Issue - meetings

Purpose

The report is for information only and the purpose is to update the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing & Social Care as to progress with the implementation of the Residential and Ethical Care Charters.

The Cabinet Member noted the report. The report is for information only and is not subject to call-in.

Andy Biddle, Assistant Director of Adult Social Care (ASC), introduced the report, which was originally due to be considered at the cancelled March meeting. Since March there has been a financial support package for all social care providers to include PPE, increased staffing and a minimum income guarantee to give providers financial stability based on their pre-Covid income. It is unclear how the council will manage future work on the Charters due to Covid 19 but developments will be considered at future meetings.

Mr Biddle outlined progress as at July. Domiciliary care is moving away from "time and task" (an approach widely adopted since around 1993) to a more personalised approach based on need. 15-minute visits only take place with clients' and providers' agreement. ASC followed the UK Home Care

Association model for negotiating the increase in rates for local providers in the 2020/21 financial year. If there were no zero hour contracts there would be a significant exit from the employment market as the flexibility suits some workers. During Covid 19 care providers can access information, learning and development on the council's provider portal. A short-term financial agreement allows care homes to access the council's wellbeing provider, for example, to help with traumatic deaths. Support is available up to October. Care agencies can claim one-off payments to employ agency staff to maintain care during Covid 19. Care homes have access to the Airedale system whose main aim is to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions for residents, which can be especially traumatic for those with dementia. The Supreme Court's judgement on the issue of payment for "sleep in" shifts has still not been issued.

In response to questions from Councillor Heaney Mr Biddle clarified

It is hoped to roll out the new model of commissioning domiciliary care next year, possibly around January or February 2021. Technical issues such as rostering and billing across a significantly large cohort of clients need resolving before expanding the pilot across Portsmouth. An initial tranche of funding needs to be identified. It is a very different way of providing support with family members involved 24/7 and ASC having less of an intermediary role in conversations about care. There are some examples of similar initiatives in the UK and Holland but they have to be tailored to meet residents' needs and all cities are different. With Portsmouth it has been difficult resolving the actual mechanics of the pilot. More information on similar initiatives can be provided for members.

Mr Biddle acknowledged two points made by Councillor Heaney. Firstly, the Charters should clarify if they refer to the National Living Wage or the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation. Secondly, only paying statutory sick pay means care workers might struggle financially. The intention is to work with providers to see if there is room for manoeuvre but this will be a challenge financially post-Covid 19. ASC has been asking for sustainable social care funding at government level for some time but there is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12