Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest made.

Resolved that:  the minutes of the meeting held on 29th July, 2015 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[A period not exceeding 20 minutes for

Statements from up to 5 members of the public on

matters within the Panel’s remit, proposing action(s)

which may be considered or contribute towards the

future development of the Panel’s work programme].

A statement was made by Mr. Tim Brown.  Mr Brown referred to recently attending a Health and Well-being Board meeting that took place on the 3rd September 2015.  Mr Brown told the Panel that he had listened to how it was challenging to engage with BME groups.  Mr Brown stated that he welcomed the honesty of such comments as it established a baseline to be able to move forward and build upon.  Mr Brown commented that it was about understanding meaningful engagement with citizens across Doncaster and acknowledged that other public authorities were struggling to engage with BME and other minority groups such as LGBT.  Clarification what sought of what were the biggest H&WB issues and what was role of group to address specific issues?

A Member of the Panel asked Mr Brown how the Health and Wellbeing Board did not engage with BME groups.  Mr Brown responded that he was the last Chair of Doncaster BME that the Council used to engage with BME but that the infrastructure had been cut including the BME Community Forum and Community Partnership.  Mr Brown commented that these groups demonstrated good practice and without them there was a massive gap.

The Chair addressed Mr Brown and assured him that as Councillor he was open to all residents of Doncaster within BME communities and would treat everyone the same.  This was reiterated by other Members of the Panel.

Mr Brown continued to state that he was a tax payer and that his son wasn’t able to get an apprenticeship.  It was added that services within the public sector did not meet individual’s needs under equalities.

Dr Rupert Suckling, Director of Public Health attended the Panel Meeting and explained that the Public Health function had undertaken a self-assessment using the Sector Led Improvement methodology designed across Yorkshire and the Humber.

Members were informed that the Directors of Public Health in Yorkshire and Humber have worked together to design a Sector Led Improvement approach to assurance aligned with the approaches that already happen across adult social care and children’s services. It was explained that the Sector Led improvement approach consists of a self-assessment exercise followed by a peer visit. The self-assessment approach covers 6 areas of practice

·         Health improvement

·         Health protection

·         Healthcare public health

·         Knowledge and Intelligence

·         Capacity building

·         Governance and systems

Members were informed that of the above, each area was self-assessed into one of three categories ‘basic’, ‘developing’ or ‘excellent’.  It was reported that the majority of areas within the self-assessment had been rated as ‘developing’ with 5 areas rated as ‘basic’ and 5 as ‘excellent’. It was explained that a draft action plan has been proposed which will be updated following the meeting today and consultation with partners.

It was outlined that the 5 areas that were rated as ‘basic’ included;

1.    Ensuring the public health function could demonstrate it was embedded across the council and was used effectively and could demonstrate impact

Members were reminded that all Councillors had been sent information about senior roles and responsibilities within Public Health alongside a public health directory.

2.    Ensuring the public health function could demonstrate it was embedded across the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and was used effectively and could demonstrate impact

Members were informed that this was being undertaken, in particular, in some areas where less health improvements can be seen.  It was noted that inequality targets are to be agreed with the CCG.

3.    Joined up community engagement and community development with partners

It was commented that we need to look at how we take forward community engagement as a single process instead of multiple processes.

4.    Ensuring there were embedded clinical governance approaches

It was added that the local authority was responsible for community clinical services but that changes were being made nationally within the NHS.

5.    The need for a public health audit programme

The following issues were raised as part of the discussion: -

Drugs and substance misuse – A Member of the Panel who carried out voluntary work in this area, raised the issue of users who had to wait 6 weeks before entering onto a programme and asked whether this time could be reduced.  The Director of Public Health offered to look into this outside of the meeting.

