Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Members are reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they are subject to a party whip in connection with any item(s) to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.

Councillor Hornby declared a personal interest by virtue of his appointment as a trustee/Director of Voluntary and Community Action Wirral.

Councillor Roberts declared a personal interest by virtue of her appointment on the Management Committees of Arch Initiatives and Wirral Council for Voluntary Service.

Councillor  Mooney declared a personal interest by virtue of her employment with Age UK.

Councillor Norbury declared a personal interest by virtue of his employment with Merseytravel and him being a Member of Licensing Act 2003 Committee and associated sub-committees.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the last meeting of the Families and Wellbeing Policy and Performance Committee held on 9 July 2013.

RESOLVED:

That the accuracy of Minutes of the meeting of the Families and Wellbeing Policy and Performance Committee held on 9 July 2013 be approved.

To consider the report of the Members of the Co-optees Task and Finish Group

The Committee considered the report of the Members of the Co-optees Task and Finish Group which detailed the findings of the work undertaken in relation to the role of co-optees and partners.

Some Members expressed a view that in relation to the statutory co-optees for education they felt that as the co-optees were valued and important members of the Committee they should remain on the Committee as appointed members. Concern was also expressed that key issues could be missed by the main Committee; and it was felt that Members should also be given a choice as to what issues they want to be involved in before devolving them to a separate sub-committee. A Member further expressed a view that any sub-committee stemming from the main committee should be held in public.

In response, it was reported that following on from the discussions of the Task and Finish group, the Group felt that the recommendations set out within the report would allow the co-optees to contribute more effectively. A Member indicated that the Committee itself had a very large remit and it was felt that the establishment of the Attainment Sub-Committee could be tasked with looking at the more specific key and strategic issues in more detail and report back to members of the Committee with their findings/recommendations, this would the lighten the load on the main Committee.

Ms Vicki Shaw legal advisor to the Committee advised the Committee that the Education co-optees were statutory and would therefore be entitled to attend and vote at any meeting of the full Committee in relation to issues of an educational nature.

The Motion was put and carried

RESOLVED: (9:3) That

(1)  subject to the amendment of paragraph 6.2 of the report (summary of proposals) to read “ All existing non-statutory co-optees will no longer be members of the Families and Wellbeing Policy & Performance Committee but instead will be invited to be members of the Reference Group”, the approach set out within paragraph 6.0 of the report be approved;

(2)  the Chair and Spokepersons be authorised to finalise details of the remit, reporting mechanism and membership of the Attainment Sub-Committee;

(3)  the four main health partners , as detailed in the report, be invited to attend all meetings of the Families and Wellbeing Policy and Performance Committee in order to provide advice to members and to be held to account for the services which they provide;

(4)  the proposed arrangement be reviewed in three months.

To consider the report of the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP)

The Committee considered two reports from the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) providing an update on the outcome and implementation in relation to the Community Mental Health and Learning Disability Service Redesign.

In relation to the Community Mental Health Service and following a period of consultation on the proposed changes the agreed model (StAR) was implemented on 29 May 2013. The report indicated that the agreed changes had been supported by detailed transition, implementation and evaluation plans, which were monitored within the CWP’s governance framework, with a detailed report to be completed 12 months post implementation.

The identified benefits of the model were to:

·  Improve access to services

·  Enhance the focus on recovery

·  Make more effective use of staff resources

The Community Mental Health Teams would continue to operate within the Care Programme Approach (CPA).

The report was introduced by Dr Mahesh Odiyoor, Clinical Director who in response to Members indicated that plans were in place to meet the savings targets set.

In terms of the waiting lists, Dr Odiyoor reported that most patients were seen within 24 hours and those with complex needs within four weeks.

Suzanne Edwards, General Manager and Rashmi Parhee Clinical Director introduced the report in relation to the Learning Disability Service. The report detailed feedback received from the public consultation, the results of which had been shared and approved by the Trust Board on 26 June 2013. The feedback received was both informative and extremely supportive of:

·  Adopting a care pathway based model;

·  Enhancing community services:

·  Reducing reliance on inpatient  assessment and treatment beds (closure of Kent House)

In addition, changes to the staff resource levels and skill mix had been made following internal learning to ensure safe and high quality inpatient assessment and treatment services.

