Agenda item

This report provides an update on progress on the implementation of the joint Intermediate Care and Reablement Strategy between the Council and NHS Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (Medway CCG) and provides information on future implications.  It was previously agreed that further reports would be made to this Committee.  This report provides further information in respect of the development of these services.

Discussion:

The Director of Children and Adults Services introduced an update on the earlier report on the Intermediate Care Strategy and she and the Interim Transformation Lead Adults responded to Members’ questions.

Members were informed that there were four strands to the implementation which were as follows:

·         Home to assess

·         Community equipment

·         Telecare services

·         Procurement and market engagement

In relation to the community equipment this was a major piece of joint commissioning between the Council and NHS Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), under the pooled s76 budget, and this had gone to the market with a contract to be awarded early next year.

More needed to be done with regards to telecare and assisted technology but this now had a growing role in helping people to retain their independence.

The Chief Clinical Officer, CCG stated that the implementation of the Intermediate Care and Reablement Strategy was a good example of joint working and would have real benefits.  He emphasised that risk was assessed to ensure that people had the appropriate support they needed in the community once they were discharged.

The Interim Transformation Lead Adults explained the competitive dialogue process to the Committee and stated that bids had now been invited for the community equipment contract.  He also stated that it was hoped to reduce the reliance on investment in beds and to transfer that money into supporting people in the community.

Members thanked the Director and the team working to implement the Intermediate Care and Reablement Strategy and accepted that this was the start of a process.  Some Members expressed caution that this new way of working had yet to be tested to ensure it was successful and concern was expressed that there may be some patients who were excluded from opportunities due to financial constraints.

The Interim Transformation Lead Adults stated that all patients would be assessed and if they were eligible for services the cost of telecare was minimal, a few pounds a week.  In response to a question, he confirmed that the needs of people with protected characteristics were assessed throughout the implementation of the strategy and not just at the commencement of the process.

Some concerns were expressed that the new provider of community equipment might not be keen to ensure that the needs of people living in rural communities were catered for.  It was explained that this would all be considered as part of the competitive dialogue process.  The representative from the Pensioners Forum raised some issues about pensioners being taken to hospital by ambulance, not admitted and returned home awaiting a scan but no further contact had been made with the patient since.  The Chief Clinical Officer, CCG agreed to discuss this matter outside of the Committee.

Following a further question, the Interim Transformation Lead Adults explained the reference to building resilient communities by stating that work was ongoing with the voluntary sector to assist them to support more vulnerable people to stay at home.  The Deputy Director, Children and Adults explained an example of this where the voluntary sector was setting up community interest companies, in Hoo and Walderslade initially, to establish a network of volunteers, so rather than paying for care, the money was being used to pay the community interest companies to support people in their homes.  Some concern was expressed about reliance on the voluntary sector and the use of staff from care homes to support patients because of the fact that some areas were struggling to recruit staff. 

The Director of Children and Adults Services set out measures the Council was involved in to promote Medway as a place to work, this was something which health and social care partners wanted to promote jointly.

The Deputy Director, Children and Adults commended the work being done by unpaid carers across Medway and referred to the activity promoted by the Carer’s Partnership Board to support carers.

Decision:

The Committee noted the progress on the implementation of the Intermediate Care and Reablement Strategy and in particular the positive market response so far.