Agenda, decisions and minutes

7.1

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care and Wellbeing and the Director of Strategy - Integrated Care Board. 

The overarching Adult Health and Social Care vision within the report was for every adult in Sheffield to be able to age well and live the life they want to live, with choice and control over the decisions that affect them.

The purpose of the report was to articulate the ambition in relation to early intervention and prevention.

7.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee:-

1.    Agrees the direction of travel and planned activity in 2023 to 2024 to embed and implement early intervention and prevention across Adult Care

2.    Notes the early intervention and prevention overview and factsheet at Appendix 1

3.    Endorses the need to incorporate the Adults Early Intervention and Prevention into future policy development, and:

4.    Requests that the Director of Adult Health & Social Care provides the Committee with updates on progress against the Delivery Plan on a 6 monthly basis

7.3

Reasons for Decision

7.3.1

As a partnership between agencies in Sheffield, we have made a commitment to early intervention and prevention to enable individuals to live the life they want to life. Endorsement of the approach will enable the next steps in delivery of the strategy.

7.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

7.4.1

Do nothing: It would be possible not to produce a plan in relation to early intervention and prevention – but it would mean any activity would lack focus, coherence, and public accountability.

7.1

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care and Wellbeing and the Director of Strategy - Integrated Care Board. 

The overarching Adult Health and Social Care vision within the report was for every adult in Sheffield to be able to age well and live the life they want to live, with choice and control over the decisions that affect them.

The purpose of the report was to articulate the ambition in relation to early intervention and prevention.

7.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee:-

1.    Agrees the direction of travel and planned activity in 2023 to 2024 to embed and implement early intervention and prevention across Adult Care

2.    Notes the early intervention and prevention overview and factsheet at Appendix 1

3.    Endorses the need to incorporate the Adults Early Intervention and Prevention into future policy development, and:

4.    Requests that the Director of Adult Health & Social Care provides the Committee with updates on progress against the Delivery Plan on a 6 monthly basis

7.3

Reasons for Decision

7.3.1

As a partnership between agencies in Sheffield, we have made a commitment to early intervention and prevention to enable individuals to live the life they want to life. Endorsement of the approach will enable the next steps in delivery of the strategy.

7.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

7.4.1

Do nothing: It would be possible not to produce a plan in relation to early intervention and prevention – but it would mean any activity would lack focus, coherence, and public accountability.

8.1

8.2

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care and Wellbeing.

This report set out a long-term response that committed to improving the lives and conditions of the people who work in Adult Social Care.

This was developed with providers and partners and included a Workforce Development Plan.

It was agreed that Committee members would meet with the Workforce Board, and that equality and diversity considerations would be made.

8.3

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee:

1.    Approves the Adult Social Care Workforce Development Strategy and Plan 2023 – 2026

2.    Notes progress in relation to implementation of the Council Delivery Plan – Valuing Social Care Workforce, Local Government Association Workforce Standards and Practice Quality Standards, and

3.    Requests that the Director of Adult Health and Social Care refreshes the Workforce Strategy on a bi-annual basis and brings an update to Committee on progress with delivery on a six-monthly basis.

8.4

Reasons for Decision

8.4.1

Through significant local consultation and engagement, the Care Sector Workforce Development Strategy 2023 – 2026 sets out a vision and ambition for Sheffield’s care sector workforce that will meet the needs of our citizens.

8.5

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.5.1

There is no clear alternative to an adult social care strategy. The strategy is needed – we have an obligation to deliver one under the Care Act.

8.5.2

The strategy could have been a shorter-term vision. This was rejected because:

-       there are significant challenges facing the social care system that are more long term in nature (such as training and recruitment of a quality workforce) so require longer term thinking

-       a shorter-term strategy would likely only be able to focus on the current challenges

-       market shaping needs a longer-term vision to allow local providers to develop the mix of services we’re looking to deliver whilst remaining stable national drivers, such as new legislation, are in development but we cannot continue to wait for them to be finalised – we have a clear enough picture to be able to drive local transformation.

8.5.3

The strategy could have been smaller in scale, looking only to affect internal council services. This was rejected because:

-       The scale of the challenges faced by adult social care need a system wide approach to be tackled effectively.

-       Section 6 of the Care Act sets out the Council’s duty to make arrangements for ensuring co-operation on the functions of relevant bodies in the local authority area relating to adults with needs for care and support and their carers. This includes those we have defined in the strategy as the adult social care system: the people and organisations that are involved in providing adult social care. Our strategy should reflect this approach.

8.1

8.2

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care and Wellbeing.

This report set out a long-term response that committed to improving the lives and conditions of the people who work in Adult Social Care.

This was developed with providers and partners and included a Workforce Development Plan.

It was agreed that Committee members would meet with the Workforce Board, and that equality and diversity considerations would be made.

8.3

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee:

1.    Approves the Adult Social Care Workforce Development Strategy and Plan 2023 – 2026

2.    Notes progress in relation to implementation of the Council Delivery Plan – Valuing Social Care Workforce, Local Government Association Workforce Standards and Practice Quality Standards, and

3.    Requests that the Director of Adult Health and Social Care refreshes the Workforce Strategy on a bi-annual basis and brings an update to Committee on progress with delivery on a six-monthly basis.

