The Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Committee met on Tuesday 8 November 2022 to discuss the Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report, the Q2 Quarterly Monitoring Report, and updates on the Adult Social Care Reform Programme. The committee noted a projected revenue budget overspend of £806,000 and reviewed the Adult Social Care 2021/22 End of Year Performance report, which showed the council in the top three in London for many indicators.

Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report

The committee received the Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report for 2021, presented by Christabel Shawcross, the Safeguarding Adults Board Independent Chair. The report highlighted the numbers and types of abuse reported, a new national health issue, and lessons learned from safeguarding adult reviews. Members discussed training for care home staff and how the board would seek assurance on improvements. Ms. Shawcross explained that outcomes expressed refers to the desired results of a safeguarding enquiry for an individual, noting that 97.6% of people had their desired outcomes met. The report also addressed abuse from individuals living nearby, with advice given to refer cases to the local authority safeguarding team or involve housing associations, the Community Safety Partnership, or neighbourhood policing where appropriate. The committee also discussed the impact of Covid-19 on deprivation of liberty and liberty protection safeguards, with the Assistant Director of Adult Social Care and Public Health confirming that the council monitors these issues on an individual basis and addresses any overprotective measures by care homes. The report also touched upon learning disability mortality reviews and the importance of understanding and correctly applying the Mental Capacity Act.

Q2 Quarterly Monitoring Report

The committee reviewed the Q2 Quarterly Monitoring Report, which detailed the projected outturn for revenue and capital for the financial year 2022/23. A projected revenue budget overspend of £806,000 was noted, with Housing and Regeneration projected to overspend by £262,000, Adult Social Care and Public Health by £500,000, and Environment and Community Services by £44,000. The overspend in Adult Social Care was largely attributed to increased activity in mental health services and higher demand for older people's services, including care home admissions and home care packages. The report mentioned Winter Pressures Funding and a new Adult Social Care Discharge Fund from the government to mitigate increased demand. Key budget risks included pent-up demand from the Covid pandemic, the discharge to assess process, and inflationary pressures on providers.

Regarding homelessness prevention, the Head of Housing Services (Assessment and Adaptation) explained that challenges in the private rented sector and the prevalence of domestic abuse contributed to an underspend. The Head of Housing Services (Allocations and Provisions) highlighted efforts to negotiate with landlords and mediate to prevent evictions, supported by a prevention fund and a rent deposit scheme.

The committee also discussed the Early Help and Enablement service and ongoing work with the Integrated Care Board for funding. The Assistant Director Business Resources, Adult Social Care and Public Health confirmed that additional budget had been allocated for 2022/23 and some funding received from Health.

Concerns were raised about the delayed details of the Government's Adult Social Care Discharge Fund. The Assistant Director Business Resources, Adult Social Care and Public Health stated that more details were expected imminently and the funding would likely be used to extend existing discharge activities and recruit more care workers.

The committee also inquired about the NHS Health Check programme and an underspend in this area, with the Assistant Director Business Resources, Adult Social Care and Public Health undertaking to obtain further information. Mitigations for residents experiencing further abuse after being rehoused due to domestic abuse were discussed, with the Head of Housing Services (Allocations and Provisions) explaining the process for new applications or managed moves.

The situation with rough sleepers was reviewed, with 32 having been moved into settled accommodation and 35 previously housed compared to 7 currently. The Head of Housing Services (Assessment and Adaptation) explained that support and temporary accommodation continue to be offered to eligible individuals.

The council is working with approximately 100 Ukrainian households, with the initial six-month period of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme ending. The council is assisting families in finding private rented accommodation or placing them in temporary accommodation.

A registered speaker, Mr. Jon Rowles, raised concerns about the council reverting to pre-Covid homelessness support policies, questioning the number of individuals turned away and the demographic profile of those affected. The Head of Housing Services (Assessment and Adaptation) clarified that the council is operating within its legal powers regarding homelessness legislation, which had been temporarily suspended during Covid-19.

The committee NOTED that the current revenue budget projected overspend on the services for this committee is £806,000 and NOTED the latest position on the capital programme.

Temporary Accommodation Out of Area Placements

The Head of Housing Services (Allocations and Provisions) presented a report on families with children placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough. There are 82 such families, with children enrolled in schools also outside the borough. Members inquired about whether the children had attended the same schools previously, and the Head of Housing Services undertook to investigate this. The committee agreed to receive an annual report on temporary accommodation out of area placements. The significant number of families living in central Hounslow was noted, with a suggestion to distinguish these from other parts of the borough in future reports. Concerns were raised about children aged 5-9 living ten or more kilometres from their school, impacting the whole family. The Head of Housing Services advised that some families had already been moved or were waiting to move, and efforts are made to find closer properties. The committee acknowledged the challenges of housing supply and cost in the borough and encouraged efforts to increase the supply of affordable temporary accommodation. The committee NOTED the contents of the report.

Adult Social Care Reform Programme

The Assistant Director, Assurance and Innovation, provided an update on the adult social care reform programme, focusing on funding and the assurance framework. Work had been completed on establishing the fair cost of care, with a report and market sustainability plan submitted to the government. The report noted potential government funding reforms might be suspended or delayed, which could destabilise the market. Richmond Council's assurance framework involves peer reviews, with a focus on learning disability scheduled for February 2023. The council is exploring a simple, online solution for assessments to manage increased demand, and a new hybrid role is proposed to assist residents. The integration of housing into the Local Care Strategy by October 2024 was discussed, with a housing strategy group already in place. Concerns were raised about a care home closure, and the Assistant Director confirmed that the market sustainability plan addresses the viability of the care home market, with engagement sessions planned with providers to discuss challenges and solutions. The committee NOTED the progress update on the implementation of the Adult Social Care Funding Reforms.

Adult Social Care 2021/22 End of Year Performance

The Assistant Director, Assurance and Innovation, presented the Adult Social Care 2021/22 End of Year Performance report, highlighting that Richmond Council's performance had been benchmarked against other London councils and was the best ever, placing it in the top three for many indicators. The report evidenced excellent feedback from service users and carers. The committee welcomed the report, commended the performance, and thanked officers and social care workers. The committee NOTED and COMMENTED ON the performance against key indicators.

Annual Complaints Report Adult Social Care 2021-22

The Corporate and Statutory Complaints Manager introduced the Annual Complaints Report for Adult Social Care 2021-22, noting a 30% reduction in formal complaints compared to the previous year. The report indicated that most complaints were at least partially upheld, providing opportunities for learning and improvement. The committee noted that investment in a new complaints team was proving effective and would continue. The committee REVIEWED and NOTED the report.

Forward Plan

The committee noted that their next meeting was scheduled for 5 January 2023 and that PA Housing would attend either the January or February 2023 meeting. Policy statements following the 17 November 2022 budget statement were anticipated and would be added to the Forward Plan. The committee NOTED the contents of the Forward Plan.