Agenda item

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services will be held to account for matters within his portfolio relative to this Committee. 

Discussion:

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services commended the Committee on its decision with regard to acute inpatient mental health beds in Medway and informed the Committee of highlights of achievements under this portfolio.  This included:

• Community care – that Age UK Medway had successfully opened an office in Chatham and that Adult Social Care ended last year within budget, despite significant pressures, and started 2013 leaner and fitter for purpose making back office savings in order to protect frontline care services;
• Health – he referred to the improvements, which had been brought about by bringing back in-house the adult mental health social care staff, which he felt, had been the right decision.   He referred to the importance of working with partners in tough economic times and paid tribute to the excellent work done by carers.  He stated that he was pleased to note the increase in people using personal budgets and direct payments;
• Older people – reference was made to the focus on safeguarding vulnerable adults this year;
• Public Health – the staff had now moved to the Council and there had been a comprehensive induction programme for them.  He referred the enthusiasm with which public health staff had taken on their new roles and the work underway with other Council departments on public health initiatives.  He referred to a number of public health initiatives in relation to tobacco control and sexual health and
• Services for people with a learning disability;
• Telecare/telemedicare – there was excellent work being done to enable people to remain in their own homes where they wished to do so with support from telecare and telemedicare;
• The Portfolio Holder then paid tribute to the staff working across adult social care, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and support officers.

He was then questioned on the following:

• The regularity of reviews of those people who have personal budgets/direct payments – it was explained that these were generally undertaken annually or could be reviewed at any point if it was felt necessary
• The suggestion that all Council reports should be required to indicate the public health implications – it was felt that these implications were constantly under review as decisions were taken
• Problems faced by people applying for a mortgage but being refused on the basis that a direct payment was not classified as a stable income (it was agreed that a written response should be given to this question)
• Respite care for carers of people with physical or learning disability – it was stated that this was available although more was needed
• The lateness of the awarding of the Healthwatch contract – it was agreed that the contract had been one of the last in the country to be awarded
• Whether the homes recently privatised had been visited by the Portfolio Holder –it was stated that visits were planned for September with the Deputy Director, Children and Adults
• What would be the biggest hurdle for the forthcoming year? – it was felt that working within budget constraints would be the biggest challenge
• In balancing the budget how did the Portfolio Holder forsee being able to balance this against the needs presented (a written response was agreed for this item)

Decision:

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services was thanked for his presentation.