8.4

Reasons for Decision

8.4.1

Through significant local consultation and engagement, the Care Sector Workforce Development Strategy 2023 – 2026 sets out a vision and ambition for Sheffield’s care sector workforce that will meet the needs of our citizens.

8.5

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.5.1

There is no clear alternative to an adult social care strategy. The strategy is needed – we have an obligation to deliver one under the Care Act.

8.5.2

The strategy could have been a shorter-term vision. This was rejected because:

-       there are significant challenges facing the social care system that are more long term in nature (such as training and recruitment of a quality workforce) so require longer term thinking

-       a shorter-term strategy would likely only be able to focus on the current challenges

-       market shaping needs a longer-term vision to allow local providers to develop the mix of services we’re looking to deliver whilst remaining stable national drivers, such as new legislation, are in development but we cannot continue to wait for them to be finalised – we have a clear enough picture to be able to drive local transformation.

8.5.3

The strategy could have been smaller in scale, looking only to affect internal council services. This was rejected because:

-       The scale of the challenges faced by adult social care need a system wide approach to be tackled effectively.

-       Section 6 of the Care Act sets out the Council’s duty to make arrangements for ensuring co-operation on the functions of relevant bodies in the local authority area relating to adults with needs for care and support and their carers. This includes those we have defined in the strategy as the adult social care system: the people and organisations that are involved in providing adult social care. Our strategy should reflect this approach.

9.1

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care and Wellbeing which requested an extension of 12 months to the Advocacy Services contract, due to expire on March 31^st, 2023.

The report highlighted the importance of ensuring continuity of advocacy services. It also set out the Council’s future intentions for the procurement of Advocacy Services, which would be subject to separate Council approval.

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee:

1.    Approve the continuation of the current commissioning strategy and the extension of the Sheffield Advocacy Hub contract with Sheffield Citizens’ Advice and Law Centre by 12 months and

2.    Endorses that proposals for retender for Advocacy Services are brought to the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee by July 2023.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

Should the contract expire without re-tender or extension, then we would be unable to contract any further Advocacy services via the existing contracting arrangements.

9.3.2

We will be unable therefore to apply in an equitable manner our Statutory duty under the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, The Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the Mental Health Act 2007 to maintain a stable and sustainable care market.

9.3.3

A 12-month extension will ensure that the commissioning cycle can be completed in a considered manner with robust engagement and consultation.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

9.1

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care and Wellbeing which requested an extension of 12 months to the Advocacy Services contract, due to expire on March 31^st, 2023.

The report highlighted the importance of ensuring continuity of advocacy services. It also set out the Council’s future intentions for the procurement of Advocacy Services, which would be subject to separate Council approval.

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee:

1.    Approve the continuation of the current commissioning strategy and the extension of the Sheffield Advocacy Hub contract with Sheffield Citizens’ Advice and Law Centre by 12 months and

2.    Endorses that proposals for retender for Advocacy Services are brought to the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee by July 2023.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

Should the contract expire without re-tender or extension, then we would be unable to contract any further Advocacy services via the existing contracting arrangements.

9.3.2

We will be unable therefore to apply in an equitable manner our Statutory duty under the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, The Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the Mental Health Act 2007 to maintain a stable and sustainable care market.

9.3.3

A 12-month extension will ensure that the commissioning cycle can be completed in a considered manner with robust engagement and consultation.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

10.1

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care and Wellbeing which sought approval from Committee to proposed fee rates for Council contracted providers in the financial year 2023-24. It was proposed that the rates take effect from 10^th April 2023. 

The report also requested approval to undertake a cost of care exercise for non-standard accommodation with care provision in 23/24 to inform future commissioning and strategy.

The report set out the process that the Council had followed and the analysis which informed the proposed fee rates to ensure a sustainable social care market.

10.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee:-

1.    Notes that the rates for Homecare and for services within the Adults Disability Framework (Supported Living, Day Activities and Respite/Short Breaks) and rates for Enhanced Supported Living have been set by previous Committee decisions and through procurement in 2022/23 with new contracts due to begin from April 2023.

2.    Approves the award of short-term contracts, at a rate of £21ph for 6 months from 10th April 2023 with an option to extend for a further 6 months, to Homecare providers on our existing Framework contract.

3.    Approves an increase of 9.74% to the fee rate for Care at Night and Extra Care (care element only).

4.    It is proposed that the Council will provide an increase of direct payments of 9.74% for those buying provider support and for PA employers a rate of 9.68%.

5.    Approves an increase of 9.74% to the fee rate for Dementia day care.

6.    Approves a rate of £14.50 per week for Council provided Appointeeship services.

7.    Agree the savings identified in Option 2 of Appendix 3 to enable the increase to £630 per week for contracted standard care homes and approve that increase.

8.    Approves an increase of up to 9.8% for non-standard care home rates that are individually negotiated subject to contractual compliance.

9.    Delegates authority to the Director of Adult Health and Social Care and Director of Finance in consultation with the Co-Chairs of the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee to agree any appropriate and proportionate fee increases requested by care homes outside Sheffield because cost pressures will vary from place to place.

