Agenda item

The Panel will receive a verbal update on this item from the People and Communities Strategic Director.

The Director of Adult Social Care, Complex and Specialist Commissioning introduced this item to the Panel. A copy of the briefing can be found on their Minute Book and as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary is set out below.

Working with Ofsted and DfE

During the lockdown we have continued to be in regular communication with both DfE and Ofsted, who have been monitoring the attendance of vulnerable children at school and we have been able to share any emerging issues and concerns. Ofsted have suspended their normal inspection regime, although they look set to recommence some visits in the autumn.

St Martins Hospital office accommodation

We had already planned to move staff currently based at St Martins to other Council offices which can offer better quality and more flexible facilities for staff. With most staff working remotely during the lockdown period, the office ‘move’ will now be going ahead in the coming weeks without staff returning to their previous desks. Future working arrangements are being looked at across the Council and it is most likely that staff will have a future base at Keynsham Civic Centre or the Hollies, but with an increased emphasis on flexible and home working. CCG colleagues are also looking at their future accommodation arrangements and the aim will be to ensure colleagues working in our integrated commissioning teams can still work alongside each other as appropriate.

Update on transfer of Community Resource Centres and Extra Care Housing Support

Financial service model: The current annual contract value is £6.776m. Financial due diligence work has been completed to ensure the transfer costs remain within the current contract value and that we have a full appreciation of the financial risks. However, ongoing operating pressures mean that the budget will remain a challenge. However, in balance to this the Council will benefit from its tax status particularly in relation to VAT, greater purchasing power, procurement capacity and skills, and direct responsibility for maintaining occupancy.

Bank worker system: The council does not currently operate a bank worker system. To have an in-house bank system presents a real opportunity for council. Once established this could offer a wider role as an alternative or additional avenue to manage temporary staff within the council.  It has been agreed that Sirona will provide the system for up to six months from transfer.  This will allow time for the council to create or contract a bank system operational from April 2021, ensuring minimal disruption at the point of transfer.

Community Engagement:

• Engagement with staff group: We have engaged with staff using face to face, and recently teleconferencing, meetings with union representatives and staff.  They have used dedicated email boxes for questions from staff, residents and carers and other stakeholders. Staff have received regular briefings giving an update on the transfer and answering any questions. The formal Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) for staff consultation commenced on 15 June for 30 days.  Staff are in the main positive about transferring to the council.

• Engagement with residents: All residents received a letter in January informing them of the decision to transfer the services in house and offering meetings including relatives and carers. Further communications will be shared by letter and newsletter to update them in July 2020.

• Engagement with stakeholders and wider community: Regular updates have been facilitated for the Registered Social Landlords (who own the Extra Care Housing Services) and providers who operate Day Services within the CRCs.  The council’s website has displayed news on the project for the wider community. Future development of services will have wider engagement including on the use of CRCs and expansion of Extra Care Housing services.

A full Equalities Impact has been regularly updated through the life of the project.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson commented that the coming year could be potentially difficult given the Government’s recent decision to not include carers on their points-based immigration system.

The Director of Adult Social Care, Complex and Specialist Commissioning replied that this was disappointing and that the Council would make sure as much as it could that they have enough resources in place.

The Chairman thanked her for the briefing on behalf of the Panel.