Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 4, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions
Contact: Toby Howes, Senior Democratic Services Officer 020 8937 1307, Email: toby.howes@brent.gov.uk
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Declarations of personal and prejudicial interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting any relevant financial or other interest in the items on the agenda. Minutes: Councillor Ketan Sheth declared an interest as the Vice Chair of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, however he did not view this as a prejudicial interest and remained present to consider the item under discussion.
Councillor McLennan declared an interest as an employee of Ealing NHS Trust, however she did not view this as a prejudicial interest and remained present to consider the item under discussion. |
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Mental Health and Adult Social Care performance PDF 88 KB At the last meeting of the One Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 21 March 2013, members requested that a special meeting of the committee be arranged to consider and question lead officers on the following issues:-
· Further information on Mental Health Services and in particular an explanation as to why performance remained red in this area and what was being done to address this.
· Further details concerning Adult Social Services, specifically in relation to details of the strategy on re-assessment of clients and the number of clients moving to direct payments.
A briefing note and the report that went to the Executive on 22 April 2013 on authority for procurement of community based mental health support are attached for information. Additional documents: Minutes: Phil Porter (Interim Director of Adult Social Services) introduced the briefing note and referred to the various performance indicators. Starting with performance indicator NI 130 – social care clients receiving self-directed support, Phil Porter explained that this was part of the ‘putting people first’ agenda. Initially, self-directed support had operated as a separate process using a specific set of documents, however in April 2011 it became amalgamated with Adult Social Care. Phil Porter advised that the definition of the NI 130 indicator had not previously been interpreted correctly as the percentage figures applied to those who received direct payments only. Clarification had since been sought that the indicator includes any who receive self-directed support to fund services, whether through making their own arrangements or who choose to have council managed services. In view of this, the target would be duly set at 100% as of quarter one in 2013/14, as everyone who is eligible receives self-directed support. Phil Porter stressed that the council was focusing on helping with the individual needs of each client.
Mary Stein (Head of Transformation Service, Adult Social Services) added that new legislation would be coming in over the next two years and it was anticipated that some NIs would be added, removed or changed as the emphasis focused on reablement. Elizabeth Jones (Assistant Director of Finance, Adult Social Services) advised that future performance data would also include a breakdown of those receiving direct payments only and the total number receiving self-directed support.
Members then discussed issues relating to NI 130. In respect of the misinterpretation of NI 130, it was queried how long inaccurate data had been provided and did this also mean that performance was below the required standards. It was commented that as direct payments had been in place for some time, the relevant performance indicators should have been interpreted correctly and confirmation of the numbers of those presently receiving direct payments, those not claiming and those receiving council managed services was requested. It was queried whether training was given to clients who were on direct payments and was it clearly explained to them about the need to keep records such as receipts. Information was sought on what clients were asked to record. In addition, it was asked what the charges were to help those on direct payments manage their accounts. Officers were asked if direct payments were monitored and the need for transparency and to account for funds was emphasised. Details were sought as to what actions were being taken to identify suitable alternative providers for those on direct payments and a list of these was requested. It was asked what steps would be taken to take performance forward and when was it likely to change to green RAG status.
In reply to the issues raised in respect of NI 130, Phil Porter clarified that previous performance data that had been provided was not inaccurate as such, but reflected a different interpretation. He advised that around 400 clients presently received direct ... view the full minutes text for item 2. |
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Date of next meeting The date of the next meeting of the One Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be agreed at the Annual Council meeting in May. Minutes: It was noted that the next meeting of the One Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be agreed at the Annual Council meeting in May. |