Agenda item

25.1     The Director of ASCH introduced the report which outlined the recent CQC assessment of ASCH which had resulted in rating of ‘Good’. The report highlighted strong partnerships, an excellent work force, and that the Department knows itself and its residents well. The Director welcomed comments from the Committee on the report as well as ongoing scrutiny input through the CQC Reference Group, to ensure effective challenge of the Department’s response to the CQC recommendations through its improvement plans, as well as preparatory work for future assessments. 

25.2     The Committee welcomed the positive findings in the report and thanked the Department, as well as wider partners, who had contributed to the CQC assessment.

25.3     The Committee asked questions in the following areas:

• Care Act Wating lists – The Committee asked about the approach to reduce waiting lists for Care Act assessments. The Director responded that although ESCC performed well nationally in terms of waiting lists, waits devalued the service and targeted work was underway to define waiting lists (noting various circumstances that could fall out of ESCC control), understand the issue further, and to develop a consistent approach. Data was being used to provide greater clarity for monitoring and to create heat maps to highlight age breakdowns of people on waiting lists. This approach, as well proportionate assessments and a trust assessor approach to reduce duplication, had resulted in a reduction in waiting lists. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was being piloted to further assist the assessment process through case file recording, with the aim to free up practitioner time and further reduce waiting lists. Councillor Ungar requested that this was looked at further within the CQC Reference Group.
• Use of technology in assessments – The Committee discussed the use of AI and reviews conducted via telephone and asked if this allowed for professional curiosity into people’s living conditions, and if this indicated staff shortages. The Director responded the Department endeavoured to conduct face to face Care Act assessments in all instances, however immediate care could be provided in response to a crisis or emergency following a telephone conversation. For assessment reviews, these should be proportionate and alternative methods sought, including clinics, video and telephone calls. The Director commented that it was still important to see people in their homes, but this could be through other agencies and highlighted the role of Integrated Community Teams in this. The use of AI was being piloted to support practitioners to improve response times to assessments and reviewing need.
• Financial assessment – The Committee asked for more information about the CQC finding that information around Financial Assessments was not consistently made clear to people and noted the challenges for some people in understanding this information and the need to consider likely difficult circumstances. The Director noted that information could be complex and agreed that repetition was needed when providing information to ensure people understood it as well as offering follow up conversations. The Director noted that the CQC had fed-back on the clarify of some of this information and informed the Committee that the Department worked with the Citizen’s Panel and the People Bank to ensure communications were clear, whilst still detailing the necessary complex messages, but commented that this would remain under review.
• Carers – The Committee sought clarification on how the Committee would progress work on the Carer’s Partnership Programme which had previously been identified as an area of interest by the Committee. The Senior Policy and Scrutiny Adviser confirmed that this topic was on the work programme as a potential future topic for a review and could commence once the review into Personal Transport Budgets and Independent Travel Training had been completed, however a briefing could be arranged prior to this. The Director of ASCH reiterated that supporting carers was a priority for the Council, given their contribution to the county.

25.4     The Committee RESOLVED to consider the outcome of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) Assessment of Adult Social Care in East Sussex and to monitor and review the development and implementation of departmental actions in response to the CQC report through the CQC Reference Group.