Issue - meetings

A report from the Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care is attached. This seeks approval to agree the new 3-year strategic commissioning framework for adult social funding objectives and outcomes provided by the voluntary and community sector. (Key decision – reference number 3583)

(Report No.140)

(8.40 – 8.45 pm)

Note: Reference copies of the Voluntary and Community Sector Strategic Commissioning Framework 2012-2015 (Draft for consultation) and, Voluntary and Community Sector Strategic Commissioning Framework 2013-2016 – A Summary of Submissions received in response to the consultation, are available in the Members’ Library and Group Offices. A copy is also available on the Council’s website.

Councillor Don McGowan (Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Care and Health) introduced the report of the Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care (No.140) seeking agreement to the new three year strategic commissioning framework for adult social funding objectives and outcomes provided by the voluntary and community sector.

NOTED

1.         that the new framework had been developed in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, as set out in paragraph 1.2 of the report. Extensive consultation had been undertaken;

2.         the seven key joint commissioning aims as detailed in full in section 3.6 of the report;

3.         the wide range of projects currently funded by the voluntary and community sector including (paragraph 3.4 of the report refers):

• Information and Advice
• Advocacy
• Prevention and Early Intervention
• Re-ablement and Enablement, support into employment
• Day centres, customer respite, transport
• Core funding and running costs

4.         In discussion, Members welcomed the report and direction of travel and raised the need to continue to ensure that good employment practices were developed within the third sector. In response, Ray James (Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care) outlined to Members the developments which were taking place including the introduction of a scheme of peer brokers to share experience and the promotion of local employment;

5.         Members noted the key risks outlined in section 7 of the report. Councillor McGowan and Ray James assured Members of the effective measures that were in place for both customers and stakeholders;

6.         that in response to questions raised by Members, Ray James detailed the structures in place and the options available to individual customers in ensuring that they had the most effective option available to them to meet their individual needs. Customers would be given as much choice as possible.

Alternative Options Considered: Do nothing – the current adult social care grant system could not be continued. Many of these current grants had been in place for a number of years. There had not been a consistent and regular monitoring and review process to evaluate outcomes and benefits delivered and during this time strategic priorities had changed.

DECISION: The Cabinet

1.         noted and agreed the Adult Social Care Strategic Commissioning Framework;

2.         noted the extensive consultation undertaken in developing the framework;

3.         noted the shared principles to underpin new commissioning arrangements set out at paragraph 3.15 of the report.

Reasons for recommendations: The reasons for recommendations were set out in full in section 5 of the report.

(Key decision – reference number 3583)