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Adult Care and Well Being Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Monday, 20th May, 2024 2.00 pm

May 20, 2024 View on council website  Watch video of meeting or read trancript
AI Generated

Summary

The meeting focused on several key issues, including the introduction of a new Sea of Honor, Mr. Maurice, and a detailed discussion on social care, safeguarding, and the challenges faced by the council in managing resources and services.

The most significant topic discussed was social care and safeguarding. Mr. Maurice thanked the council for additional resources allocated to social care, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in ensuring staff availability and the importance of rapid learning from safeguarding incidents. He highlighted the benefits of a verbal rapid building process, which allows for quicker dissemination of learning from serious incidents, reducing the time from a year to three to six months. He also discussed the issue of self-neglect, noting that declining cognitive function can lead to situations where individuals unintentionally neglect themselves, such as misunderstanding food expiration dates.

Another major topic was the exploitation strategy and rough sleeping issues in Worcestershire. The council has made significant progress in addressing rough sleeping, involving people with lived experiences and relevant bodies, which has been well received by the community. The development of the Complex Handle of Risk Management (CALM) process was also praised. This process addresses the needs of individuals who fall through the cracks between agencies, using innovative methods like meeting people in coffee shops to engage with them effectively.

Staffing in the adult care sector was a critical concern. Mr. Maurice pointed out the risk of a shortage of nurses in the coming years, despite an increase in medical school placements. He stressed the need for efforts to retain staff and attract new entrants into the nursing profession, as the demand for adult care services grows with an aging population.

The meeting also touched on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections, with Mr. Maurice expressing confidence in Worcestershire's preparedness for inspections. He mentioned the importance of professional curiosity and multi-agency working in safeguarding, highlighting the need for continuous improvement in mental capacity assessments and information sharing among agencies.

The council discussed the impact of voluntary redundancies on service delivery, particularly in managing direct payments for social care. The reduction in staff has made it challenging to maintain the same level of service, and the council is reviewing processes to streamline and improve efficiency.

Finally, the meeting addressed the complexities of continuing healthcare funding and the disputes that arise between local authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). The council is working to ensure that individuals receive the appropriate funding and care, despite the challenges posed by differing interpretations of the national framework for continuing healthcare.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the council's efforts to address significant social care challenges, improve safeguarding processes, and manage resources effectively amidst staffing and funding constraints.

Attendees

Mark Fitton
Kerry McCrossan
Rebecca Wassell
Kelly Palmer
Bridget Brickley
Keith Brown
Samantha Morris
Jo Weston
Sarah Cox
Richard Stocks
Caryl Rees
Profile image for Councillor James Stanley
Councillor James Stanley  Vice-Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board •  Conservative
Profile image for Councillor Andy Fry
Councillor Andy Fry  Councillor •  Labour
Profile image for Councillor Matt Jenkins
Councillor Matt Jenkins  Green And Independent Alliance Group Leader •  Green Party
Profile image for Councillor Adrian Kriss
Councillor Adrian Kriss  Vice-Chairman, Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel •  Conservative
Profile image for Councillor Alan Amos
Councillor Alan Amos  Independent
Profile image for Councillor Shirley Webb
Councillor Shirley Webb  Chairman - Adult Care and Well Being Overview and Scrutiny Panel •  Conservative
Profile image for Councillor Lynn Denham
Councillor Lynn Denham  Labour and Co-operative
Profile image for Councillor Richard Morris
Councillor Richard Morris  Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Adult Social Care •  Conservative
Profile image for Councillor Paul Harrison
Councillor Paul Harrison  Conservative
Profile image for Councillor Jo Monk
Councillor Jo Monk  Chairman of the Waste Credit Governance Committee •  Reform UK