Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the Adult Social Care and Services Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 2 November 2022 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

A representative from TSAB will be in attendance to update Members on the Board’s Annual Report 2021/22 and its Strategic Business Plan 2022-25.

The Chair welcomed Darren Best, Independent Chair of the TSAB to the meeting, who was in attendance to update Members on the Board’s Annual Report 2021/22 and its Strategic Business Plan 2022-25.  The following matters were raised as part of the update:

• The role of the TSAB Chair and Mr. Best’s experience to date.
• The implications of the Care Act 2014 in terms of safeguarding responsibilities and the requirement to produce an annual report; mention was made of the various Boards, Forums and Committees to which the information was delivered.
• The reasoning behind the establishment of a single TSAB for the four Tees Local Authorities, the unique approach this offered and the positive outcomes achieved, albeit with some challenge.
• The breadth of partnership work being undertaken across Tees: at present, for example, TSAB had an excellent mix of statutory and non-statutory partners and the number was growing (currently 21, however, HartlePower was to join in the near future).  It was noted that all partners played a very active role.
• The main difference between adult safeguarding and children’s safeguarding was that the emphasis within adults was on Local Authorities to coordinate and operate services, whereas within children’s it was the joint responsibility of Local Authorities, the Police and Health organisations.
• Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) under the Care Act, i.e. how these were administered and the learning that local, regional and national reviews provided.  It was highlighted that a SARs coordinator had recently been appointed and would commence in post on 1 December 2022.
• Priorities for 2021/22, which had been changed to ‘I’ statements: the purpose of this change was to remind of TSAB’s service users by approaching from the perspective of the service user or carer.
• Performance Indicators – it was highlighted that all targets had been achieved this year.
• The challenges identified within the report, including:

-        The very complex environment that adult safeguarding operated in, and that expectations had grown significantly.  Praise was offered to all those working in the sector.

-        Stages of transition (between child and adult services, for example) and how these tended to be a common feature within SARs.

-        There was a need to hear more from service users directly.

-        Staffing and lifelong training needs.  There were pressures within the system and around links within the system – the pandemic had helped to highlight these, but challenges did continue.

-        Abuse - the four main areas of abuse related to neglect, physical, financial and domestic abuse.  However, psychological abuse and self-neglect were not too far behind.  It was indicated that, in terms of statistical data, the Tees Valley reflected the national picture.  Consideration was given as to whether this was a consequence of increased reporting or an increase in cases – the Independent Chair felt it likely to lie somewhere in the middle.  Reference was made to the work undertaken by TSAB’s sub-groups in relation to this area of safeguarding work.

-        In terms of the rising numbers, it was highlighted that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22/28

The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration will provide the panel with a verbal update regarding the integration of health and social care.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration provided an update to Members regarding the integration of health and social care; the following matters were raised:

• The extensive geography that the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) covered.
• The structure of the ICS and how the local Tees Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) fed into the overarching system.
• The first meeting of the Tees ICP had recently taken place.  The main focus of the meeting was the establishment of the Terms of Reference; the key task would be to understand the needs of local communities and feed these up to the larger Board.  A draft version of the Integrated Care Strategy, which the Board was required to put in place, was discussed.  The document would be further refined prior to submission to the next meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board.
• The Tees ICP intended to meet on a quarterly basis; directors would meet monthly.
• The Autumn Statement and announcement of a review of the ICS; it was unclear at the present time as to what this would entail.

The Chair thanked the Director for the information provided.

NOTED

The Chair will provide a verbal update on matters considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 16 November 2022.

** SUSPENSION OF COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE NO 5 - ORDER OF BUSINESS

ORDERED that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 5, the panel agreed to vary the order of business to consider the remaining agenda items as follows: 7, 6, 8 and 9.

Overview and Scrutiny Board Update

The Chair provided a verbal update on the matters that were considered at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 16 November 2022.  Amongst those, and of significance to the panel, was the consideration of the final report regarding ‘The Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Supporting Adult Social Care (With a Focus on Covid-19 and Recovery)’.  The report was approved without any amendments and would next be considered by Executive on 24 January 2023.

NOTED

**At this point in the meeting, the panel agreed to a brief adjournment for five minutes**

The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration will provide the panel with a verbal update regarding the issues raised at the 5 October 2022 panel meeting.

**The panel reconvened and received information from the Head of Resident and Business Support**

The Head of Resident and Business Support provided an update to Members; a copy of a report to be considered by the Executive on 6 December 2022 (entitled ‘Cost of Living Crisis’) had been circulated prior to this meeting for information.  The following matters were raised as part of the presentation:

• Cost of living was a bigger issue than being only applicable to Adult Social Care – reference was made to other concerns, such as poverty, fuel, children, etc.
• The Head of Resident and Business Support had lead on the compilation of the comprehensive report, which focused on how the Council would respond to the crisis.
• The Financial Governance and Revenues team was working closely with other directorates and external partners to provide solutions.  In addition to the Local Authority, partners including Thirteen Group and education providers offered direct support.
• A comprehensive response had been delivered through Burdens Funding (Household Support Fund).  Additional funding (running in tandem with DWP initiatives) had been received and subsequently assigned to households with vulnerable people.  A partnership approach was being undertaken to treat residents and respectfully assign support in the right place; this was a longer-term issue.
• Work in terms of the Council’s response was being benchmarked against a number of Local Authorities – it was felt that the proposal being offered by Middlesbrough was a good one.

During discussion, a Member queried the provision of warm spaces and funding being provided by the Council to assist with this.  In response, it was explained that £20,000 had been set aside to support the warm project.  Warm space opportunities and what they offered were currently being reviewed, with an overview of what this entailed also being devised.  It was indicated that usage levels needed to be understood and funding extended to other areas where possible.  Reference was made to the Live Well Centre and the warm space that had been offered and not used; the importance of appropriate marketing was highlighted and work had been taking place with the Council’s Communications Team in this regard.  It was indicated that Library use had seen a recent increase, but it was unclear as to whether this was the consequence of the warm space initiative, or whether due to general access.  It was acknowledged that providers’ funding was limited, and therefore funding had been assigned as part of the Household Support Fund.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration advised the panel that all information regarding cost of living support was available on the Council’s website.  From an Adult Social Care perspective, it was indicated that the impact of the cost of living crisis was being seen.  However, although a component, there was no clear evidence to suggest that the cost of living crisis was bringing more Social Care users to the front door.  There were concerns as winter approached and a South Tees Cold Weather Plan had been published earlier  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22/31

The next meeting of the Adult Social Care and Services Scrutiny Panel had been scheduled for Wednesday, 11 January 2023 at 10.30 a.m.

NOTED