Details of the concerns raised were detailed within the report along with assurances from the CWP.

The report concluded by detailing plans for implementation.

In response to Members it was reported that in relation to the closure to Kent House other facilities were available to service users and the Community Team had been increased to manage the required needs and offer support to service users and their families and carers.

In terms of the evaluation of the re-design it was reported that each pathway had a crisis team who would be regularly reviewing and monitoring service provision and pathways would be enhanced or reviewed if necessary.

Mr Graham Hodkinson, Director of Adult Social Services reported that both the Local Authority and the Clinical Commissioning Group had seen an increase in demand and that the level of need was quite high especially in those with complex needs.

In response, Rashmi Parhee indicated that discussions had been held with the Local Authority assisting in the re-design of a service that would support those with complex needs within their own homes the service would comprise of a team that would be based within the community providing support. It was reported that the CWP were working with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To consider a joint report and receive a presentation from the Director of Childrens Services and Director of Adult Social Services  

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of Children’s Services and the Director of Adult Social Services providing an update from the Wirral Safeguarding Children’s Board (WSCB) and Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board (SAPB) on key safeguarding developments locally and nationally including regulatory reform, updates on the progress of serious case reviews and WSCB and SAPB priority areas and challenges for the partnership and agencies.

Further to the report, the Director of Children’s Services and the Director of Adult Social Services gave a brief presentation in relation to their specific service areas detailing the areas of joint children and adult safeguarding board’s activity; Wirral Safeguarding Children Board and Adults Partnership Board activity.

In relation to press reports regarding the high number of reported cases of elder abuse in their own homes, by carers and family. Mr Hodkinson indicated that the Department provided a lot of support for carer’s and Officers were trained to look for signs of elder abuse and take action, there was also joint approach with partner organisations to tackle this issue and raise awareness amongst staff and professionals to report concerns. A Member indicated that the possible barriers people faced when reporting concerns needed to be explored further.

In relation to the training for people working in the night time economy and child exploitation, Ms Hassall indicated that this was to be given to try and encourage them to report any information, no matter how small or irrelevant they think it might be. A Member suggested that this training event could be discussed at a Taxi JCC meeting.

In response to concerns raised by Members in relation to the reporting of elder abuse, Mr Hodkinson indicated that it was a difficult issue to tackle as they only had the power to act on cases that were reported and he felt that more needed to be done to enable people to feel comfortable enough to report incidents of abuse no matter how small the concern.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and Ms Hassall and Mr Hodkinson be thanked for their informative presentation.

To consider a report by the Director of Adult Social Services

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Adult Social Services which informed and updated Members on the role and functions of the Quality Assurance team within his Department, and the quality assurance framework and standards in care homes in Wirral.

The CQC essential standards framework and the quality assurance framework for monitoring visits were attached as appendices to the report. 

The Chair suggested that the report be noted and that a Working Group be established to look at this issue in more detail and report back to this Committee at a future meeting.

In response to a Members suggestion, Mr Hodkinson indicated that visits to care homes could be looked at by this group, working with Healthwatch to take this forward linking Ward Councillors with the community.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the report be noted; and

(2)  a Working Group consisting of Councillors McLaughlin, Mooney, Hornby and Clements be established to look at the quality assurance and standards in care homes.

To consider a report by Members of the Looked After Children Task and Finish Group.

The Committee considered the report of the Members of the Looked After Children Task & Finish Group providing background information regarding the Final Report.

Members of the Task & Finish Group had met with groups of children in care and with care leavers. Further meetings had also been held with foster carers and with a whole range of officers responsible for service delivery. In addition, two visits to schools were arranged. The Panel members expressed their thanks to all those who had assisted the review by so readily giving their time, experience and suggestions.

The Final Report, ‘The Outcomes for Looked After Children’ was attached as an appendix to the report.

The Children’s Services Director, Ms Julia Hassall indicated that this review had proved really purposeful and this report would be used within the Department to shape future services for Looked After Children.

She further reported that the Children in Care Council was due to meet on the 24 September 2013 and looked after children were speaking to elected members, she extended the invitation to Members of the Committee to attend if they wished to do so. 

