Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation updating the Committee on the current position with Phase 2 of the Transformation of Services for Adults.

The report of the Strategic Director People, which was submitted to Cabinet on 3 November 2009, is attached as background information.

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director People on the current position with the Transformation of Services for Adults Phase 2.  The principles underpinning the transformation were:

Delight Customers – easy access to services, locally based services, services that kept people safe and well for as long as possible, personalised services with choice and control over resources, most issues and enquiries resolved at the first point of contact;

Manage costs – better and more flexible use of council and partners resources and assets, services provided by people/organisations best placed to deliver, sharing support services where possible, provide services core to business, better use of appropriate technology, outcomes measured and improvements evidenced;

Develop culture – lean services to suit customers, active engagement and involvement of customers and all partners, experiment with new methods, invest and support people, work as one team across organisational boundaries.

The report listed progress in a number of operational areas - the first locality team had been launched in Wilmslow in July 2009 and other areas were to be rolled out by February 2010.  There had been an increase in Direct Payments and Individual Budgets and evidence suggested users were purchasing leisure services to improve outcomes within their individual budgets which would have implications across the wider Council.  Progress in other areas of the transformation programme included:

      reduction of in-house provision of routine domiciliary care as this could be provided by the independent sector, focus the in-house service on reablement;

      a review of use of buildings within Adult Services aimed at rationalising and localising functions across services;

      rationalise the current stock of Community Support Centres and create a purpose built new facility, subject to a business case;

      review current provision of the hot meals service;

      review shared transport service jointly with Head of Regeneration and the PCT;

      approve and progress specific joint commissioning and integrated service provision initiatives with the PCT.

Members of the Committee congratulated staff of the homecare service for continuing the service during the severe weather and similarly the hot meals service.  Members raised concern over whether personalisation could put vulnerable people at risk through having informal arrangements.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted and safeguarding vulnerable people be considered further at a future meeting.