Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr GRPM Roberts, Ms C Driver, Mr A Connell, Miss D Garton, Mr S Collins and Mr P Turner.  Dr S Haraldsen was substitute for Mr GRPM Roberts and Mr A Wonnacott was substitute for Miss D Garton.

To report and note changes to the membership of the Board.

There were no changes to membership to note.

Members are invited to disclose any disclosable pecuniary interest they have in any item on the agenda which comprises

1          Details of any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

2          Details of any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from the authority) made or provided within the relevant period in respect of any expenses incurred by you in carrying out duties as a member, or towards your election expenses.  (This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

3          Details of any contract which is made between you (or a body in which you have a beneficial interest) and the authority

(a)     Under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed; and

            (b)     Which has not been fully discharged.

4          Details of any beneficial interest in land which is within the area of the authority.

5          Details of any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer. 

6          Details of any tenancy where (to your knowledge)

            (a)     The landlord is the authority; and

            (b)     The tenant is a body in which you have a beneficial interest.

7          Details of any beneficial interest in securities of a body where

(a)     That body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the area of the authority; and

(b)     Either –

         (i)        The total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or

         (ii)       If that share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.

In addition, you must also disclose other non-pecuniary interests set out in the Code of Conduct where these have not already been registered.

Note

A “disclosable pecuniary interest” is an interest of a councillor or their partner (which means spouse or civil partner, a person with whom they are living as husband or wife, or a person with whom they are living as if they are civil partners).

There were no disclosures of interest.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

RESOLVED, that the press and public not be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Advisory Board – Adults held on 14 October 2022 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED,that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2022 be agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

To receive a presentation by Executive Director – People.

The Executive Director – People commented that the challenges for Health & Social Care are national and local authorities are managing them Cumbria is also managing Local Government Reorganisation.  Cumbria County Council is not unusual in this situation.  Cumbria was holding the situation and holding it well.  The Cabinet investment to support the care market for recruitment and retention.

The Senior Manager - Children's Commissioning remarked that Cumbria County Council was doing all it could to support the independent sector.

The Assistant Director - Provider Services noted that Cumbria Care was utilising bed spaces in different ways with a focus on rehab and was working alongside independent providers but recognising the pressures to maximise resources.

A member commented that Cumbria County Council had a very committed workforce who worked very hard and was there anything else that could be done to assist adults with autism in hospital and asked for clarification on agency staff scrutiny and did individuals receive enough time for reablement.

The Senior Manager - Children's Commissioning remarked that even without the current pressures it would be interesting and acknowledged that more work could be done with providers, however providers were struggling with illness and recruitment.

The Senior Manager remarked that Learning Disability Providers were very good at providing additional support and 3^rd sector support was another area to consider.

The Assistant Director - Provider Services noted that Cumbria County Council used certain agencies on a framework basis which ensured that people were DBS checked, references had been taken up and ensured a basic level of training.

The Senior Manager Safeguarding Adults remarked that Social Workers had face to face interviews and controls were in place to ensure that the work was of a high quality.

The Assistant Director - Provider Services commented that reablement was monitored and there was room for improvement.  Overall, the situation was good and there was a process to see if reablement had had a positive impact.

A member noted that the Parkside Home in Maryport had not reopened.

The Assistant Director - Provider Services commented that it had been the intention to reopen Parkside in December and it was set to open on 9 January 2023.

A member remarked that staff were so important and how was staff morale.

The Assistant Director - Provider Services noted that staff morale had been impacted and work was done to focus on staff wellbeing.  Cumbria care worked closely with trade unions and tried to recognise and value staff at evey opportunity.

A member sought clarity on the proportion of staff vacancies for Cumbria Care.

The Assistant Director - Provider Services remarked that current vacancy rate was at 9% and had been at 10.7% so had been reduced.  She noted that in South Lakeland and Eden it had been difficult to recruit and that since Covid the retention rate had declined.  Pre Covid staff remained for approximately 12-15 years, currently 60% of staff leave within the first 2 years.

To receive a presentation by Executive Director – People.

The Executive Director – People gave a presentation on Local Government Reorganisation which included the following areas:-

·      Achievements/Progress

·      Key challenges and risks

·      Coming in January & February

A member paid tribute to the amazing work that was continuing within Adult Social Care.

A member commented about the Urgent Care Team and what Local Government Reorganisation would mean for that team.

The Executive Director – People noted that the Urgent Care Team was a very specialist team.  The Senior Manager Safeguarding Adults remarked that it was business as usual and there would be no change as to how the team operate currently.

A member commented that both new authorities would have different pressures.

The Assistant Director - Provider Services noted that both authorities would have different pressures and there was certainly issues with recruitment in both the Eden and South Lakes areas.

To consider a report by Executive Director – People (copy enclosed).

The Assistant Director - Provider Services presented the report and drew out the 4 key themes :-

·      Working with people

·      Providing support

·      Ensuring safety

·      Leadership and workforce

A member noted the written framework and queried if the data required was known.

The Assistant Director - Provider Services clarified that the data required was not known and it was anticipated that topical themes would be required.

A member queried if it would be required to acquire support to assist the process.

The Executive Director - People noted that it was hoped that support would not be required but hopefully lessons learned in the past would be appropriate.

To consider a report by Executive Director – People (copy enclosed).

The Senior Manager Safeguarding Adults presented a report providing an update and analysis of adult safeguarding activity in the second quarter of 2022/23, briefing members on progress against key areas of performance relating to ‘Making Safeguarding Personal’, providing a benchmark against other local authorities and describing actions planned to strengthen and consolidate improvements in adult safeguarding in Cumbria through the Safeguarding Adults Board.

During the question and answer session that followed, a member remarked that if a person is at risk are they included in the statistics.

The Senior Manager Safeguarding Adults noted that any individual deemed at risk would be included within the statistics.

A member remarked on the dramatic increase in cases for Emotional and Psychological abuse and was there any underlying reason.

The Senior Manager Safeguarding Adults commented that there was greater awareness in society of abuse situations and investigate further into the query.

The Chair noted the current cost of living crisis and how much this was a cause of concern at this moment.

The Senior Manager Safeguarding Adults remarked that it was a concern in cases of self-neglect. He advised that people need to be professionally curious. 

To consider a report by the Executive Director – People (copy enclosed).

Members received a briefing paper that informed of new or updated items of significance to the Adult Scrutiny Advisory Board. Members were informed that the Scrutiny Performance Working Group had identified no specific items for consideration by the Board.

To note that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Advisory Board – Adults is scheduled for 24 March 2023.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Board will be held on 24 March 2023 at 10.00 am.