Health inequalities – A Member commented that we had a basic understanding of what was in our own communities.  It was suggested that the Council needed to be more strategic and that there were institutional issues that needed addressing.  It was felt that the Council’s workforce does not represent its communities.  The Director of Public Health responded that there was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Assistant Director for Adult Social Care attended the meeting and gave a presentation outlining the following: -

·         What is a Direct Payment?

·         Why increase Direct Payments?

·         Activity to date?

·         Benefits

As part of the discussion the following issues were raised: -

Low take up of Direct Payments in Doncaster - Within the presentation, the Panel was informed that the take-up of Direct Payments in Doncaster was low and at the end of March 2015, 355 people were in receipt of a Direct Payment which amounted to 17% of those who were eligible.  Members were informed that there was an improvement plan now in place and this figure has since increased to over 20% and that there was a target of over 24/25%.  It was acknowledged that other areas were way ahead and that Doncaster was behind regionally and nationally.

Members were informed that reasons behind the low take-up included;

·         that the scheme was not publicised enough

·         that there were cultural issues within the workforce, scheme needs to be promoted.

·         the effectiveness of payment systems and processes.

·         obstacles within the full work flow i.e. too much paperwork.

·         that payment process taking too long to establish.

·         relationship with the third sector.

Time taken to set up direct payments – it was commented that direct payments took some time to set up and that the process was quite slow.  Members were informed that the challenge was the time taken to set up the payment mechanism in the first place, but once it had been established then it ran more smoothly.  I

Members were informed that a ‘mixed pack’ of direct payments could be provided which included paying for care packages as well as support services.  An organisation called Purple Patch Art (an art therapy centre) was used as an example of a less traditional service, attended by a service user who liked going to day services but in particular, enjoyed attending their sessions.

Closure of Social Education Centres - There was a brief discussion about service users who, following the closure of Conisborough SEC (Social Education Centre) now access Mexborough Day Centre, which was attended by mainly older people with greater needs. Members were informed that there was a move forward to separate units becoming more joined up.  Members were informed that carers had been working well within a mixed service but there was a challenge for staff undertaking more outreach work.  It was noted that transport had been an issue.  It was commented that direct payments also supports those with more complex physical disabilities. 

Members were informed that closing social education centres had not helped and a challenge coming out of ‘rationalisation’ had been identifying alternative external organisations.  It was reported that there are around 600 individuals who access day services and there were opportunities for new organisations to establish.

In relation Conisborough SEC, a Member requested that before it is sold that the raised beds outside the property are relocated elsewhere in Conisborough.  The Assistant Director for Adult Social Care  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The Senior Governance Officer highlighted progress with the work plan and themes for consideration throughout 2015/16.

Updates in the workplan were provided which included the addition of a Joint Meeting with Children and Young People and Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny around sexual health and signposting.  It was explained that this meeting would focus on young people.  A Member commented that one group that this impacted on in particular were over 50’s with increase in divorce and separations.  It was noted that this could be a potential idea for the 2016/17 workplan if Members wanted.

In respect of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the Senior Governance Officer explained that following a CQC inspection that was undertaken in January 2015 a report had been published in August 2015.  It was added that a discussion had taken place that although local authority overview and scrutiny committees were included as a key stakeholder in this process, given the geographical area covered by the Trust, Wakefield Council would lead from a scrutiny perspective. It was reported that it is planned that Wakefield Council will receive and monitor the Trusts action plan, with the input from the Chairs’ of other local authority overview and scrutiny committees.

Members of the Panel agreed that this was a sensible way forward but sought clarification in how they would be able to input from a local perspective and what would be the impact.  Members were informed that as a Panel they would be able to channel any concerns and questions through the Chair who would then represent the Panel at the meeting.

Resolved that: -

i.          the Panel note the workplan and updates provided.

ii.         the Panel agree that Wakefield Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee would lead from a scrutiny perspective; and

iii.        that there will be a mechanism in place to ensure that Doncaster’s Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Panel Members are able to maintain an ongoing dialogue, are able to raise concerns and issues at a local as well as regional level.