Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Martin Boiles and Tonia Craig. Councillor Lance Quantrill attended as Conservative Deputy.

Also present at the invitation of the Chairman: Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, and Councillor Judith Grajewski, Executive Member for Public Health.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code.  Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

No declarations were made.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee (HASC) held on 8 October 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

The Committee received a deputation regarding the Orchard Close Respite Centre (Item 6) from Kathleen Tong (Parent of a Service User):

Mrs Tong read a statement on behalf of several parent carers on the Working Group, reflecting some of their views after careful review and consideration of the options.  She thanked all the volunteer organizations for their help and all users, carers, and staff for their role in the consultation and engagement feedback. 

She shared the parent carers’ passionate views about Orchard Close – a valued service and a jewel in Hampshire’s disability crown.  Parent carers are largely supportive of recommendations and understand the need for the proposed changes.  Should the financial future be brighter, further maintenance and upgrades can be made with more activities and better experiences. They favoured the proposed reduction over sale of beds and appreciate the effort for revenue generation from other options.  They recognized that further savings and compromises need to be made.

Parent carers plan to start a “Friends of Orchard Close” organization and hope to provide stakeholder representation on any Hampshire County Council advisory groups to collaborate and promote engagement and transparency.  They thanked officers and councillors who worked hard alongside parent carers and volunteer organizations.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman noted that the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainability and Transformation Partnership final report (due on 15^th November) had not yet been submitted to the Committee but would be circulated to Members for consideration once received.  Additionally, several updates and briefings regarding CQC reviews as well as Proposals to Vary Services had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting.

To consider a report from the Orchard Close Task and Finish Working Group on all wider options regarding the future of the Orchard Close Respite Service.

The Chairman acknowledged with thanks all Members of the working group, voluntary sector partners, officers, deputees, and Lee Culhane from Healthwatch, who served as the independent chair. 

Members considered the Healthwatch Report (Appendix 1 to Annex A) and the Director of Adults’ Health and Care presented the findings from their report to the Executive Member for Adults Social Care and Health (Annex A) for her 3 December Decision Day.  The department thanked all users, parent carers, and the voluntary and independent sector for their collaboration and contribution to engagement.

Members heard:

• An overview of the Orchard Close Respite Centre services and building. 
• Savings needed from transformation programme led to the public consultation, and eventually to the working group for consideration of all possible wider options.
• The service will continue to run, and it is important to note there are no plans to close Orchard Close Respite Centre as part of Transformation to 2021.
• Unprecedented savings are required and this reduction proposal and income from other respite units are being considered to address the £617,000 savings deficit. 
• Many carers depend on the service and users appreciate the location and food.
• Due to current financial climate issues, savings must be considered but with equitable services and in keeping with the Care Act. 
• More affordable service is being explored due to lower occupancy and previous usage patterns.
• The next public consultation (with concurrent staff consultation) will start after the general election to consider views before proposed changes are implemented.
• Equality Impact Assessments for both have been completed and shared. 
• Full time equivalent staff would not be at risk with other Hampshire County Council employment available to them.
• The shortfall of £332,000 recurring per annum will be met from elsewhere in learning disability services and equitable to loss of other services. 
• Successive transformations will incur more financial pressures and challenges.
• While minor building improvements have been taken on (e.g. a new Wi-Fi network has already been installed), more major adaptions lie with the Charity. 
• The Council supports the “Friends of Orchard Close” group and the Leader has requested an advisory group regarding the Charity housing Orchard Close. 
• Partnership with all stakeholders have contributed to these recommendations. 

In response to questions, Members heard that bed capacity comparisons to counties similar to Hampshire are difficult as most do not provide and run in-house respite beds.

Members wished to thank all involved and commend the work of everyone involved.  They admired carers for their extraordinary effort to keep Orchard Close open, alongside their difficult day to day commitments and responsibilities.  Members noted their support of the recommendations and hoped that loss of beds would not lead to further consequences down the line.  Required savings are a significant and major challenge and under the circumstances, the outcome is positive to keep Orchard Close’s trusted, highly valued, and wonderful environment available for service users.

Members thanked the Task and Finish Group and agreed to Recommendations A and B (see below).  The Committee hoped the Executive Member would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 175.

To consider an annual update on adult safeguarding.

The Director of Adults’ Health and Care provided a regular update on the Adult Safeguarding Annual Report for the 2018-19 financial year. 

Members heard:

• The report covered several areas of activities implemented including key areas and overview of work undertaken. 
• Work with partners has continued over the years to create awareness of when an adult may be at risk for safeguarding concerns and how they are dealt with. 
• The number of inquiries that have progressed to investigation has remained constant in terms of numbers – a threshold of around a thousand.
• An achievements overview is included, and positive practice feedback has been received, as well as plaudit for decision making services for those who have no one able to help.
• This service is now being provided to Southampton City Council and CCGs for additional income that helps sustain the service.
• An overview of key priorities and varied work that must be undertaken is noted. 
• Issues related to depravation liberty safeguards and challenges have led to appropriate protections. 
• New legislation was passed in May with precise secondary guidance to follow.
• Ongoing matters such as the Gosport War Memorial Hospital Inquiry by police colleagues are reviewed to ensure actions are being pursued. 

In response to questions, Members heard:

• The service income comes from an administrative fee for financial resource management.
• Capacity is being created to prevent out of area placement as appropriate levels of accommodations are not available at this time, but placement numbers will be confirmed by the department. 
• Out of area placements are being monitored where there is direct responsibility and work continues to ensure a keen interest and line of sight.
• Technology enabled care is implemented with full knowledge, permission, and necessary consideration to people’s liberties i.e. data capture and sharing.
• Referrals for victims of trafficking are from partnership working through borders agency, home office, or police colleagues and the priority is individuals’ welfare.
• Client affairs services are for circumstances where no one else is available to help and acting in the best interest of the individual for the management of their financial resources is the priority.

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

1. Receives this annual update report related to adult safeguarding and notes it will be received by the next Cabinet meeting.
2. Notes the positive progress with regards to safeguarding adults in Hampshire and the commitment of a wide range of Adult Services officers in achieving this level of performance.
3. Notes the developments and risks in relation to the remit of our local authority statutory duty to safeguard and keep vulnerable adults safe from abuse and/or neglect.
4. Notes the contribution of the Hampshire Safeguarding Adults Board in leading the development of policy across the four local authority areas of Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
5. Receive a further update on adult safeguarding in 12 months’ time.

To consider and approve the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee Work Programme.

The Director of Transformation and Governance presented the Committee’s work programme.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee’s work programme be approved, subject to any amendments agreed at this meeting.

Meeting closed at 11:27am.