Agenda and minutes

34.1     RESOLVED to agree the minutes as a correct record.

35.1     Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jim Sheppard, Nicola Boulter (Parent Governor Representative), Trevor Cristin (Diocese of Chichester Representative) and Simon Parr (Catholic Diocese Representative).

Disclosures by all members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

36.1     Councillor Trevor Webb declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest as he isa member of the charity, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (with regard to Agenda item 6 and item 39 of these Minutes).

Notification of items which the Chair considers to be urgent and proposes to take at the appropriate part of the agenda. Any members who wish to raise urgent items are asked, wherever possible, to notify the Chair before the start of the meeting. In so doing, they must state the special circumstances which they consider justify the matter being considered urgent.

37.1     There were none.

Report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

38.1     In 2018 the People Scrutiny Scoping Board identified the Adult Social Care and Health department’s future strategy for bedded care as one of four important areas for future scrutiny.  At the time, however, the department were engaged in a significant piece of work in this area.  It was therefore agreed to postpone a potential scrutiny review until the Department had had an opportunity to evaluate the outcome of its work and provide an updated overview of the current related workstreams for the Committee. 

38.2    The report was introduced by Samantha Williams, Assistant Director, who provided the Committee with an overview of some of the key issues relating to the department’s bedded care strategy. The Committee heard, for example, of the department’s decision to move away from having a fixed strategy to a ‘live document’.  This approach now allows the department to have a more dynanmic, responsive strategy which is better suited to meeting the challenges and opportunties which the evolving care market is presenting.

38.3     The Committee discussed the key challenges set out in the report with regard to bedded care.  For example, Members discussed a growing concern regarding the future supply of certain categories of residential and nursing beds to meet the needs of the local population, especially in particular geographical locations around the County.  Members also heard that the rate at which establishments are closing has been increasing over recent years.  Furthermore, additional capacity does not always equate to more ESCC beds.  For example, providers with a low Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating are much less likely to attract self-funders.  Other key areas of challenge include:

•      Over 65s now represent a quarter of the county’s population and are projected to make up nearly a third of all people by 2031.

•      The number and proportion of people living with dementia will continue to increase more than elsewhere in the region.

•      Much of the demand for health and social care will be driven by the increasingly complex management of people with multiple long-term conditions and those who are becoming progressively more frail.

38.4     Further points were made in response to questions from the Committee about how the Department is adddressing the challenges within the care market, including:

•      Nursing homes.  In response to the undersupply of nursing beds which is anticipated to emerge over the next five years, and in addition to the increase in rates already being provided by the local authority, the department are considering establishing an approved provider list of nursing care providers to the support hospital discharge later in the year.  

•      Domestic and sexual violence and abuse.  In response to a question about the range of support available to victims of domestic violence, the Committee were informed of a number of steps being taken by the department.  For example, work continues on a redevelopment programme which will include the production of a new partnership strategy across East Sussex and Brighton and Hove; as well as a re-design and implementation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

Report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

39.1     Keith Hinkley, Director of Adult Social Care and Health introduced the item by providing an overview of some of the key issues set out in the report.  Further points were made in response to questions from the Committee:

·           Modern Slavery.  In response to a query about the steps being taken to combat modern slavery, the Committee were informed of a number of initiatives.  These include a commitment within the East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership Business Plan to include modern slavery within its ‘Communities Against Exploitation’ public campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of emerging crime trends and equip communities with further knowledge and information on current issues, signposting to where they can go for information and support, or how they can report/respond appropriately.</AI6>    The Committee were also informed of steps being taken to train people to recognise signs of exploitation. 

·           Substance Misuse.  In response to a query about the widespread and often public misuse of drugs, the Committee were informed of an initiative being undertaken with key partners, including Sussex Police, to address the perceived “normalised” use of drugs and drug dealing in East Sussex.  This has become more apparent in the urban areas mainly with the use of white powder e.g. Cocaine. It is often the case that individuals do not consider their drug use to be a problem and do not self-identify as having an addiction which requires support. Individuals in this group may also be unaware of the wider implications of buying illicit drugs and that the seller maybe someone who is likely to be involved in serious crime.

39.2     The Lead Member for Communities and Safety commented that the achievements discussed in the report are the result of a close working relationship between the different agencies that comprise the partnership.   The Committee were also informed of a change in funding arrangements whereby the Police Commissioner has allocated funding directly to District and Borough Council based Community Safety Partnerships.

39.3     The Committee RESOLVED to note the report.

40.1     The Committee discussed its Work Programme which is comprised of a number of ongoing scrutiny reviews, reference groups and planned reports.

Current Scrutiny Reviews

Changing Care Market: Adult Social Care Workforce Review

40.2       In relation to the Changing Care Market: Adult Social Care Workforce Review, Councillor Webb provided an update on the Board’s activities.   These activities include:

·         three Board meetings which took place on 15 April and 7 and 24 May 2019. 

·         consideration of evidence from a range of different sources.   For example, the Board received testimony from a Personal Assistant (PA) who has been accredited by Support With Confidence.  The PA attended with one of her clients who shared their views on the support they are being provided with.

40.3       Members were also informed that the Board is planning to meet in July to consider its draft report and recommendations.   It is intended that the final report will be presented to the September 2019 meeting of the Committee.

Scrutiny Review of Support for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children

40.4       Councillor Field provided an update to the Committee in relation to the Scrutiny Review of Support for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children.   The Board’s activities include:

·         three meetings, the last of which took place on 10 April 2019; and 

·         consideration of evidence from a range of different sources.   For example, the Board received testimony from two young asylum-seekers who have been supported by Children’s Services.  

40.5       Councillor Field also informed the Committee that the evidence gathering phase of the review is now completed.  The Board’s next step therefore will be to review a draft of its report and recommendations in July.  It is intended that the final report will be presented to the September 2019 meeting of the Committee.

Initial Scoping Reviews

40.6In relation to potential future Scrutiny Reviews, the Committee RESOLVED:

·         to appoint Cllrs Davies, Ensor, Ungar, Webb and Whetstone to undertake scoping work for a potential scrutiny review of issues relating to East Sussex County Council’s Bedded Care Strategy.  This will be the third in a series of four scrutiny reviews which the People Scrutiny Committee had previously committed to and which are part of an overarching scrutiny review of a ‘Changing Care Market’ (see minute 38 for more detail).

·         to appoint Cllrs Field, Liddiard, Loe, and Mr Matthew Jones, Parent Governor Representative to undertake scoping work in relation to a potential scrutiny review of issues relating to the rates of school exclusion in East Sussex.

Suggested Topics

40.7The Committee reviewed the list of suggested topics on its Work Programme and RESOLVED to:

·         Elective Home Education.   The Committee agreed to keep this item as a potential scrutiny topic as the Government has not yet responded to the outcome of its consultation with Local Authorities.

·         Loneliness/Resilience.   This is the final scrutiny review in a series of four planned reviews relating to the Changing Care Market.  The Committee agreed that whilst a scoping Board could be appointed in November, any substantial work might not be able to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.