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the contents and recommendations of the Looked After Children Scrutiny Review be noted;

(2)  the Looked After Children Scrutiny Report be referred to the next appropriate Cabinet meeting;

(3)  an update report regarding the progress being made towards the implementation of the recommendations be presented to this Committee in September 2014; and

(4)  Alan Veitch, Scrutiny Support Officer be thanked for all his support and guidance in completing the review.

To considered the report of the Strategic Director of Families and Wellbeing

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children and Families outlining the current performance of the Families and Wellbeing Directorate as at 31 July 2013 against its Directorate Improvement Plan for 2013/14.

The Directorate Plan Performance Report for 2013/14 and the Exception Report for the percentage of completed scheduled monitoring visits to residential homes were attached as appendices to the report.

The Director of Children’s Services, Ms Julia Hassall highlighted some of the educational attainment of young people and indicated that these were good results, which was a testament to the achievement of the young people.

In relation to the figure reported within the performance report regarding the rate of Looked After Children, which had appeared slightly different at the meeting of the Policy and Performance Co-ordinating Committee, Ms Hassall indicated that the report was continually updated and that the two reports had been produced at different points within the month, therefore, the figure had differed slightly.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To receive a presentation by the Director of Public Health/Head of Policy and Performance

The Committee considered the report and a presentation by the Director of Public Health/Head of Policy and Performance regarding the current performance of the Public Health as at 31 July 2013 against the Policy, Performance & Public Health Directorate Plan 2013-14.

The report indicated that the development of the Directorate Plan would be an iterative process during 2013/14 based on the feedback and requirements of elected members and portfolio leads. Therefore, the latest version of the report contained:

·  Key finance information

·  Year-end forecast position

·  North West benchmarking information (the level of information will increase in line with the availability of data nationally)

·  Exception reports for smoking quitters (4 weeks) and the proportion of opiate users that left drug treatment successfully who do not represent to treatment within 6 months.

The Plan was also attached to the agenda.

Ms Fiona Johnstone, Director of Public Health/Head of Policy and Performance introduced the plan and gave a short presentation outlining the remit of Public Health, the Council’s responsibilities, objectives and specific objectives and the aspirations for the future.

At this point, Councillor Niblock declared a Personal Interest by virtue of him being a Member of the Licensing Act 2003 Committee.

In relation to Public Health implications, now being taken into consideration with regards to licensing applications. Ms Johnstone indicated that she would be working with David Ball, Head of Regeneration on this to incorporate public health’s input into licensing applications. She further indicated that it had recently been reported in the press that a licensed premises in Newcastle had requested to impose minimum 50p pricing; this may be something the Council would wish to consider in the future.

In response to Members comments, Ms Johnstone indicated that in relation to the Council’s Policy on the use of E-Cigarettes she was unsure as to what the Council’s position was on this, these were new products to the market and had not needed to be factored into the Policy. With regard to the figures for smoking/quitters those only related to those using council services and their successes not those using other services or E-Cigarettes.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the Directorate Plan be noted and Ms Johnstone be thanked for informative presentation; and

(2)  the information contained within the report be used to inform the Committee’s future work programme.

To consider any policy updates that falls under the remit of Families and Wellbeing

RESOLVED:

That the Policy Update be noted.

To consider the report of the Chair of the Families and Wellbeing Policy and Performance Committee

The Committee considered the report of the Chair of the Committee, updating on the progress and the activity proposed for this Committee in relation to its agreed Work Programme.

In relation to the potential review regarding Domestic Violence, it was agreed that this would be undertook as soon as there was available Officer resources, Councillors Williamson, Niblock and Mooney volunteered to undertake this review.

A Member asked the Committee to consider the undertaking a review looking at the implications the increase in the BME Community has had on our services such as Education and Public Health as well as the performance of these services provided for the BME Community.

A further request was made by a Member for the Director of Adult Social Services to provide an update report in relation to the issues regarding balls Road

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the Families and Wellbeing Committee Work Programme for 2013/14 be approved;

(2)  the Domestic Violence Review be undertaken by a Task and Finish

  Group consisting of Councillors Williamson, Niblock and Mooney;

(3)  a review in relation the implications the increase in the BME Community has had on our services such as Education and Public Health as well as the performance of these services provided for the BME Community be added to the Work Programme; and

(4)  the Director of Adult Social Services be requested to provide an update report in relation to the issues in Balls Road.