Decision details

Robert Watt, Director of Adult Services, presented his report which was in response to UNISON's Ethical Care Charter, which had been highlighted in a Notice of Motion to Council.  He outlined the issues raised by the charter and reported that some other Local Authorities were not signing this, wishing to have member-lead policy and it was reported that Hampshire County Council had not signed up to it.

Lee Sprake of UNISON made a deputation on behalf of the union's charter which was also supported by Unite.  The union felt that 15 minute visits gave little chance for personal interaction and building relationships to see what had changed since the last visit to the client. There was now NICE guidance favouring 30 minute visits and he asked that the government be lobbied for further funding to implement longer visits.  He also outlined the problems for workers with zero hour contracts which lead to uncertainty.  The charter also contained provisions for more training and interaction between carers and he asked for the Cabinet to adopt the charter.

Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson made a deputation in support of the notice of motion to sign up to the charter, which he had moved at Council.  He reported that Reading Council had already signed up and Southampton would be doing so and the NICE announcement the previous day had been in support of longer than 15 minute visits.  He was concerned that 15 minute appointments could be rushed or be even shorter as staff rushed to their next appointments as they were not paid for travel time.  He would favour the use of the 'Systems Thinking' approach to homecare, as this could potentially save money and provide better quality interventions.

Councillor Ben Dowling then spoke also in support of signing up to the charter, as a spokesperson for Health & Social Care he stressed the duty to give the best quality of care to residents and felt improvements could be made for the city to lead the way in the sub region.

Councillor Donna Jones, Leader, commented on the personal touch issues - she was not aware of feedback on rushed visits or lack of care, and reported that lobbying was already taking place to request more funding from the government to meet the extra burdens of the Care Act.  She was supportive of extending Systems Thinking in Adult Social Care and this was already being planned.  There was the need to have clarification on the NICE recommendation of 30 minute visits, to see if this would become mandatory as there would be cost implications - in the city there were approximately 61 people receiving care packages in multiples of only 15 minute durations.  Portsmouth City Council was already paying travel time within the contracts.  Councillor Wemyss felt that Zero hour contracts allowed flexibility which was attractive for some workers and it was not for the council to be prescriptive in the contracts of other organisations and it was important for costs to be controllable.

The Cabinet would note the report and watch with interest how other Local Authorities chose to implement the charter, and would in the meantime extend the Systems Thinking methods to Adult Social Care.

DECISION: The Cabinet noted the report.