Agenda item

This report is an annual report, requested by this Committee, setting out an overview of the quality of care, safeguarding, value for money and the direction of travel of care homes in Medway.

Discussion:

The Assistant Director, Partnership Commissioning gave a brief introduction to the report on annual care homes and, in conjunction with the Head of Partnership Commissioning, answered Members’ questions.

It was pointed out that it was important to keep up with the changing market, the changing demand in relation to care homes in line with the personalisation agenda in order to allow people to live independently and well for as long as   possible.

The Chairman stated that a list of care homes across Medway would shortly be shared with all Members of the Committee and he encouraged as many Members as possible to organise visits to the care homes within their own wards.

The Assistant Director, Partnership Commissioning stated that under the Care Quality Commission’s inspection regime 30 care homes in Medway had been inspected, 18 had been graded as good with 2 being inadequate.  There were 33 care homes in Medway and 1,300 beds with a vacancy rate of around 60 at any one time.  She outlined work ongoing with NHS Medway CCG to support staff in care and nursing homes with the more complex support needed, particularly for those dealing with clients with dementia.

Members put forward the following comments and questions:

·           Fair cost of care and the National Minimum Wage – Discussion took place about the need for a decent wage for care workers bearing in mind the valuable work they undertake.  The Assistant Director, Partnership Commissioning confirmed that care businesses generally were in agreement with taking part in the Fair Cost of Care exercise.

·           Access to care homes – Responding to a question the Head of Partnership Commissioning confirmed that it would be possible to find out further details about the numbers of Medway residents able to access care in the area but it would be unlikely that figures could be obtained for numbers choosing to move into Medway for their care.  This information would be circulated to the Committee outside of the meeting.

·           Quality of care – Further to a question the Director of Public Health referred to work being undertaken across Medway care homes to identify root causes of infection.  She explained that there would be a conference next month on infection control.    In addition, an informal meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board was planned to consider how the Local Plan could be developed to have a positive impact on health.  This would include looking at the housing needs of older people to influence housing provision.  The Deputy Director, Children and Adults Services referred to work being undertaken with the two homes identified as being inadequate and both were now showing significant improvement and no cause for ongoing concern.

·           Care in the community – Responding to a question, the Deputy Director, Children and Adult Services gave a reassurance that the Council did not commission the short fifteen minute care visits in the community.  He acknowledged a view put forward that in some large nursing homes it was possible for people to feel isolated.

·           Vacancies in the care system – A suggestion was made that more use could be made of the 60 vacant beds in the care system for use temporarily by people subject to delayed discharge from hospital.  The Assistant Director, Partnership Commissioning stated that these vacancies fluctuated and were needed within the system.  If they were removed it could cause significant problems.

Decision:

The Committee noted the report.