Agenda item

This report informs the Executive Member of the detailed proposals for achieving the required efficiencies and budget savings within the City Of York Home in-house home care services in the period 2008/11. It outlines the consultation and change management process that will be put in place before finalisation of the proposals and seeks the Executive Member and Advisory Panel’s views on those proposals as part of the consultation process.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to note the proposals that are to go to consultation and that following further consultation and the initiation of the management of change process members are informed of the changes in the finalised home care structure.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON: To achieve the required budget savings for 2008/09 and 2009/2010

Members considered a report which informed them of the detailed proposals for achieving the required efficiencies and budget savings within the City Of York Home in-house home care services in the period 2008/11. It outlined the consultation and change management process that would be put in place before finalisation of the proposals and seeked the Executive Member and Advisory Panel’s views on those proposals as part of the consultation process.

Officers informed members that the Project Group had been considering detailed proposals for how the savings could be achieved and Members were informed of  the changes proposed to the current structure.

Ø      The citywide PIT service would involve:

·        a reduction of two Home Support Managers and a number of Team Leader posts,

·        retaining the same level of hours currently contracted from staff, with contract changes to provide cover when needed and to reduce non-contact time.

·        inclusion of therapy support and dedicated review time to train staff and support individuals receiving PIT services,

·        inclusion of a planning and coordination function for the PIT and complex care service that will take and allocate all referrals, manage customer flow and roster  staff more efficiently.

·        the use of specific Software to support the organisation of the efficient rostering of staff

Ø      The combined  E.M.I, High Dependency and the Night Team will be referred to as the Complex Care Team and would involve:

·        a reduction of Team Leaders cover

·        revision of staff job descriptions for the combined service;

Ø      The Home Support Service  would be managed within two localities and sit along side other Supporting People and Housing funded warden and sheltered accommodation  services.

Ø      Changes to the Extra care and Housing Support provision would include a combination of the care responsibility under one registered Home Support Manager.

Members discussed and considered the new proposals and raised a number of concerns regarding:

·        The suggested changes to contracted hours. Some Members stated that reducing hours below 16 hours a week would affect staff financially if claiming working tax credit.  Members requested officers take this into consideration when finalising the proposals.

·        The proposed timetable and staff involvement in the consultations.   Officers stated that staff had been consulted via face to face sessions with presentations on the proposal with opportunity for feedback, 1-2-1 sessions and a comprehensive information pack had been sent to all staff.  The consultation will run until w/c 13^th October with proposals being finalised in November for implementation early 2009.            

·        The reductions of the two Home Support Managers and a number of Team Leader posts.

·        The use of the word ‘dismissal’  in paragraph 20 under the heading P.I.T Home Care Workers was too aggressive.

Members requested officers inform them by e-mail which EMAP the final report would be put forward to.¹

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to note the proposals that are to go to consultation and that following further consultation and the initiation of the management of change process members are informed of the changes in the finalised home care structure.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON: To achieve the required budget savings for 2008/09 and 2009/2010