To consider the findings of the Scrutiny Review of the Modernisation of Day Opportunities Services for Older People provided by Herefordshire Council.

The Committee received the Scrutiny Review of the Modernisation of Day Opportunities Services Provided by Herefordshire Council. Councillor WLS Bowen reported that the Group had carried out a number of visits across Herefordshire, and had encountered a wide variety of provision of care, some of which was very traditional.  An additional visit had been made to Presteigne, where a more innovative centre was being run. The report contained sixteen recommendations for the Executive, and a proposed Action Plan.

In the ensuing discussion, the following principle points were made:

·         Important aspects of care, such as foot care, baths and hot meals were all add-on costs that distorted the actual cost of attending a Day Centre and meant that this could be an expensive service for the elderly.

·         Transportation provision was largely chaotic, and commercial taxis did not offer a value for money service.  Consideration might be given to scrutinising the contracts held with these companies.

·         It was noted that the Madley centre was oversubscribed, and suggested that they might consider offering suggestions to other centres. 

·         In reply to a question from a Member, the Head of Special Projects said that there were a number of out-dated contracts that would be reviewed by the end of September.  The Council had piloted five model contracts, and would combine two of these to provide a pilot model for the voluntary and private sector.  The taxi driver contracts would also be reviewed.

·         Further to a comment from a Member, the Head of Special Projects drew the attention of the Committee to Appendix 10 of the report that outlined average attendances at all day centres.  He said that Shaw Healthcare and the voluntary sector should be encouraged to work together to address any perceived issues of underutilisation.  The vision for rationalisation was to produce a service that was based less on buildings and focussed more on the community.  This would enable older adults to stay at home, and younger ones to be able to get jobs. The personalisation of budgets would also empower users to choose how they utilised day care centres.   It would be a change of culture for both the Council and the users.  In reply to further concerns regarding the role of the voluntary sector, he went on to say that it was the Council’s intention to bring the sector along with it.  He added that some of the private and voluntary agencies were already ahead of this agenda in the way they worked.

RESOLVED:

That          (a)        the Committee agreed that the recommendations of the Review Group, set out at Section 4, pages 9 – 11, paragraphs 4.1 – 4.16, should be submitted to Cabinet;

(b)       subject to the Review being approved, the Executive’s response to the Review including an action plan should be reported to the first available meeting of the Committee after the Executive had approved its response;

and;

 (c)       a further report on progress with respect to the Review should be made after six months with consideration then being given to the need for any further reports to be made.