Councillor H Allen
and the Principal Programme Lead Mental Health from
NHS Dorset presented a verbal update around the positive
work around Homeless Health which included the following:
- That
there was good services, charities and voluntary organisations
already supporting the homeless, however partnership working had
been strengthened and progressed to ensure all stakeholders worked
together collaboratively to deliver an integrated, system wide
model and pathways including Multi-Disciplinary Team working
(MDT).
- The
Committee was advised of the ongoing and extensive work around the
Hub at St Stephens and the MDT in addition to other
projects.
- The partners who
contributed to the MDT were detailed including mental health
services, drug and alcohol services, advocacy and housing.
- The
extensive work being undertaken in the Out of Hospitals model was
highlighted to the Committee.
- The Principal Programme Lead Mental Health
detailed her joint role across NHS Dorset and BCP
Council which included focus on homeless and the formalisation of
the MDT offer.
- It
was noted that the MDT had started to meet in July with a
Memorandum of Understanding and currently focused on rough sleepers
using a share point system to ensure each individual had a
personalised plan.
- The
Committee was advised of a couple of examples of the good work the
MDT was undertaking relating to specific individuals.
- The
Committee was advised that since Covid awareness of homelessness
had been raised with the difficulties and challenges highlighted
and the need to bring together a strategic document which
would be Pan Dorset was detailed.
- A Committee Member
was grateful for the ongoing work and update and highlighted the
issues of self neglect amongst the
homeless community and the possible reasons for it were
detailed.
- In response to a
query about whether a Housing First model was being used, the
Committee was advised that there was one in place, but it was not
being used in all cases. It was noted
that it would be beneficial to use the housing first model for all
rough sleepers however cost implications could be preventing
this.
- In response to a
query whether the target of ending all rough sleeping by 2024 would
be met, the Committee was advised that realistically, this probably
would not be achievable.
- In response to a
query regarding the Health Bus, the Committee was advised that it
started as a charity and offered gaps in the health responsiveness
for clients. It was noted that there
was currently a governance issue which was trying to be resolved as
it had negatively affected the timeliness in which healthcare could
be offered to those in need.
- The Director of
Operations advised of the homeless intervention team and their work
which was embedded within the MDT and the housing colleagues and
social work teams identifying people at front door which was
ensuring a much stronger visible profile and work in those
areas.
- The Lead for
Homelessness advised of the good data gathering which demonstrate
positive outcomes including holistic patient centred care and cost
effective care.
- The Chair concluded
by thanking everyone involved for all the work that had been
detailed in the presentation.
The Portfolio Holder
with responsibility for People and Homes provided an update on the
following:
·
The Proud to Care Campaign, which was BCP Council supporting care
provider recruitment via promotional videos, had been well viewed
and received.
·
The financial support, including a grant from central Government
being provided to care providers to recruit from overseas to
increase the numbers of posts and hours for carers was
detailed.
·
Work was also highlighted around the winter discharge grant to
enable people to be discharged from hospital and remain in their
homes.
The Committee
discussed the difficulties experienced with recruitment and
retention in the social care workforce.
The Committee was advised that delay in the introduction of social
care reform had meant that funding would be received from
Government. The Committee was advised
of the ongoing work with NHS Dorset to employ people through the
NHS with a training package to provide a better offer. The Committee was advised that more detail could
be provided on this at a future date.
The Portfolio Holder
for Communities, Health and Leisure advised of the following:
- That infection
rates for Covid were continuing to fall with fewer hospital
patients testing positive and the autumn booster programme was
continuing.
- The Committee was
advised of the concerns with public sector finances meaning that
National Public Health had moved away from primary prevention such
as sugar tax to secondary prevention in NHS settings which was more
of a physical prevention campaign.
- The agreed
underspend of £610k public health grant from the Joint Public
Health Board was being returned to BCP and how it would be used was
being considered.
- The Health checks
programme was being relaunched in April 2023 with a targeted
approach in areas of higher deprivation and was progressing in an
community engagement model with Livewell Dorset
- Drug and Alcohol
Performance would in the future be via the Combating Drugs
Partnership which was detailed
The Chairman
requested a message be passed back to Dorset Healthcare regarding
providing the urgent need to provide the Covid booster vaccine to
the home bound elderly.
ACTION.
In response to a
query about younger people and children being offered the vaccine,
the Committee was told this could be investigated and reported
back. ACTION.