Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies had been received from Councillor Robson and Dion.  Councillor Stribley was absent.

Councillor Phillips attended remotely forgoing any voting rights. 

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

Councillor Trent substituted for Councillor Robson.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

Councillor L-J Evans declared a personal interest as a bank employee for University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Councillor C Johnson declared a personal interest as a Staff Nurse employed by the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust and Councillor C Matthews declared a personal interest as a Governor of Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust and in relation to Agenda Item 9 as a carer.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 25 July 2022.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 25 July 2022, having previously been circulated, be confirmed as read and accurate and signed by the Chairman, subject to Councillor Rampton and Councillor Kelly being marked as in attendance remotely.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/documents/s2305/Public%20Items%20-%20Meeting%20Procedure%20Rules.pdf

The deadline for the submission of a public question is 4 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a public statement is midday the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.

There were no public issues received on this occasion.

To note and comment as required on the action sheet which tracks decisions, actions and outcomes arising from previous Committee meetings.

The contents of the action sheet were noted.

For the Committee to receive on update on the Clinical Service Review, including building works at Poole Hospital and Royal Bournemouth Hospital, and the Maternity Service.

The Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer at UHD NHS FT and Head of Midwifery provided an update PowerPoint presentation which detailed the following:

·      Dorset Clinical Services Review (CSR) progress update on emergency and planned hospitals

·      The benefits of the CSR

·      Then and now update – planned openings in 2023

·      The end states of Poole Hospital and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital

·      UHD Maternity Department Update

·      Maternity measurements

·      National Policies

·      Maternity challenges

·      Single antenatal service to improve safety and avoid delays, especially when urgent care is needed.

·      Came together this month, at Poole, offering greater continuity of care for mums. Moving into new building in 2024.

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

·       In response to a query regarding national and local shortages of midwifes, the Committee was advised of the detailed work ongoing nationally and locally to promote recruitment and retention of all midwifes to help address this issue, which included an excellent support programme for newly qualified midwifes, legacy midwife roles to encourage senior midwifes to continue working in the profession and a dedicated midwife advocate

·       The Committee was advised that a review needed to be completed to identify adequate staffing levels, but there was currently an 18% vacancy rate, however it was noted that this did not consider the new starters who would be in position soon.  It was hoped that the service would recruit twelve internationally educated midwifes and six full time equivalent nurses to reduce that figure.  The support that would be provided to any internationally educated midwifes in terms of accommodation and peer support was detailed

·       A Committee member congratulated the service on the high level of breast feeding take up and the Baby Friendly Accreditation was detailed, including the high standards required to gain it and the challenges faced in doing so

·       The change of work location for some staff was discussed including the support which had been put in place to support them, including individual transport plans for the staff who were required to move their place of work.

·       In response to a query about how maternity services were currently, the Committee was advised that a lot of work had been undertaken to make the waiting area welcoming

·       The advantages of putting the two antenatal clinics together were highlighted including greater resilience and increased physical space, until the move to the permanent maternity unit in 2024.

·       The Committee was advised on the positives the final move would have including enabling post-natal mothers to have more space and to enable partners to stay overnight, which regrettably could not currently be offered

·       In response to a query regarding the theatres at Poole Hospital, the Committee was advised four theatres which would house the trauma service would open next April, with the next phase being completed by the end of 2024.  It was highlighted that staffing was an issue in this area and recruitment and retention were being focused on.  It was hoped the state-of-the-art theatres and support space for staff would be enticing when  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

For Committee to be provided with the diagnostic review and options appraisal was carried out on the future of care technology within adult social care at BCP Council.

The Commissioning Manager – Prevention and Wellbeing presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.  In addition, the Committee was provided with a PowerPoint presentation which detailed the following:

·       Care Technology (CT) and what it means - monitoring, alert and smart equipment

·       The three options appraised

·       What it could mean for people living in BCP

·       How the CT could help improve lives today, tomorrow and in the future

·       Case studies detailing how CT could help setting out the situation, solution and benefits

·       Users stories to bring CT use to life!

A diagnostic review and options appraisal was carried out on the future of care technology within adult social care at BCP Council. Officer recommendation was for a full-service transformation, providing a single care technology offer across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole at the forefront of adult social care services. This option mainstreams care technology through a sustained programme of culture change, enabling more people to access care technology and delay, reduce or prevent the need for costly, long-term care and support.

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

·       In response to a query regarding funding streams and resources available, the Committee was advised if the preferred option got recommended by the Committee and approved at Cabinet then further work would be undertaken to source companies to provide the technology

·       It was highlighted that a lot of the technology was used by people daily and could be used to support users to increase their independence

·       It was highlighted that funding had become available for councils and health partners who wanted to drive smart technology forward and if approved the service could engage in some wider national programmes

·       In response to a query, the Committee was advised that the financial modelling included ongoing maintenance.  It was noted that additional staff would be needed to deal with the initial assessments and maintenance of the smart technology. The recycling model was highlighted that around 70-80% would come back and could be reloaned two or three times within its life cycle

·       In response to a query, the Committee was advised that the modelling and financial assessment focused on those with adult social care eligible care needs but could be offered to self funders in the future. 

·       In response to a concern regarding data protection and targeted adverts and marketing, the Committee was advised this would be a service provided by the Council working with strategic partners and would abide by the Council’s rules and policies

·       In response to a query regarding users not being connected to the internet possibly being a barrier to receiving smart technology, the Committee was advised that the Service would ensure that any equipment needed to facilitate use would be provided.  The Director – Commissioning for People advised they would check whether possible internet provision was included in the costings and let the Committee know. ACTION.

·       The Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

For the Committee to be informed of the BCP Carers Strategy (2022-2027) and to comment and question the strategy before considering whether to recommend it to Cabient.

