Agenda item

To consider a report from the Strategic Commissioning Manager regarding the implementation of the Cabinet Decision taken 30^th June 2015  - Moving to Local and Personalised Carer Respite

The Portfolio Holder for Adults and Health in the Community and the Director of Adult Social Care and Independent Living provided an update on the implementation of a Cabinet decision from 30 June 2015 regarding residential carer respite in the independent sector. The decision of Cabinet was the subject of a Call-In at the Committee on 7 August 2015 and it was agreed by the Committee not to offer any advice to Cabinet but to monitor the progress of the decision.

The Committee was informed that the procurement process for acquiring the 19 beds required for respite care was nearing completion and that the new service would be phased in from 1 December 2015 with all beds being available by 1 January 2016. Quality Assurance visits were currently being concluded and contracts were due to be signed the following week with announcements about the providers which had been chosen. The Portfolio Holder commented that although she understood some carers concerns about the lack of information regarding where beds would be located to this date, it had been important to follow the procurement process diligently and information regarding the homes where the beds would be located would be shared with carers as soon as possible. It was also mentioned that carers and their cared for would be given the opportunity to visit the homes that would be providing the respite care beds during open days to help them choose which provider they might wish to use once current services at Hollinsview and Lincoln House were ceased. It was also highlighted that two additional beds had been commissioned to be available for emergency respite care to support carers who may unexpectedly be unable to fulfil their caring role, e.g. due to illness.

Members of the Committee asked questions and the following points arose:

·         Concern was expressed the carers and the cared for would struggle to adapt to the new providers. The Committee was informed that information on the providers would be given to carers and they would be supported to attend open days to help them chose their preferred provider.

·         The system for booking a bed would remain similar to the current one. Members requested that the booking system for the new beds be kept as simple as possible for carers.

·         The Committee was informed that 19 beds were commissioned as this would provide 7000 bed nights per year. Current provision provided 5000 beds nights per year. If more bed nights were needed because of demand then the Council would be able to commission further beds.

·         Homes that had been commissioned include some residential and some nursing homes. The nursing homes were able to provide nursing services that Hollinsview and Lincoln House had been unable to provide.

·         The Council was purchasing the beds on a block booked arrangement meaning they would always be available for respite. People using the beds would be financially assessed and would be charged for their use according to the  charging arrangements currently in place. The prebooked beds would not require a third party top up payment. The cost of each bed was the same regardless of which provider it was with.

·         The Committee was reassured that provision was being booked in Crewe and Macclesfield, as well as across the Borough, so that local people currently using Lincoln House and Hollinsview respectively would not have to go out of town to access a bed.

·         Members requested assurance that people accessing Hollinsview and Lincoln House for reasons other than carer respite would still be supported. The Committee was informed that people would receive support to meet their needs and that this may be community based support however where a bed based service was needed this would still be accessed for them.

·         The Committee noted that other forms of respite, such as domiciliary support, was available for those who chose it.

It was agreed by the Committee that, due to the public interest in this matter, continued monitoring of implementation and performance of services in relation to quality and access was needed, to assure residents that the desired outcomes of the Cabinet’s decision in June 2015 were being delivered. It was agreed that an update on performance be considered at the Committee’s April meeting.

RESOLVED

(a)  That the report and progress implementing the Cabinet decision be noted

(b)  That the Committee requests a performance update in relation to respite care services under the new arrangements to be received at the April 2016 meeting