10.Delegates authority to the Director of Adult Health and Social Care in consultation with the Co-Chairs of the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee to take all other necessary steps not covered by existing delegations to achieve the outcomes outlined in this report.

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

The recommendations arise from the Council’s market shaping responsibilities.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

Alternative options for fee levels for Homecare, Supported Living, Day Activities and Respite/Short breaks were presented in Committee reports seeking approval for commissioning strategies for those services.

10.4.2

The Council could consider lower uplifts for services, but this is not recommended given the current context and issues across care and support provision for adults, and the level of change Adult  ...  view the full decision text for item 10.

10.1

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care and Wellbeing which sought approval from Committee to proposed fee rates for Council contracted providers in the financial year 2023-24. It was proposed that the rates take effect from 10^th April 2023. 

The report also requested approval to undertake a cost of care exercise for non-standard accommodation with care provision in 23/24 to inform future commissioning and strategy.

The report set out the process that the Council had followed and the analysis which informed the proposed fee rates to ensure a sustainable social care market.

10.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee:-

1.    Notes that the rates for Homecare and for services within the Adults Disability Framework (Supported Living, Day Activities and Respite/Short Breaks) and rates for Enhanced Supported Living have been set by previous Committee decisions and through procurement in 2022/23 with new contracts due to begin from April 2023.

2.    Approves the award of short-term contracts, at a rate of £21ph for 6 months from 10th April 2023 with an option to extend for a further 6 months, to Homecare providers on our existing Framework contract.

3.    Approves an increase of 9.74% to the fee rate for Care at Night and Extra Care (care element only).

4.    It is proposed that the Council will provide an increase of direct payments of 9.74% for those buying provider support and for PA employers a rate of 9.68%.

5.    Approves an increase of 9.74% to the fee rate for Dementia day care.

6.    Approves a rate of £14.50 per week for Council provided Appointeeship services.

7.    Agree the savings identified in Option 2 of Appendix 3 to enable the increase to £630 per week for contracted standard care homes and approve that increase.

8.    Approves an increase of up to 9.8% for non-standard care home rates that are individually negotiated subject to contractual compliance.

9.    Delegates authority to the Director of Adult Health and Social Care and Director of Finance in consultation with the Co-Chairs of the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee to agree any appropriate and proportionate fee increases requested by care homes outside Sheffield because cost pressures will vary from place to place.

10.Delegates authority to the Director of Adult Health and Social Care in consultation with the Co-Chairs of the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee to take all other necessary steps not covered by existing delegations to achieve the outcomes outlined in this report.

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

The recommendations arise from the Council’s market shaping responsibilities.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

Alternative options for fee levels for Homecare, Supported Living, Day Activities and Respite/Short breaks were presented in Committee reports seeking approval for commissioning strategies for those services.

10.4.2

The Council could consider lower uplifts for services, but this is not recommended given the current context and issues across care and support provision for adults, and the level of change Adult  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.1

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care and Wellbeing which outlined the City-Wide Older Adults/Ageing Well Strategic Delivery Priorities. It described the vision for older adults and adults living with dementia, the steps that had been taken to implement the City-Wide Older Adults/Ageing Well Services and the measures proposed to continue to embed and deliver the strategic vision for older adults and adults living with dementia in Sheffield.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee:

1.    Endorses the direction of travel, including the priorities and closer joint working with primary care, voluntary sector, and communities

2.    Approves the Living and Ageing Well Market Shaping Statement

3.    Requests that the Director of Adult Health and Social Care provides the Committee with updates on the progress and outcomes of this delivery strategy on a 6 monthly basis.

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

An approved delivery plan and market position statement gives a structured approach to the promotion of delivering on our commitments to older adults and adults living with dementia through the development of the Living and Ageing Well Service. It will also provide greater accountability and transparency of how will do this.

11.3.2

Asking for regular updates will keep the Committee, wider stakeholders, and the public the ability to hold the Council to account for progress and provide an additional mechanism to input to future development

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

The alternative option was not to provide an update to committee.

11.1

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care and Wellbeing which outlined the City-Wide Older Adults/Ageing Well Strategic Delivery Priorities. It described the vision for older adults and adults living with dementia, the steps that had been taken to implement the City-Wide Older Adults/Ageing Well Services and the measures proposed to continue to embed and deliver the strategic vision for older adults and adults living with dementia in Sheffield.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee:

1.    Endorses the direction of travel, including the priorities and closer joint working with primary care, voluntary sector, and communities

2.    Approves the Living and Ageing Well Market Shaping Statement

3.    Requests that the Director of Adult Health and Social Care provides the Committee with updates on the progress and outcomes of this delivery strategy on a 6 monthly basis.

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

An approved delivery plan and market position statement gives a structured approach to the promotion of delivering on our commitments to older adults and adults living with dementia through the development of the Living and Ageing Well Service. It will also provide greater accountability and transparency of how will do this.

11.3.2

Asking for regular updates will keep the Committee, wider stakeholders, and the public the ability to hold the Council to account for progress and provide an additional mechanism to input to future development

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

The alternative option was not to provide an update to committee.