This meeting of the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered two reports: an update on work being done to prevent suicides in the Bradford district, and a proposal to change how the council charges for its Safe and Sound service.

Suicide prevention in Bradford

The committee was provided with a report by the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership on the work being done by local organisations to prevent suicide. The report claims that:

Since 2014, ONS data shows suicide rates in Bradford District have remained below the England average and we have the lowest rates for death by suicide in West Yorkshire.

The partnership reported that it is currently co-producing a new suicide prevention plan for 2024-2027 and intends to launch the plan in early 2025. The committee was asked to consider how it can promote the Healthy Minds website and to share insights that could support the principle of co-production.

The Safe and Sound service

The committee was asked to consider a report on proposed changes to the Safe and Sound service. The report, by the Strategic Director for Adult Social Care and Health, describes Safe and Sound as:

a combination of what was previously known as Careline and Telecare

It goes on to say that the service:

uses of a variety of technology and support systems to help people of all ages to live safe and independently at home.

The report explains that the service will be affected by the planned digital switchover: the nationwide transition away from analogue telephony to digital telephony, scheduled to be completed in 2025.

The report explains that because the service currently costs the council £1.5m per year, a consultation on changes to the charging model was started, and that:

The Executive at their meeting on 3 September 2024, approved for Adult Social Care to undertake a consultation on the proposal to move towards a greater contribution towards the full cost of the service.

The report asks the committee to consider the switch to digital telecare and to comment on the proposal to change the way the service is funded.