Agenda item

6.1

The Committee received a report of the Director of Adult Services, to which was appended the draft final version of “Independent, Safe and Well”: Sheffield’s Local Account for 2017, together with the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework Regional Benchmarking Overview (2016/17).

6.2

Phil Holmes (Director of Adult Services) took the Committee through the report, which set out how Adult Social Care was performing in Sheffield across a number of key measures, provided an update on improvement measures and queries covered with the Committee in March 2017, and described what would be done over the next year to improve performance.  In conclusion, Phil Holmes indicated that he expected cautious improvement when the next survey of performance was undertaken, but a greater improvement onwards.

6.3

Members made various comments and asked a number of questions, to which responses were provided as follows:-

·                Over the last year, significant improvements had been made with regard to delayed transfers of care from hospital, with the NHS England target being met in October.  It had been a difficult Winter, which had led to figures now being higher, but it was expected that they would get better in future.

·                It was acknowledged that further work needed to be undertaken to find the reasons why a proportion of people using services did not feel safe, but it should be noted that the proportion of those using services which made them feel safe and secure was relatively high. 

·                A one stop shop for carers had been commissioned from a voluntary partner and it was acknowledged that further work was required to improve upfront expertise.

·                Direct payments gave the individual a choice and control, but it was felt that better mechanisms were needed in this regard.

·                Sheffield picked up on what others were doing better in relation to Adult Social Care performance and was learning all the time from comparators.

·                Adult Social Work services in Sheffield were restructured in September 2017, and these new arrangements were still ‘finding their feet’.  The aim was to be more connected with communities and work more closely with the people in them.

·                There was a need to be clear as to what Sheffield needed in relation to the Accountable Care Partnership and delayed transfers of care was one aspect where the Council had been involved. 

6.4

In conclusion, Phil Holmes considered that the Council was making modest improvements in Adult Social Care Performance after poor performance in the past and was looking to put a decent foundation in place, with investment in Home Care and Supported Living being successful.  Furthermore, Social Workers were adopting a different approach to the public, with an emphasis on people’s strengths as well as their problems.  It was felt that the process was now at a stage of acceleration and a positive shift was expected by the end of the year.

6.5

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       thanks Phil Holmes, Director of Adult Services, for his contribution to the meeting;

(b)       notes the contents of the report and appended documents and the responses to questions; and

(c)        requests that Phil Holmes, Director of Adult Services:-

(i)        liaises with Dawn Shaw, Head of Libraries and Community Services, to better understand the work previously undertaken on employment and skills for people with learning disabilities; and

(ii)       provides the Policy and Improvement Officer with the annual Adult Social Care Complaints Report when next published, for circulation to Committee Members.

(NOTE: At this point, the Chair, Councillor Pat Midgley, left the meeting and the Chair was taken by the Deputy Chair, Councillor Sue Alston.)