BOROUGH OF POOLE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FAIRER CONTRIBUTIONS WORKING PARTY
12 OCTOBER 2011
The Meeting commenced at 9:00am and concluded at 11:10am.
Present:
Councillor Meachin (Chairman)
Councillor Rampton (Vice-Chairman)
Councillors Matthews, Mrs C Wilson, Parker, Pawlowski
Others in Attendance:
Jan Thurgood, Strategic Director
David Vitty, Head of Adult Social Care, Commissioning and Improvement
John Dermody, Head of Adult Social Care
Victoria Wathen, Team Leader (Overview and Scrutiny)
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
There were no apologies for absence.
2. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting held 5 October 2011 would be considered at the meeting of 16 October 2011.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr John Rampton declared a personal interest as his wife is an employee of Poole Forum.
4. POOLE LINk – JUST ANOTHER DAY SPENT ON MY OWN
The Borough of Poole commissioned Poole LINk to write the Report that was about the effects on service users following changes to Adult Social Care in Poole. In October 2010 the Borough of Poole agreed changes to the Fairer Contributions Policy and Fair Access to Care
The representative from– LINks outlined the findings in the report. It was explained that LINks asked 24 people how they had been affected by the changes. For example questions that people where asked were included:
· How their family and carers had been affected
· How good communications were with the Borough of Poole
· How good the support was that the Borough gave them to help with changes.
Members noted the eight recommendations in the Report and made the following comments:
Members felt that letters to service users should be easy to understand and thought should be given to this when planning the content of the letter. People should be offered support when receiving letters as the changes may be difficult to accept. Members felt the methodology for gathering information was good and they stated that communication was important when policy changes were which affected service users and carers and that the way that communication happens during change projects should be improved people. Nevertheless It was felt that Christmas was not a good time of year for engaging with people. Members commented that ‘face-to-face’ was a good way of communicating and that a personalised approach was important to people.
Members felt that Third Sector organisations are appropriate providers of alternative services. A Member felt that signposting to alternative services should be more tailored and robust, and should include organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau. It was felt that service users should receive lists of care agencies and costs when being signposted by practitioners
Members commented that it was a good way of engagement and felt that recommendation 6, ‘Learning Disability’ was helpful as more work needed to be done to find out how people with learning disabilities and mental health issues have been affected by the changes.
It was noted that LINk complimented their face to face research with questionnaires. 13 completed questionnaires were returned (22% response rate). Members commented on the low response rate of the survey in respect of people who no longer attended a day centre.
Members enquired on how long before the 75 ‘moderate’ service users would be reassessed and what was the gender breakdown of the total 200 people? The Head of Adult Social care explained that the 75 service users would not be re-assessed as they were no longer in receipt of funded Borough of Poole services, but that all were told that could return to reassessment should their needs or circumstances change. The Head of Adult Social Care would supply the gender breakdown to members.
RECOMMENDED that the report be noted.
5. BOROUGH OF POOLE RESPONSE TO LINks REPORT
The Head of Adult Social Care outlined to Members the response to the recommendations set out in page 6 of the Report “Just Another Day Spent On My Own”, the evaluation Report of the Borough of Poole Policy Changes in respect of Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) and Fairer Contributions.
Members welcomed the courage of Officers for commissioning the Report. Concern was expressed that the policy changes may cost more in the end because people may return to substantial in the long run and this may not have been factored into costs. The LINks representative commented that she hoped the recommendations would be taken on board by the Borough of Poole.
RECOMMENDED that the response be noted.
6. IMPACT OF FAIRER ACCESS TO CARE
The Head of Adult Social Care outlined to Members the impact of changes to Fairer Contributions and Fairer Access to Care Policy on Service Users. It was explained that the impact on Service Users following the introduction of Fairer Contributions was largely financial as reported on 5 October 2011. It was explained that 36 people had elected to stop day care attendance because of an increase in contribution. It had not been possible to make contact with all of these people but where contact had been made, some conclusions had been drawn about their current situations as detailed in the Report.
Members enquired about the 75 Service Users affected by the changes to the Fairer Access to Care Policy and it was reported that most had received a personal visit or telephone call informing them of the changes. 6 people who had not been contacted personally had been contacted by letter. Members commented that the 6 people who had not been contacted personally should be followed up.
Members commented on support for people with Dementia and enquired about services that will be available at the early stages of dementia. The Head of Social Care explained that there was a joint strategy with Health which was looking at this area with a view to engaging with the Voluntary Sector.
RECOMMENDED that the report be noted.
7. THE IMPACT ON FAIR ACCESS TO CARE AND FAIRER CONTRIBUTIONS POLICY CHANGES ON PEOPLE WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY
The Head of Adult Social Services outlined the impact of changes to Fairer Contributions and Fair Access to Care Policies for Service Users with a learning disability.
Members noted that, following the change to the Eligibility for Adult Social Care, there were 19 people with a learning disability who had moderate level needs and who became ineligible for funded services. The impact these changes had for each individual with a learning disability has been understood through a programme of follow-up contacts, as laid out in the report.
Members were concerned that the 19 Service Users were not followed up and enquired about monitoring. The Service Manger for Learning Disability explained that people with learning disability could contact the Learning Disability team for guidance and support.
The Service Manager for Learning Disability explained that Service Users were encouraged to engage with the Third Sector Organisations with a view to gaining help. It was felt that working across Health and Social Care Team with Health would be crucial. It was explained that the “Go Forum Group” were happy to support people, there was a weekly meeting in Parkstone and staff had direct links with Care Managers. Attendance was between 10 – 12 people and was seen as a positive step for people the council does not pay for services for.
RECOMMENDED that the Report be noted.
8. PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS
RECOMMENDED that the Programme of Meetings be noted.
9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is to be held on 17 October 2011 at 10am at the Salvation Army Hall, New Orchard, Poole.
CHAIRMAN
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