POOLE SUPPORTING PEOPLE
COMMISSIONING BODY COMBINED MEETING
OPEN SESSION
Monday 17th March 2008,
Committee Suite, Civic Centre
MINUTES
Present:
Jan Thurgood, Chair / Strategic Director, Borough of PooleZena Dighton /
Strategic Commissioning Manager, Borough of Poole
Andy Hutchinson / Operations Manager, ProbationJohn Dermody / Head of Adult Services Commissioning, Borough of Poole
Barry Webb / Deputy Director of Public Health, Bournemouth and Poole
Cllr Elaine Atkinson / Portfolio Holder and Elected Member
Sue Lee / Contracts Manager, Adult Social Services Commissioning
Keith Mitchell
Simon Hendey
Simon Matthews
Judy Mortlock
David Loft
Nick Wharam
Sandra Sargeant minutes / Housing Support Officer, Housing and Community
Head of Housing and Community Services, Borough of Poole
Provider, Stepping Stones, Rep of Providers Forum
Provider, Knightstone, Chair of the Provider’s Forum
Dorset Probation/Gateway
Commissioning Manager, Children and Young People, Poole Childrens Trust
Admin Assistant for Social Services, Commissioning
Apologies:
Joanne Kiff / Programme and Commissioning Manager MH and Sub MisuseAnn Maguire /
Drug Action Team, Borough of Poole
Nick Molland / Principle Officer, Adult Social Services Commissioning, Borough of PooleCharlie Sheldrick / Head of Adult Social Care and Wellbeing, Borough of Poole
Nigel Stannard / Management Accountant Social Care, Borough of Poole
Peter Stratford / Corporate Research Manager, Borough of Poole
Peter Yeomans / Voluntary and Community Sector Representative
Paul Hudson / Interim Head of Benefits
1.Introductions were made
2.Apologies for absence were given.
3.Minutes of last meeting were agreed with the following feedback :
Page 1 Barry Webb chaired the meeting and therefore should be deleted from apologies.
Page 5 Item 8, Any other business
Action: Z D to arrange presentation by Paul Hudson at next meeting to discuss the affects of the changes in housing benefit and housing allowances.
4.Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
5.Accountable Officer Introduction –verbal introduction
The new Strategic Commissioning Manager Z D introduced herself. She indicated that her experience has been varied working in the voluntary, private and public sectors. Her last position was as Senior Care Brokerage Officer in the Commissioning Unit.
6.Poole Supporting People Action Plan
ZD highlighted key issues
3.2. Young people with chaotic behaviour including mental health and behavioural problems need supported accommodation. This has already been negotiated with East Borough Housing and discussions are ongoing.
A meeting has been scheduled for 26th March to move this forward.
4.2 As the Poole Intermediate Care Service (PICS) develops and is rolled out, Supporting People will have a key role in ensuring that housing-related support needs are incorporated into jointly developed Health and Social Care Services.
There is some slippage from April to May.
5.1 People with a physical disability or a sensory loss need suitable accommodation and housing related support needs require researching. A Joint Needs Assessment needs to be carried out.
JT briefly explained the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act (2007) places a duty on upper tier local authorities and PCT’s to undertake Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. This is a process that will identify the current and future health and wellbeing needs of a local population, informing the priorities and targets set by Local Area Agreements and leading to agreed commissioning priorities that will improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities.
JD advised that this outcome is now the responsibility of Di McLaughlin.
People without homes need suitable accommodation. Work with Housing and Community Services required to further develop and reconfigure existing service provision.
Action:SH advised that this action had not been completed.
ZD to investigate further and report at next meeting.
11.1 Gypsies and travellers need a site suitable for their needs and Supporting People will contribute to the management of any site decided by Poole Borough Council. Recommendations awaited from Strategic Planning regarding DCLG bid.
Gypsies and travellers Mannings Heath Site has gained funding for development.
