through the

questioning and exploring of

areas of interest eg. 101 service

(Police), Independent Mental

Capacity Advocacy service

(independent sector provider

organisation), prostitution

(police)

3. Carried out through some

aspects of performance

oversight eg. mental health

issues joint with Health

1. Invitation to external agencies

and Alcohol Partnership Board

to comment on review

recommendations, and request

for co-operation in monitoring

outcomes during the year

2. Highlighting of, and response

to, issues affecting the people

of Hampshire. Also, further

exploration of issues from other

agencies' perspective (Police)

Invitation to external agency

(IMCA) to provide additional

assurances about new service

development

3. Invitation to external agency

via Adult Services to

provide additional assurances

about service coverage and

development (mental health

services)

1. Outcome monitoring of review

recommendations relating to

external agencies and

partnership during the year

keeps issues and progress

transparent. Impact of review

recommendations made

visible.

2. Questioning and further

exploration of an issue

(prostitution) allows Members

to decide whether scrutiny is

appropriate, and

recommendation to external

agency

3) Other agency co-operation with

Members role as critical friend

Dealing with other topics

1. Topics raised by committee

members in their role as Lead

Scrutineer, eg.

- changes to contracting arrangements in Adult Services

2. The development of the Local

Involvement Network (LINk)

in Hamsphire

Members awareness raised about topics discussed, and ideas for future scrutiny topics identified

LINk staff and Host organisation staff invited to a Select Committee meeting, and a written update on progress with the implementation of the LINk received. Request for joint meeting between the Safe and Healthy People Select Committee, the HOSC, the Host organisation and the LINk made.

Strengthening of Select Committee critical friend and overview role

Contribution to committee scrutiny topic selection

Initiation of contact with the LINk in respect of working relationships envisaged through new legislation (Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007)