Agenda item

Kat Sowden Managing Director Chair, Stewart McCombe.

Persona Care and Support will report at the meeting.  Report attached.

Kat Sowden, Managing Director Persona Care and Support and Stewart McCombe, Chair, Persona Care and Support attended the meeting to provide members with an update on Persona Care.  The presentation contained the following information:

Persona operates independently but is wholly owned by Bury Council and provides a range of adult social care services to people who are vulnerable due to age or disability.

• Day Services supporting 390 customers per week
• Short Stay Services supporting 223 customers
• Supported Living Services supporting 139 customers

The workforce has grown from 350 in October 2015 to 450 in December 2018. This growth is linked to increasing resilience in flexible staffing as well as business growth. The workforce make up is 70% Local Authority terms and conditions, 29% Persona terms and conditions and 1% other (due to the TUPE in of a small service from another employer).

There have been some challenges in maintaining a Good CQC rating across all services. The main area of concern has been Spurr House.  A re-inspection is imminent.

Those present were invited to ask questions and the following issues were raised.

Members discussed the high levels of reported sickness across the organisation.  The Managing Director reported that the majority of sickness is musko-skeltal however cases of long term sickness rates have gradually increased.  Incentives have been introduced within the organisation to address the sickness levels, the Managing Director acknowledged this is an ongoing issue for the organisation.

With regards to the CQC rating at Spurr House, the Managing Director reported that she was very disappointed with the requires improvement rating in 2017.  An immediate plan was put in place to address some of the problems, the issues identified weren’t significant but were as a result of “silly and sloppy errors”.  Audits are conducted intermittently; the management team at Elmhurst are now supporting and responsible for Spurr House and a subsequent inspection is imminent.

Responding to a question from the Chair, the Managing Director reported that they do collate complaints information and this can be provided to the Committee.  The majority of which concern short stay placements and can sometimes be triggered by someone receiving their bill.  A compliance manager role has been created to deal with complaints and identify any trends across the organisation.

The Managing Director reported that they are a local authority trading company and as such 80% of the business is transacted with the Council.  They can generate the remaining 20% via self-funding and direct payment clients, this is an area where there could be significant growth.

In response to a Member’s question, the Managing Director reported that Persona works in partnership with the Council.  This partnership work has resulted in a decision to give a £200,000 dividend back to the Council in 2019/2020.

Members discussed the lack of Councillor Representation on the Persona Board.  The Managing Director reported that there was a good relationship with the Council and governance is strong within the organisation.

Responding to a question as to why Persona does not deliver domiciliary care, the Managing Director reported that as an organisation they continually review the services they provide.  Persona does not want to be the cheapest provider in the market place and would only bid for services if it is financially viable to do so.

With regards to Persona’s involvement in the Local Care Organisation, the Manging Director reported that these discussions are ongoing.  Persona wants to be part of the conversation as it undertakes a great deal of work in terms of prevention and early intervention that can prevent a person’s’ condition deteriorating and requiring a hospital admission. 

       It was agreed:

Kat Sowden, Managing Director Persona Care and Support and Stewart McCombe, Chair, Persona Care and Support be thanked for their attendance and a further update report including financial and complaint information be presented in six months.