To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence had been received from committee members Councillors Hardwick, I’Anson and Marsh.  Apologies had also been received from regular invitees: Councillor Hitchiner (Leader of the Council), Ian Stead (Healthwatch Herefordshire) and Dr Ian Tait (NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group).

To receive details of any member nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

The following substitutes were present: Councillor Bartlett for Councillor Marsh; Councillor Gandy for Councillor I’Anson; and Councillor Summers for Councillor Hardwick.

To receive any declarations of interests in respect of schedule 1, schedule 2 or other interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2021 were received.

Resolved:    That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2021 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the chairperson.

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

A question received from a member of the public in advance of the meeting, a supplementary question read out at the meeting, and the responses by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group are attached as appendix 1 to these minutes.

To receive any written questions from councillors.

No questions had been received from councillors.

To consider the proposed home care framework and make recommendations as appropriate.

The assistant director all ages commissioning outlined the arrangements for purchasing commissioned home care through an approved list of providers and the purpose of the review that had been undertaken by a project board.  It was noted that an all member briefing had been held on 26 April 2021 and the new arrangements were due to be considered by cabinet on 24 June 2021.

The cabinet member for health and adults wellbeing commented on the statutory duties under the Care Act 2014, the need for alternative arrangements to be in place on the cessation of a notice period of the current arrangements on 31 October 2021, home care helped residents to remain in their own homes and the services were highly valued by clients and their families, and the proposed new arrangements were the result of extensive co-production with service providers and stakeholders.

The chairperson invited questions and comments from committee members, the principal points of the discussion are summarised below.

1.            It was suggested that there was a need for flexibility in home care visit lengths, particularly as some clients might be experiencing mental health issues arising from the Covid pandemic.

2.            Attention was drawn to the difference in the number of hours purchased per week for urban and rural areas (agenda page 28, ‘Market summary’).

3.            It was questioned how the authority monitored the work being delivered by providers. 

The assistant director all ages commissioning outlined the requirement to be registered with the Care Quality Commission, the obligation to use a call monitoring system, and the work of the quality assurance team within the council.  The assistant director for adult social care operations also advised the committee about the reviews undertaken to ensure compliance with the Care Act. 

In response to a further question, the assistant director for adult social care operations outlined how feedback and complaints from clients were managed.  The senior commissioning officer added that the directorate was working with Healthwatch and the Making It Real Board to devise more proactive and innovative ways to reach out to clients and to involve them in the future development of services.

4.            The chairperson commented on the need to consider the market as a whole and the potential for the council to undertake a brokerage role with the self-funding cohort.

The head of care commissioning, referencing the Market Position Statement (MPS), commented on the work that was being undertaken to support the market in its entirety which would be embedded in the service specification, and on discussions around ensuring that people had the right information and advice at the right time.

5.            The chairperson, noting some of the difficulties in delivering services in rural areas, questioned how innovations or technologies might be utilised to address locality challenges, potentially including the home share concept. 

The head of care commissioning commented that: the proposed re-modelled provision was about ensuring sustainability; technologies were being trialled to ascertain how they could support individuals in their homes; the intention was to work with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider the committee’s work programme.

The chairperson commented on the need for committee members to consider the work programme for the remainder of the municipal year in detail and suggested that an informal work programming session be arranged.  The committee discussed a preferred date.

The chairperson drew attention to the schedule of recommendations and responses appended to the report which had been updated to include responses that have been received from NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, in respect of recommendations made by the committee on 24 March 2021, on the ‘NHS White Paper: integration and innovation’.

Resolved:      That

a.            an informal work programming session be arranged for the afternoon of Wednesday 16 June 2021; and

b.            the schedule of recommendations and responses be noted.

Monday 21 June 2021, 2.30 pm

Monday 21 June 2021, 2.30 pm.