Agenda item

Members received a report comparing the published Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings as at 19th January 2018 comparing Doncaster performance with national and regional averages.  In addition, the report outlined any current contract monitoring activity that was supporting providers with inadequate ratings.

It was commented that this demonstrates positive CQC ratings for the social care provision within the Doncaster Borough when compared with national and regional data derived from a pro-active contract monitoring and management function within the Council.

Table 2 - The number, percentage and outcome of all active Adult Social Care Services by South Yorkshire Authorities.

The table shows that Doncaster had the highest percentage of providers rated as good and the lowest percentage requiring improvement (when compared against the District Level).   It was felt that this was a result of the proactive approach taken to support providers and to take action when performance hasn’t improved.

Table 3 - The number, percentage and outcome of Community Adult Social Care Services by South Yorkshire Authorities.

Members were informed that Doncaster had the highest percentage of Community Adult Social Care Services that were rated as ‘requires improvement’, with one recently being re-inspected and found to be good.

Table 4 - The number, percentage and outcome of Residential & Nursing Care Homes in Adult Social Care Services by South Yorkshire Authorities.

It was seen that ‘outstanding’ had been given to less than 3% of this provision, and that Doncaster now had a residential home that had achieved an outstanding rating by CQC.

It was shown that Doncaster had some issues with nursing homes ‘requiring improvement’ and explained that although Doncaster does show to have the highest percentage of residential home rated as ‘inadequate’ this equated to only one home and that home had no residents and was under a notice of decision by the CQC.

The tables showed that there were 20 Doncaster Adult Social Care Services rated as ‘requires improvement’, 18 of those have a contract with DMBC. To support those services in improving they have all received some level of contract monitoring and improvement activity.  As part of this, 16 audits have been undertaken during the past 12 months and further work done (for example, through action plans), resulting in an improved confidence of these services moving forward in the right direction.

The following issues were raised as part of the discussion;

Concern was raised by Members that the information contained within the report did not read favourably.  It was acknowledged that the information was a year behind and that one of the provisions reported on was now categorised as ‘good’. It was explained that data had to be waited on to be received from the CQC, including results from re-inspections (that may take up to 18 months to undertake).  It was commented that the re-inspection should result in an improved rating and a better insight around future grading’s.

Councillors expressed concern that people in residential care homes were satisfactorily being looked after.  Assurances were provided that an action plan was in place for one home and that work was being undertaken with other homes.  It was explained that the Council may pull up embargos on individual homes that proactive visits were undertaken and triggers in place to address safeguarding.

In response as to whether there was enough rigour in the Councils process to work with and monitor the 18 providers; Members were informed that the inspection regime had changed and if they weren’t good enough they required improvement.  It was explained that being graded with a ‘Requires Improvement’ was sometimes what it took for the provider to improve although this grading did not mean that they were inadequate.

In terms of resources it was explained that the Doncaster Contract Monitoring function increased their resources only as a temporary measure although an improvement in results had been seen.

RESOLVED that the Panel;

a)    Notes the report; and

b)    That an update is provided as part of the Health and Adults Overview and Scrutiny Panels Workplan 2018/2019.