Issue - meetings

This report provides further information on the progress of the reviews of Home Care and Elderly Persons’ Residential Homes, as part of the Adult Social Care blueprint previously reported to Executive on 20 October, and seeks approval for the next stage of this work.

RESOLVED: (i)         That Option 3, as outlined in paragraphs 14 and 15 of the report, be approved for further development at this stage.

                        (ii)        That the proposed way forward for the Elderly Persons’ Homes review, as set out in paragraphs 18 to 24 of the report (Options 2 and 3), be approved.

                        (iii)       That Officers be requested to produce further reports in 2010 confirming the work required to deliver the savings for the approved options.

REASON:      To address the need for change in service provision in the light of demographic changes and growth in demand and to achieve the vision for services set out in the Adult Social Care blueprint.

Members considered a report which informed them of progress on the reviews of Home Care and Elderly Persons’ Residential Homes (EPHs), as part of the Adult Social Care blueprint reported to the Executive on 20 October, and sought approval for the next stage of this work.

Members were reminded of the overall vision for Adult Social Care as contained in the blueprint, which was to provide universal, customer-focused services which would maximise independence and optimise health and well-being.  The key issues for consideration in respect of Home Care and EPHs were set out in exempt Annexes 2 and 3 to the report.  The wider context of the review, explaining the need for change, was outlined in Annex 1.

The following options were presented in respect of each service area:-

Home Care Review:

Option 1 – no change.  This would leave many issues unresolved and could make an overspend more likely.

Option 2 – limited changes to in-house services (potential savings £150k).  This would involve maximising efficiency within existing terms and conditions.

Option 3 – significant changes to in-house services (potential savings £800 - to be verified).  This would involve negotiations with staff and trades unions and implementing electronic rostering to maximise customer contact hours.

Option 4 – market testing of all or part of in-house services (potential savings £1.7m if all current in-house services subjected to market testing).

Members were invited to decide which option to progress.

EPH Review:

Option 1 – no change.  Not a viable option, in view of increasing annual costs and the need to improve facilities in EPHs.

Option 2 – improvements in costs pending a full asset review (potential savings £140k).

Option 3 – full asset appraisal and long-term re-commissioning plan (potential savings not quantifiable at this stage).

Members were recommended to approve the implementation of Options 2 and 3, as they were sequential, logical and demonstrated both financial and service improvement for the Council and best value for customers.

RESOLVED: (i)         That Option 3, as outlined in paragraphs 14 and 15 of the report, be approved for further development at this stage. ¹

                        (ii)        That the proposed way forward for the Elderly Persons’ Homes review, as set out in paragraphs 18 to 24 of the report (Options 2 and 3), be approved. ²

                        (iii)       That Officers be requested to produce further reports in 2010 confirming the work required to deliver the savings for the approved options. ³

REASON:      To address the need for change in service provision in the light of demographic changes and growth in demand and to achieve the vision for services set out in the Adult Social Care blueprint.