The meeting considered quarterly performance of the Adult Social Care service, received the annual report of Healthwatch Islington, and approved the initiation document for a scrutiny review into Adult Social Care Accommodation. The committee agreed to revise the list of witnesses for the scrutiny review.

Quarter 4 Performance Report - Adult Social Care

The Committee noted that the majority of people receiving care were placed in London, and were often placed outside the borough at their own, or their family's request:

...often this was a choice, to allow them to be closer to family.

It was noted that, where care was provided outside the borough, Islington Council retained responsibility for the individual.

Councillor Williamson, the Executive Member for Health and Social Care, noted that keeping residents living in their own home for longer was more cost effective than residential care placements.

...keeping residents living healthy and independent lives in their own home for longer was more cost effective than residential care placements.

However, the committee agreed that the most important aspect was the health and wellbeing of those receiving care, and ensuring their needs were met.

It was agreed that more information about the financial challenges facing the service would be appended to future performance reports.

Healthwatch Annual Report and Work Programme

Emma Whitby, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Islington, introduced the organisation's annual report.

The committee praised Healthwatch Islington's work to understand barriers to cervical screening among the Somali and Turkish communities. This allowed service providers to better target information, providing accurate advice and addressing concerns.

The Committee heard that Healthwatch Islington had been forced to stop providing its Digital Inclusion service due to a lack of funding.

...those working on the scheme knew the significant impact of supporting residents to access online services.

The Committee agreed that having a variety of contact options for health and care services was crucial:

Organisations also had to avoid stereotypes about the digital skills of older and younger generations...

Ms Whitby told the committee that Healthwatch had worked with residents to understand the barriers to accessing mental health services:

...this identified the importance of building trust between services and service users, ensuring consistency in staffing, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in services.

Councillor Diarmaid Ward thanked Ms Whitby for her work at Healthwatch Islington, praising her dedication to supporting residents.

Scrutiny Review - Approval of Scrutiny Initiation Document & Initial Presentation

The Committee reviewed the Scrutiny Initiation Document (SID) for the Adult Social Care Accommodation review.

To ensure the right accommodation at the right time, to enable residents who draw on adult social care to live independent, healthy lives and that delivers best value for money.

It was agreed that the list of witnesses was not exhaustive, and should be expanded to include residents, community organisations and Islington Council staff.

...the committee was keen to hear from residents, and also community organisations working with those receiving care services.

The committee heard that the service faced a number of challenges, particularly due to Islington being a small and densely populated inner London borough.

...Islington was a small and densely populated inner London borough with limited options for developing new care accommodation.

It was noted that Islington had the highest prevalence of severe mental illness in London.

...Islington had the highest prevalence of severe mental illness in London. This presented challenges in terms of providing appropriate care support and accommodation.

Councillor Diarmaid Ward said that Islington would have to take an innovative approach to meeting demand, and that the Committee's scrutiny should focus on innovation in care accommodation.

...the ambitions around innovation would be useful to review, to better understand what could realistically be achieved.

The committee heard that the demand for care services had increased over the past decade.

Demand for care services had increased over the past decade, and would continue to increase as life expectancy increased and the demography of the borough changed.

It was agreed that social connectedness was a determinant of wider health and that care accommodation should support it.

Work Programme 2024/25

Noted.