Agenda and draft minutes

[To consider any matters arising from the previous meeting.]

Work Programme 2014-15

Chair tabled a list of work programme items referred to Panel by Scrutiny Board, indicating the relevance and timeliness of items as part of the over -arching scrutiny work programme 2014-15.  Panel did not feel that smoking cessation and obesity items were something they wanted to add to the work programme for Adults and Community scrutiny panel and that these issues would better fit the Health and Wellbeing Board agenda.

The Chair shared that in addition to the work items highlighted by Scrutiny Board; Panel can add pre-decision items (that fall within the panel remit) to the agenda and raise any other emerging issues to be added to the work programme 2014-15 for approval by Scrutiny Board.

Resolved:

That the following items be referred to Scrutiny Board for inclusion in the work programme 2014-15:

No apologies were received

There were no declarations of interest.

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[To give pre-decision consideration of the Joint Dementia Strategy and Implementation Plan 2014-16]

Steve Brotherton provided a presentation and report about the ‘Refreshed Joint Dementia Strategy 2014-16 and priority actions and implementation plan’.

Cllr Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for Adult Services advised panel of the commitment and importance placed on becoming a Dementia Friendly City.  He advised that dementia is a disease of the brain that affects mainly older people but can affect younger people. He highlighted the need to establish a person centred approach to dementia, consider every aspect of the person’s life, dealing with everyday situations, going to the shops, to the Doctors or using banking facilities.  He explained that employees have been working with businesses and organisations to encourage them to become Dementia Friendly too, training employees to be aware and to look for symptoms of dementia. He quoted from the Social Model of Disability ‘If you get it right for people with dementia, you get it right for everyone’.  A second quote relating to businesses in the City was given ‘If you make your business dementia friendly, you’ll make it customer friendly’.

Councillor Steve Evans wanted to record his thanks to Steve Brotherton, Santosh Kumari and Grace Forrester for their excellent work and commitment for driving forward the City’s aspiration to become a Dementia Friendly City.

Panel considered that every person with dementia would have good days and bad days. They were advised that Dementia training had been received by Cabinet Members from trainer Jayne James, (Alzheimer’s Association). There followed a period of questions and answers, during which time the following points were considered:

·         There are six dementia cafes in Wolverhampton all are used by people from across the City, whatever the origin of the group they are multi-cultural meetings.

·         The training for all Councillors and employees at all level, but particularly those at the customer face, is really important.

·         Wolverhampton is leading the way in the Midlands; neighbouring Councils do not have cafes or experience of breaking down the barriers and dispelling the myths about dementia.

·         The Councillors should receive more training relating to vulnerable adults and children.

·         Training can be done over time, perhaps through the learning hub and make use of trainers and volunteers in the authority who can roll out the dementia awareness training.

·         Younger people are being affected by dementia but it is prevalent in older people.  Currently 3,600 people living with dementia in the City, but because people are living longer there is a rise in dementia cases and growth is expected to be 5,500 by 2020.

·         Panel recognised the importance of early diagnosis and welcomed the success of the clinical trials with an 87% success rate of early diagnosis.

·         Panel recognised the importance of GPs, clinical commission group, dentists and police being dementia friendly.

·         Panel considered that often people of ethnic background revert back to their first languages and need to receive interpreter services.

·         Safeguarding issues were considered in relation to trusting the persons interacting with dementia sufferers, Tony Ivko advised that this is something that is being picked up by Safeguarding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

[To consider the Council’s progress to date in response to implementing the Care Act and future integration working.  To give suggestions about how and what to scrutinise during implementation of the Care Act, particularly in relation to the legal, public engagement, staffing and proposed savings implications for the Council.]

Anthony Ivko provided a report relating to the Care Act Implementation. He explained that the Care and Support Bill published in July 2012 was developed into the Care Bill and on 14 May 2014 it received Royal Assent to become ‘The Care Act 2014’. He explained that there were several key changes in the Act and that this is an all Party issue.  Cllr Ian Claymore requested a regular report back to the Scrutiny Panel, the Chair recognised the need to keep oversight and also the need to scrutinise in depth an area where the Panel can make a difference.

Panel discussed how Safeguarding cuts across everything the Council, NHS and Police. The services the Council commissions, it is also responsible for monitoring. The services it does not commission the CQC is responsible for monitoring.

The Chair asked Panel to consider which part of the Care Act should this panel focus on, she emphasised this should be what the Panel can change or influence.

There was consensus that work force development is important, preparing all employees where there are changes to deliver services under the Care Act 2014.  Tony Ivko agreed that it is important and also that the implications of the Act would make useful topic for a Scrutiny Panel councillor training session.

In response to a question relating to the reduction of employee numbers and the capacity of the remaining employees to manage the changes Tony Ivko indicated that workforce development would be essential and that it is an area to consider where scrutiny can influence the way forward.

The Chair suggested that a joint meeting of Health Scrutiny Panel, Health and Wellbeing Board and Adults and Community Scrutiny relating to the Care Act 2014 be recommended to Scrutiny Board for inclusion in the Work Programme for October 2014.  She asked that Tony Ivko report the Scrutiny Panel comments back to the West Midlands Forum.

Resolved:

That a joint meeting of Health Scrutiny Panel, Health and Wellbeing Board and Adults and Community Scrutiny relating to the Care Act 2014 be recommended to Scrutiny Board for inclusion in the Work Programme for October 2014.