Agenda item

The Cabinet Member will update the Select Committee on any relevant issues. Select Committee members may ask questions on the update provided.

Councillor Vic Pritchard, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Wellbeing addressed the Select Committee. A copy of the update can be found on their Minute Book and as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary of the update is set out below.

Virgin Care – Patient Safety, Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Reporting, Monitoring and Management

Following the motion passed at the November meeting of full Council in relation to the reporting and management of any patient safety concerns I have been provided with assurance by the Council’s Head of Safeguarding & Quality Assurance and CCG’s Director of Nursing & Quality that these have been addressed.

He stated that specifically, in relation to the concerns expressed by some members of staff in Virgin Care and reported in the local media, the Director of Nursing & Quality and Head of Safeguarding & Quality Assurance did seek and receive assurance that all appropriate policies, procedures, systems and support to staff are in place to ensure they are able to raise any concerns that they may have, both internally and also, directly to external bodies, including CQC, the Council and the CCG.

He added that the Health & Wellbeing Select Committee receives regular updates on the Virgin Care Contract and he has requested that future updates include feedback on performance, quality, safeguarding concerns, complaints and any serious incidents.

“Three Conversations”

Taking a personalised approach in adult social care has been a long held aspiration.  However, supporting processes, including how assessments are undertaken, determining eligibility, putting in place support plans and arranging services remains largely unchanged.

But now some local authorities are exploring a radically different approach. The “three conversations” model aims to create a new relationship between professionals and people who need support, providing a graded process of conversations aimed at helping people lead independent lives, with traditional (funded) support packages offered only when other options have been exhausted.

Early evaluations are showing some remarkable results – improved outcomes for individuals, more fulfilled staff and a significant reduction in the number of people needing to receive long-term support packages funded by the Local Authority.

Conversation 1: Listen & Connect

Conversation 2: Work intensively with people in crisis

Conversation 3: Build a good life

Bath & North East Somerset Council is starting to try this very different approach. The three-conversation model draws on the individual’s own resources and encourages professionals to forge stronger links with the wider community – especially the voluntary sector, in order to support individuals to make best use of all the support available in their community.

The Director for Integrated Health & Care Commissioning commented that the approach will seek to look at what the community / voluntary sector can offer up front. She offered to show a short video at the next meeting that shows the strength of the service users.

Proud to Care South West Update

Proud to Care South West is part of the national Proud to Care initiative, aimed at raising the profile and appeal of a career in social care and health.

It is publically well documented that the social care workforce across the UK is under significant pressure. With that workforce spread across a variety of large and small organisations, a regional support structure to attract talent and help underpin future sustainability in the sector is a welcome and necessary development.

The Council’s investment in Proud to Care South West supports a coordinated approach across the region on a range of activities aimed at tackling the current issues and longer term initiatives aimed at the workforce of tomorrow.

The Chair thanked Councillor Pritchard for his update on behalf of the Select Committee.