Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 July 2013 are attached.

It was agreed:

That the Minutes of the last meeting of the Health Scrutiny Committee held on 12 July 2013 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members of the Health Scrutiny Committee are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any of the matters on the Agenda and, if so, to formally declare that interest.

Councillor D Bailey declared a personal interest as she was employed by BARDOC.

Councillor N Parnell declared a personal interest as his wife was employed by the NHS in Manchester.

Councillor A Simpson declared a personal interest as she was employed by the NHS in Salford.

Questions are invited from Members of the public present at the meeting on any matters about the work or performance of the Council or the Council’s services.

Approximately 30 minutes will be set aside for Public Question Time if required.

There were no members of the public present at the meeting to ask questions.

Report from Councillor Rishi Shori, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.

Councillor Rishi Shori, Cabinet Member, Adult Care, Health and Housing and Tracey Minshull presented the Committee with the Carers Strategy for Bury for 2013 to 2018.

It was explained that the number of unpaid carers is increasing steadily throughout the UK. In Bury there are 3320 known adult carers but it was acknowledged that there were many more that have not been identified and therefore receive any support to undertake their caring role.

The Carers Strategy had been written by the Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group as well as using the expertise of carers and service providers.

The aims of the strategy were aligned with the four national priorities:

1. Identification and recognition;
2. Realising and realising potential;
3. A life outside caring, and;
4. Supporting carers to stay healthy.

The definition of a carer was explained as ‘someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without the help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems’.

It was explained that the Carers Strategy ‘Caring for Carers’ replaces the 2008 – 2012 Strategy ‘Caring Together: The Carers Strategy’ and would build on the achievements already made which included:

• The funding of a Carers Services Team which provides strategic and operational support to carers, carers groups and local providers. The team also commissions services for carers to support them to maintain their caring role.

• Bury Council and the CCG continue to fund the Gaddum Centre to provide a Carers Centre on its behalf. The centre has been open since 20118 and offers information and support.

• 567 people are in receipt of a Carers Personal Budget which allows the flexibility to choose their own support services.

• All 33 GP practices have an identified lead for carers.

• Bury Council has held a range of workshops with local care providers, day centres and residential care homes to ensure closer partnership working.

Within the strategy was a breakdown of carers by ward and it was also explained how different groups were recognised to have specific needs and how these were dealt with.

The joint priorities were set out within the strategy and were categorised as;

·        Identification and recognition

·        Realising and releasing potential

·        A life outside of caring

·        Supporting carers to stay healthy

It was explained that the strategy sets out to ensure that the existing funding was used efficiently and effectively to support carers and details of how the Council and the CCG spent its carers budget for 2012 – 2013 was set out within the strategy.

Members of the Committee were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:-

·        Councillor Haroon referred to the consultation carried out with different groups and stated that the strategy only mentioned the Asian Womens’ Centre. Councillor Haroon asked what more was being done to engage with ethnic communities.

Councillor Shori stated that other ways of reaching different groups  ...  view the full minutes text for item HSC.294

Report from the Executive Director of Adult Care Services.

Heather Crozier, Head of Customer Services in Adult Social Care Services attended the meeting to present Members with the Annual Complaints Report.

The report covers the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.

It was explained that a complaint is generally defined as an ‘expression of dissatisfaction or disquiet about the actions, decisions or apparent failings of a local authority’s adult social services provision which requires a response’.

Complaints principally concern service issues, including the perceived standard of services and their delivery by service providers.

Heather explained that it was not easy for a lot of customers to make a complaint therefore the process was designed to ensure that all complaints are treated seriously, in confidence, investigated  and given due attention.

The procedure is not designed to deal with allegations of serious misconduct by staff as this is covered under separate disciplinary procedures of the Council.

The total number of complaints received during 2012/2013 was 84 which was a reduction of 5 from the previous year.

The Assessment and Re-integration Team had received 21 (reduced from 32), Vulnerable Adults received 19, Commissioning and Procurement Team received 10. The number of complaints against other teams were relatively small.

77% of complaints were responded to within 30 working days of receipt.

The number of concerns raised by MPs and local Councillors had reduced by 50% but the number of Ombudsman enquiries had increased by 5 or 50%.

It was explained that the total number of complaints equated to 1.3% of customers as the Department provided services to 6,200 individuals.

It was also reported that the Department had received 473 compliments about the work carried out.

Members of the Committee were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:-

• Councillor Simpson asked what the timescales were when receiving a complaint.

Heather explained that there were no official timescales that they had to adhere to but the department worked to a twenty working days timescale.

• Councillor Simpson also asked whether verbal complaints were recorded.

Heather reported that all types of complaints and compliments were recorded and had been included within the report statistics.

• Councillor O’Hanlon referred to the fact that there were 6200 Adult Care Services customers and asked what percentage of these had been contacted.

Heather explained that all of the customers were active.

• Councillor Walker asked whether it would be beneficial to set up a sub group to review the types of complaints.

• Councillor Smith asked whether complaints to private providers that were employed through Adult Care Services were also recorded.

Heather explained that all agencies that provided services to customers through Adult Care were required to undertake training regarding complaints. It was also explained that the procurement team would work closely with the agencies when agreeing contracts and what was required in terms of the contracts.

It was agreed:

That the contents of the report be noted.