To approve publication of the Local Account of Adult Social Care and Support 2014/15

The cabinet member for health and wellbeing introduced the local account for adult social care. The document represents a snapshot of local performance with an improving picture in adult social care.

The cabinet member, economy and corporate services referred to performance figures contained in the report and noted that year to year comparisons were made on internal performance for the service for two years rather than reflecting good performance against national figures. For example, the service had a lower percentage of admissions to residential care. Feedback from residents reflected this good performance. He noted that staff had done a good job, and offered thanks and congratulations.

The Green group leader commended the report although there was concern that there were pressures improving lifestyles and outcomes. She highlighted that with regard to healthy lifestyle choices, 50% of objectives had been met for people on plans and so there was more work to do in that regard.

Officers explained that there were plans in place to make every contact count and to promote public health awareness and wellbeing. The whole project plan was going live in January with the aim of involving all council services so that all professionals could signpost people to appropriate services and add support to the health and wellbeing agenda. It was intended also to engage children’s services to work together more closely.

The cabinet member, economy and corporate services commented that he had experience of shadowing the healthy lifestyle trainers and noted that achieving the 50% rate of completed plans was an achievement and exceeded expectations.

The chair of the general overview and scrutiny committee welcomed the work on direct payments and hoped that it might rolled out further with suitable support. Officers confirmed that the pre-pay card was being rolled out which would make transactions easier. It was noted that this was a challenge to achieve.

The cabinet member for health and wellbeing added that the local account was a snap shot and acknowledged that there was room for improvement and that the intention was to do better next year.

RESOLVED

That the publication of the local account be approved.