Issue - meetings

The Panel is asked to consider its future Work Programme.  In order to assist Members in their determination the following presentations will be given on key issues: -

The Panel was requested to consider its future Work Programme.  In order to assist Members in their determination, presentations were given on the key issues as follows:

Personalisation and the Transformation of Adult Social Care

Phil Lloyd, County Manager (Community Care) Adults, attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the above matter.  There was a rising costs relating to the provision social cost in that people were living longer and needed to be supported. This issue was addressed in the Local Authority Circular 1 of 2008, which required a whole system change to the delivery of social care, to enable every person across the spectrum of need to have choice and control over the shape of his/her support in the most appropriate setting.  This would mean that everyone who received social care support, regardless of their level of need, in any setting, whether from statutory services, the third and community or private sector or by funding it themselves, would have choice and control over how the support was delivered.

Following the presentation Members of the Panel raised the following issues:

§         It was queried whether there were year by year targets in respect of adult social care.  It was reported that targets were set by the Commission for Social Care Inspectors.  The new system marked a change, in that, instead of the Local Authority organising the care provision, individuals would receive an amount of money and contract with the social care provider directly.

§         It was considered that a system which provided the opportunity for people to remain in their own homes should be welcomed and care provided to those who needed it.

§         With regard to payments to be made to individuals it was queried whether there would be a process for monitoring this.  It was reported that this was already the case and that the County Council was one of the best performing Authorities in terms of direct payments.  To date there had been no evidence of misuse of funding.  A new device was to be introduced (the Kent Card), which was similar to a credit card and would be credited with the appropriate amount and would mean that the Local Authority could see any statements, to allow monitoring.

§         It was considered that delivery of the service should be done in the most cost effective way and should be considered at the same time as the budget setting process.  It was queried what Members could do to assist with this process.  It was noted that a whole system response to social care should result in a reduction in costs and there needed to be strong support from Members in respect of this.

§         Information was sought in respect of the likely numbers of recipients and how the budget would be funded. It was agreed that this information would be provided to the Panel at a future meeting.

§         It was considered that the Carer Strategy needed to be taken into account when consideration was given to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6