The Adult Social Care & Health Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss the setting of fees for residential, nursing, and home care services for the upcoming year, alongside updates on alcohol-related harm and drug and alcohol needs assessments within the borough. The committee was also set to review the outcomes of a scrutiny panel examining health inequalities and consider a report on the progress made in addressing issues related to Adult Social Care IT systems and data.

Annual Residential, Nursing, Home Care and Other Care Management Services Fee Setting 2025/26

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to considering the proposed fee settings for externally commissioned care services for the 2025/26 period. This included recommendations for residential and nursing care homes, homecare provision, day care services, learning disability services, and other non-residential care management services. The report outlined the council's strategic approach to investing in the wider social care market, building on strong relationships with providers. It detailed the financial context, including inflationary pressures, workforce challenges, and national funding settlements, and proposed an average uplift of 7% for ceiling rate beds and 7.8% for homecare hourly rates. The report also highlighted the legal considerations under the Care Act 2014, which places a duty on local authorities to promote a diverse and high-quality market for care and support services. The committee was asked to endorse these recommendations for consideration by Cabinet.

Alcohol Related Harm

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the work undertaken by the alcohol-related harm subgroup of Stockport Locality’s Provider Partnership. The report detailed the group's strategic approach to system working, progress to date, and planned next steps. It noted that alcohol-related harm is a significant public health concern in Stockport, with higher levels of alcohol-specific mortality and alcohol-related hospital admissions compared to the national average. The subgroup's aims include preventing and reducing harm through a system approach and collaborative working, focusing on primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention across three workstreams: licensing, community-based interventions in Tame Valley, and strengthening alcohol care pathways at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. The report also touched upon financial and operational challenges, particularly regarding the alcohol service offer at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, and the impact of alcohol harm on health inequalities.

Drugs and Alcohol Needs Assessment Action Plan

A report detailing the findings of the Drug and Alcohol Needs Assessment in Stockport was presented, providing a comprehensive overview of local population needs, with a specific focus on treatment needs. The assessment, informed by the National Drug Strategy, analysed alcohol alongside opiates, crack, and other drug use. It highlighted prevalence rates, unmet treatment needs, and drug and alcohol-related deaths and mortality within the borough. The report also detailed drug and alcohol treatment statistics, referral sources, treatment outcomes, and feedback from young people and stakeholders. Based on these findings, an action plan was developed with five overarching priority areas: increasing access to structured treatment, improving treatment outcomes, enhancing referral pathways and joint working, reducing deaths and wider harms, and raising awareness of treatment services. The committee was asked to comment on and note the report and action plan.

Scrutiny Review - Understanding the Inequalities of Health Outcomes Across the Borough

This report detailed the findings of a Scrutiny Review Panel that focused on health inequalities across Stockport Borough, specifically examining two cohorts: people living with severe mental illness (SMI) and people from Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Black African communities, both experiencing deprivation. The review aimed to understand their lived experiences and assess the local system's capacity to reduce these inequalities. The findings indicated similarities between the cohorts, including the importance of feeling understood and accepted, alongside unique challenges such as language barriers and culturally inappropriate services for ethnic minority communities, and a need for increased funding for mental health services and crisis support for those with SMI. The report also highlighted more general issues applicable to marginalised groups, such as the need for affordable housing, flexible working, reliable public transport, and community engagement. The committee was asked to comment on and endorse the recommendations to Cabinet.

Cabinet Response: Scrutiny Review – Adult Social Care IT Systems & Data

This report outlined the actions taken by the Council following the Scrutiny Review's final report and recommendations concerning Adult Social Care IT Systems and Data. The review had focused on issues related to recording, data quality, and reporting, particularly concerning the new IT system implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic. The report indicated that Adult Social Care had already initiated a systematic programme of system development that addressed, or planned to address, many of the review's findings. The committee was asked to comment on and note the report.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The Assistant Director for Governance presented a report outlining the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee's future meetings and Forward Plan items within its remit. The report listed indicative agenda items for upcoming meetings and invited the committee to put forward any additional agenda items for future consideration.

Election of Chair

An additional item of urgent business was scheduled for the 'Election of Chair' due to a vacancy in the position. The committee was to consider the appointment of a member to this role until the next Annual Council Meeting.