Agenda item

This report informs the Executive Member on the progress of the review of the In House home care service. The Executive Member agreed in June 2006 to receive a further report which detailed the consultation process with staff on the proposed restructure and contractual changes that have taken place with staff following that report.

Members received a report which informed the Executive Member on the progress of the review of the In House home care service. The Executive Member agreed in June 2006 to receive a further report which detailed the consultation process with staff on the proposed restructure and contractual changes that have taken place with staff following that report.

The report advised that a number of concerns were raised through the consultation which were summarised in a table under paragraph 21.2 along with the management’s response.

Two options were presented to Members:

Option1 – To endorse the proposals as laid out in the report.

Option 2 – To retain services in their current structures.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for Adult Social Services be advised to approve the proposal to establish the revised home care structure as described within the report.

Decision of the Executive Member for Adult Social Services

Members received a report which informed the Executive Member on the progress of the review of the In House home care service. The Executive Member agreed in June 2006 to receive a further report which detailed the consultation process with staff on the proposed restructure and contractual changes that have taken place with staff following that report. The report submitted to the Executive Member in June included a financial appraisal of the Review of Home Care Services.  Part of the review included the decision to award Locality Service Contracts to the Independent Sector.  A tendering exercise had been completed to identify the three locality providers. 

The report advised that a number of concerns were raised through the consultation which were summarised in a table under paragraph 21.2 along with the management’s response.

Two options were presented to Members:

Option1 – To endorse the proposals as laid out in the report.

Option 2 – To retain services in their current structures.

Officers updated Members that the Locality Service Contracts had not been awarded yet but that the tender documents were in and it was expected that the tenders would be well within the financial appraisal.

In response to some of the questions raised by the speakers, officers reported that there would not be an increase in the hours provided by the independent sector but the proportion would actually drop slightly. Officers further reported that there would be three main providers which had a good track record and there would be consistent quality control. 

Officers also confirmed that the in house service would complement Age Concern’s services and it would assist customers in relation to tasks such as shopping, collecting pensions and paying bills.

Members queried whether there would be a review of the contracts and whether a report would be brought back to members once the consultation period had been completed. Officers reported that the start date would be around November/December and agreed to bring a report back six months after implementation.

Members queried what work was being done to relieve customer anxieties. Officers reported that once staffing arrangements had been confirmed,  detailed work would be carried out regarding implications for customers. Officers were working with customers to ensure awareness of the implications and the changes that would occur for some of them.

The Executive Member for Adult Social Services thanked staff, officers and customers for their forbearance with the consultation and highlighted the need for a service that was fit for the future and purpose. She assured the speakers that officers would be looking very carefully at the contracts to ensure that the customers did not have different carers from one week to the next, and recognised that customers liked continuity.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for Adult Social Services be advised to approve the proposal to establish the revised home care structure as described within the report.

Decision of the Executive Member for Adult Social Services