The Commissioning Manager, Prevention and Wellbeing 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.  Councillor Fear joined the Committee for this item as the Lead Member for Wellbeing.

The BCP Carers Strategy (2022-2027) set out 5 key strategic priorities to support carers and recognised the valuable contribution they make to our community. At least 39,000 people in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole were carers and they played a vital role in sustaining our health and social care system by enabling the people they cared for to live safely in their own homes for longer. The strategy had been shaped by the views and experiences of local carers and aimed to support them to look after their own health and wellbeing, to enable them to stay in their caring roles and prevent, reduce, or delay the need for health and care services for the people they cared for.

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

·       The Chairman emphasised carers were often overlooked and not recognised for the work they did, and gratitude and thanks should be given

·       The Chairman also expressed concern about a financial implication of needing to increase the number of staff, which could have a negative impact in respite care for carers and the need to push Government to ensure respite care was not reduced

·       There was clarification given to the Committee why neither of the considered changes to the term carer of inserting ‘unpaid’ and ‘recognised’ before carer were used within the strategy.

RECOMMENDED that the Committee agree to support the recommendation to Cabinet to approve the BCP Carers Strategy, contained in Appendix 1 to the Report.

For the Committee to receive an update on the latest CQC Assurance Process.

The Director of ASC Commissioning (Interim) provided a power point presentation which detailed the following:

·      Some background which detailed the challenging programme of mandatory and legislative transformation in the Adult Social Care sector over the next few years

·      CQC Assurance (from 2023)

·      What they know so far regarding inspections and the framework for them

·      The CQCs Single Assessment Framework

·      The scope of the CQCs assessment of the Local Authorities Adult Social Care function

·      Government intervention and support

·      Working with the regional ADASS group

·      Details of internal preparatory work and the next steps

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

• In response to a query, it was noted that some local authorities including Hampshire had been testing out the new assurance framework
• In response to a query about challenging a rating given, the Committee was advised that it was expected to be a similar process to that of an education setting inspection where an opportunity would be given to respond and challenge if felt appropriate. It was however noted that challenge could be allowed on factual evidence rather than the judgment
• The Director – Commissioning for People advised that the Committee should have an overview of the self-assessments with the first update in early 2023.  ACTION – Add to Forward Plan

RESOLVED that the Committee note the presentation.

For Committee to receive an overview and update on the BCP Health and Wellbeing Board from the Director of Public Health Dorset and the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board (the Portfolio Holder for Communities, Health and Leisure).

The Chief Executive of Public Health Dorset provided a verbal update which included:

·       Details of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy developed 2019 which included three priority areas for the Board’s work: Empowering communities; priority neighbourhoods and supporting healthy lives.

·       Themes from the strategy ran for 15 months at a time and the next theme was supporting the launch of a new Physical activity strategy working with Active Dorset

·       Support and challenge to enable services to work better together

·       Improving SEND support by ensuring best outcomes from local NHS changes following the clinical services review, and integration of health and social care including the Better Care Fund

·       Details of the Priority neighbourhoods were detailed including access to food partnerships and winter resilience and the need to raise awareness of the support available

·       The Together we can Steering Group was working on a set of proposals to help BCP communities in the cost-of-living crisis with five identified work streams as follows:

1.developing a network of ‘warm welcome’ spaces across BCP

2. A Wellbeing network to support mental wellbeing

3. A Fuel and energy workstream

4. The existing Access to Food Partnership

5. A cross-cutting communications workstream to support promotion of the activity.

·       The Physical Activity Strategy called ‘Movement for Movement’ was highlighted with a planned launch in October 2022

·       The ongoing work supporting integration and services working better together strengthened by the launch of the Integrated Care System (ICS), Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Integrated Care Partnerships (ICP) and the Health and Wellbeing Boards’ role in place-based partnerships

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

·       The Chairman enquired whether there was a place they could direct residents to regarding locations for warm banks and food banks and the Chief Executive of Public Health Dorset advised he would circulate a note with all the information to the Committee. ACTION

RESOLVED that the update be noted.

To receive any updates from the relevant Portfolio Holders on key issues or actions that have been taken since the last meeting, as appropriate.

The Portfolio Holder for People and Homes advised the Committee of the difficulties of providing a financial update at this time but wanted to reassure that Cabinet and the Corporate Management Board were working on a financial strategy however the impact it would have on the service was not yet known.

The Committee was advised that Job Centres Plus was working in partnership with Adult Social Services and Commissioning and were supporting care providers with recruitment events at the three Job Centre Plus sites across BCP by hosting recruitment events and inviting providers to attend and promote their businesses and vacancies.

In response to a question regarding an item on the action sheet regarding writing to Government about the national living wage for carers and carers allowance, the Committee was advised that although it was discussed at Cabinet, there did not appear to be a formal recommendation.  The Committee was reassured that this would be progressed with a letter being sent to the new Health Minister.  ACTION

The Portfolio Holder for Communities, Health and Leisure advised the Committee that she attended the first Combatting drugs partnership meeting, the three main objectives were highlighted: to prevent demand for drugs, improve outcomes for people in treatment and recovery, and ensure effective enforcement against criminal gangs responsible for the drug supply lines and it was advised that the partnership brought together multi agency services as well as people with lived experience.  It was noted that the partnership was supported by sub working groups focusing on each objective and was meeting in November to review the work completed.

The Committee was advised that the Portfolio Holder had also attended the first Poverty Truth Commission which met monthly to hear directly about poverty issues, circumstances, and experiences and consider what more could be done to support people in poverty.

The Chairman advised the Committee would be interested in hearing more about the Poverty Truth Commission as it progresses.

To consider and comment as appropriate on the development of the Committee’s Forward Plan.

The Forward Plan was noted.