7.Future funding. Main Programme Grant
An additional document entitled “Report of Principal Officer Finance and Contracting – reduction in main program grant” was provided. In Nick
Molland’s absence JD presented the report.
Item 4.2 was agreed together with the timescale detailed. This reads as follows:
Item 4.2 . The first step in enabling robust decision-making to take place is the revision of the 5 year strategy and prioritisation by the Commissioning Body on its plans over the three and five year period respectively.
4.2.1.September 2008. Agreement by Commissioning Body of a clear statement of priorities linked to the revised Strategy. (NB. While this is a relatively short date, it would allow Commissioning Body to begin to give notice for contracts ending in March 2009, if it was so minded.)
4.2.2.December 2008. Following agreement of the revised Strategy and priorities, Officers to present to Commissioning Body a detailed timetable and structure plan indicating actions in respect of various contracts. This will need to include a range of options including, among others: re-tendering, the ending of certain contracts with regret, pursuit of alternative funding by providers through other agencies, and application for increased Supporting People funding through the Area-based Grant bidding system.
4.2.3. Beginning of a consultation process with users, carers and other stakeholders in Supporting People services to gain their views and input to the proposals developed in the previous structure plan.
4.2.4. March to September 2009. Detailed planning with providers whose services and contracts have been identified as being at risk in the major pinch point at March 2010.
4.2.5. Autumn 2010. Publication of CSR11. This will require further planning either to confirm the implications of the technical paper that the 5% cuts continue until 2014 or review and modification of previous decisions.
Action: financial report is to be prepared for next meeting by Nigel Stannard.
8.National Indicator Set
A verbal update was given by ZD.
The Department of Communities and local Government issued 198 indicators in 2007, which form the National Indicator Set. Each area will decide it’s own targets against the set, which will be negotiated through the Local Area Agreements.
In Poole the new LAA is currently being developed. There is a network of 7 themed partnerships that have formed the priorisation for the LAA. A list of priorities have emerged 2 of which are directly related to the Supporting People programme.
They have been agreed in principlebut will not be signed off until June.
NI 141 Percentage of vulnerable people achieving independent living
NI 142 Percentage of vulnerable people who are supported to maintain independent living.
It is anticipated that the new floating support services will help demonstrate some of the outcomes needed to meet the targets.
9.Brokerage Service Statistics
An updated document was provided by KM, which provided a written explanation of the statistics.
Of referrals into Housing Brokerage by need group 50% are young people.
Of applicants housed 53% were aged 16-25.
Of refusals of applicant by need group 71% were young people.
Of refusals by provider by need group 37% were young people.
Statistics appear to show that we are underprovided for young people. Confirmation was given that it is very difficult to house a number of young people who have the most complex needs. An attempt is made to try to get some of these young people housed outside the Borough for example the YMCA in Bournemouth.
Councillor EA voiced her concern that 71% of young people are refusing the accommodation offered and queried why. The reply given was that quite a large number want to leave home however, after looking at the alternatives they decide to stay at home after all.
Action- NW indicated that a young people review was carried out two years ago and he felt it would be a good idea to repeat the process this financial year. This was agreed. This review needs to influence the tendering process for integrated support and advice services for young people.
BW raised an issue regarding the process of providers getting medical records and making appropriate decisions based on these and queried whether we were alienating those with drug/alcohol problems?
SL confirmed that if a referral is refused based on medical records this information is also passed across with the next referral.
Councillor EA expressed a concern about this. If a client keeps being refused this may have a devastating affect on them. The level of refusals by provider is greatly concerning.
Action- JT stated as part of the development of futurestrategy, we need to get under these issues and interrogate more about what needs should be met. ZD is to take this on as part of her role. The provider forum will continue to review regularly the working of the brokerage service with KM.
10.Any other business
Councillor EA stated that leaflets were needed for elected members on older peoples support services. JT advised there was a slippage on start dates and the schemes were not up and running yet. When the new services are in place, the leaflets will be issued.
11.Date of next meeting
Next meeting is to take place on Monday 9th June 11 am in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre.