The Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel of Haringey Council was scheduled to discuss the council's response to a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of Adult Social Care services, as well as the local authority's preparedness for a future pandemic. The panel was also set to receive an update on the progress of aids and adaptations for residents, including the Disabled Facilities Grant.

Council Response to CQC Inspection

The panel was scheduled to receive a report detailing the outcome of the recent CQC Adult Social Care inspection. The CQC's overall rating for Haringey's Adult Social Care was Requires Improvement, with evidence indicating some shortfalls. The inspection highlighted mixed experiences of care and support, with particular concerns raised about the availability and quality of assessments for unpaid carers. While some individuals reported positive experiences with integrated teams and co-production activities, barriers to accessing information and timely assessments were noted. The report also detailed strengths in areas such as a strengths-based approach to assessments, integrated multi-agency teams, and efforts to improve the carers' offer. However, weaknesses were identified in the timeliness of assessments and reviews, accessibility of information, and the consistency of contact following safeguarding referrals.

Preparedness for a Future Pandemic

A report was scheduled to be presented on Haringey's approach to pandemic preparedness, drawing on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The report outlined various methods of learning and output, including council-wide debrief meetings, departmental reports, and specific learning from the COVID-19 vaccine programme. Key areas for improvement identified included engaging and supporting vulnerable groups, reducing the spread of infections, vaccination strategies, and staff health and wellbeing. The proposed governance for a multi-agency pandemic response plan was also to be discussed, detailing the roles of various boards and forums in developing, overseeing, and enacting the plan.

Update on Aids & Adaptations and Disabled Facilities Grant

The panel was to receive an update on the council's response to previous recommendations concerning aids and adaptations and the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). A project board had been established to oversee improvements in service delivery, focusing on enhancing the timeliness of providing equipment and adaptations and improving communication with residents. The report detailed initiatives such as the creation of an Occupational Therapy (OT) Duty Team to triage referrals, the employment of OT Assistants to contact residents on waiting lists, and the engagement of external OT agencies to clear backlogs. Progress against specific recommendations made by the panel in 2022 was to be reviewed, including ensuring resident involvement in procurement, offering advocacy services, confirming communications in writing, explaining delays, providing named contacts, recording resident suggestions, and tracking delays.

Other Scheduled Discussions

The meeting agenda also included an update on non-voting co-opted members, an update on the work programme, and dates for future meetings. Standard procedural items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and deputations/petitions/presentations/questions were also listed. The minutes of the previous meeting and an action tracker were also scheduled for review.