Issue - meetings

To provide Councillors with an update on the position on the national introduction of Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) what this means and how it will impact the Council.

The Head of Statutory Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The purpose of the briefing report was to provide the Committee with an update on the position on the national introduction of Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS), what that meant and how it would impact the Council.

The Committee discussed the report and comments were made, including:

• In response to a query, the Committee was advised that the broadening of scope meant the service needed to consider how it worked with people who lacked capacity to make decisions about their own care, however by reducing the assessments to one process would ensure the user would have one contact and a smoother journey to getting the care they required.
• The Committee discussed the safety and concerns regarding the LPS and were reassured of the reasons for it and the quality assurance processes that would be in place.
• In response to a concern regarding the additional burden this process would have on social workers and funding, the Committee was advised that concerns had been shared with Government.  However, it was inferred that other professionals could undertake assessments.
• In response to a concern regarding incorporating 16 and 17 year olds, the Committee was advised of the transitional pathways for preparing for adulthood and how the service worked with Children’s Social Care and Health ensuring specialist training of the Mental Capacity Act was provided to enable them to be more involved in the LPS process in the future.

RESOLVED that Members note the report.