Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Head of Business Management & Challenge.

Martin Middleton, Direct Payments Project Manager (Interim), attended to provide a high level briefing and further update on the Council’s prepaid social care card product (known as the Empower Card) since the last update to the Committee on 15 March 2012.

He explained that due to a number of challenges created by the rapid take up of the Empower product, the Council had approved a ‘pause’ in the roll out of the Empower Card in November 2011 as part of a post-implementation review. This pause became indefinite in March 2012 pending the completion of a detailed review of all card accounts and during this time, no new customers had been given an Empower card.

Martin Middleton reported that a strategic Empower steering group continued to oversee the ‘pause’, meeting on a regular basis. He noted that complexity of the audit process had resulted in the review taking longer than had been anticipated at the outset. Having said that, the ‘pause’ had also enabled Officers to review all processes around the Empower card thoroughly which had resulted in a far more stable system.

Work was ongoing to review alternative products available in the market place that could potentially meet the needs of CEC and its customers including prepaid card developments.

Martin Middleton explained that the Council was looking to establish an improved platform and system in a phased and managed way from April 2013 and that this work would progress alongside the continued audit and stabilisation processes for the existing product. Once the review had been completed, it was suggested that a report be brought to the Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the report be noted.

b)    That the continued progress of the review of all Empower card customer accounts (and associated care reviews) be noted.

c)    That the Committee endorse the Council’s continued exploration and evaluation of the current prepaid card product against alternative options available in the market.

d)    That the Direct Payments Project Manager (Interim) be requested to provide the Committee with an update report once the review reaches completion.