Agenda and minutes

Councillor Bernard Peters declared an interest as Staffordshire County Councils Local Authority appointed Governor at University Hospital Derby and Burton (UHDB).

Councillor David Williams declared an interest as an employee for the UHDB and a Governor for UHDB.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Care.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Care, Dr Richard Harling, Director for Health and Care and Amanda Stringer, Lead Commissioner for Adult Social Care presented the Adult Social Care Enhanced Assurance to the Committee. It was reported that the Health and Care Act 2022 gave the Care Quality Commission (CQC) new regulatory powers to undertake independent assessment of local authorities’ delivery of the statutory duties set out in part 1 of the Care Act 2014. The Council has commenced preparations for Enhanced Assurance, including a “CQC readiness review” from West Midlands Association of Directors Social Services in March 2023.

It was reported that the CQC had released a framework that they intended to use for assessment which comprises of four themes and within those themes there were nine quality statements:

1.   Assessing needs

2.   Supporting people to live healthier lives

3.   Equity in experiences and outcomes

4.   Care provision, integration and continuity

5.   Partnerships and communities

6.   Safe systems, pathways and transitions

7.   Safeguarding

8.   Governance, management and sustainability

9.   Learning, Improvement and innovation

Alongside the quality statements, the Council had identified strengths as well as some areas for development which the Council was seeking to address prior to the CQC assessment. These strengths and areas for development were shared to the Committee.

It was reported that the CQC would use five types of evident to assess against the nine quality statements:

1.   Experience from people who receive care, unpaid carers and their representatives; this feedback may be from surveys or interviews;

2.   Feedback from staff and leaders and the Council’s own self-assessment;

3.   Feedback from partners including care providers, NHS organisations, Health Watch and voluntary sector;

4.   Processes including waiting times, audits, documented policies and strategies; and

5.   Outcomes achieved.

The Committee noted the following comments and responses to questions:

·         The Council received feedback from compliments and complaints and feedback from residents who had received an assessment. The Committee discussed the balance of evidence being fair and accurate between compliments and complaints.

·         The Council had sought advice on inspections from children’s social care and the NHS to take any learning.

·         Communication with the community and the role for Healthwatch to ensure that the seldom heard voices could be heard was discussed.

·         The quality statements and strengths and weaknesses would demonstrate to the CQC that the Council was competent and self-aware.

·         The County Council was implementing a range of different technologies, and there was more work to be done to move towards internet and AI.

·         All service users were involved in an initial assessment when determining the level of care that they needed. There was a quality improvement team and the Council held service providers to account on the level of care that they were providing. Any issues raised with the Council would be investigated and would be resolved.

·         There had been a cultural shift at the Council to promote strength-based practice to help residents remain independent.

·         The Committee were advised that there was a strong assurance improvement plan in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Report of the District and Borough Representatives.

The Chairman endorsed the District and Borough Authorities who had approved the revised Code of Joint Working and encouraged the other District and Borough Authorities to do the same.

The Chairman also endorsed the preventative agenda and the Developing Healthier Communities work with Public Health and encouraged District and Borough colleagues to contact Staffordshire County Councils Public Health team.

It was reported that Cannock Chase District Council would be looking into social housing in their work programme for this year.

Resolved – That the District and Borough update be received.