Agenda item

This report details the areas covered by the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services which fall within the remit of this Committee.

Discussion:

Members received an overview of progress on the areas within the terms of reference of this Committee and covered by the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services as set out below:

·           Community Care

·           Better Care Fund

·           Partnership Commissioning (Adults)

·           Older People Service

·           Telecare/Telemedicare

·           Services for People with Learning and Physical Disabilities

·           Adults Mental Health Service

·           Health

·           Public Health – Lead Member, including Health and Wellbeing Board, commissioning of treatment services for drugs and alcohol

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, Councillor Brake, responded to Members’ questions and comments as follows:

·           Extra Care Housing – In response to a query about future planning for extra housing it was stated that discussions were ongoing with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services and the housing section about future plans.  It was acknowledged that the existing extra care housing had proved very valuable and had been well received.

·           Public Health Budget – Concern was expressed about the government’s plans to reduce the public health budget.  In response to a question, the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services confirmed that the Council had responded to the consultation from the Secretary of State for Health.

·           Support for Medway NHS Foundation Trust – The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services commended the work undertaken by adult social care officers and in particular the Deputy Director, Children and Adult Services in response to the recent request for mutual aid from Medway NHS Foundation Trust.  Further to a question he stated that each case needed to be considered on its merits and would be kept under review.  He would be unable to give a blanket assurance that the level of support given recently could be sustained on a permanent basis, but as on this occasion the service would react during ‘surge’ episodes.

·           Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding – Reference was made to the amount of stress caused to patients and their families around the topic of deprivation of liberty safeguarding and the need for high levels of sensitivity to be shown, along with as much guidance as possible. 

·           Information Portal – Responding to a question the Deputy Director, Children and Adults Services confirmed that the initial response on the user testing of the information portal showed that more needed to be done to ensure assessment processes could be speeded up through the Portal and that in addition to the provision of improved information and advice that there were more opportunities for direct transaction.

·           Integrated Sexual Health service – It was stated, in response to a question, that the Integrated Sexual Health service is about to be commissioned with a new provider moving into the premises.

·           A Better Medway Champions – Members commended the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services on the success of the A Better Medway Champions scheme.  He explained that there were now over 130 Better Medway Champions from across 18 different groups including businesses, St John’s Ambulance service and pharmacies.  He referred to attending a recent award ceremony where 33 more A Better Medway Champions were recruited.

·           Turning Point – substance misuse – A concern was expressed by the Healthwatch Medway representative about the provider of substance misuse services, Turning Point.  The Director of Public Health requested that further details were shared with her about those concerns outside of the meeting.

·           Social Isolation – Discussion took place about social isolation and the representative from the Medway Pensioner’s Forum referred to discussions at that Forum about social isolation and the plans for breaking down barriers to enable more older people to socialise.

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services thanked the Committee for their work through the year.

Decision:

The Committee noted the responses from the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services and thanked him for his attendance.