To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2018.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2018 as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director Strategic Commissioning and Director of Adult Social Care

This report describes a proposed new model of homecare – ‘Our Manchester homecare’. This report further sets out the key current issues for our homecare recipients and providers and explains why the existing model needs to change.  The new model of homecare will go out to tender later this month.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Strategic Commissioning and Director of Adult Social Care that described a proposed new model of homecare – ‘Our Manchester Homecare’. The report explained that in order to achieve the ambition, it was important that the model met the needs of people who used our services and help supported family carers.

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing stated that the new model was therefore:

·                focussed on the outcomes that matter to people;

·                strengths based, starting with the positive what people could do for themselves and supporting people build or maintain skills and confidence;

·                place-based: matched to the footprint of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams;

·                centred on continuity of care: the top priority of people using homecare; and

·                predicated on building a trusted partnership with homecare providers.

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing referred to the main points of the report which were:-

·                Describing the context of homecare: what it was; who received it and the associated costs;

·                The case for change;

·                Recent developments;

·                How the new model was different and a description of the key features of Our Manchester homecare;

·                Personalisation and personal budgets;

·                Finance and Cost Benefit Analysis;

·                How social value would be achieved through the procurement of Our Manchester homecare;

·                Equality Analysis; and

·                Next steps.

Members supported the move away from a ‘time task’ model of care and a more person centred approach to homecare and sought clarification of what would happen if the allocated ‘budget’ of hours were not used by the individual in receipt of care. Members commented that the allocation of hours needed to be consistent and allocated fairly to everyone who received care. Members asked how these changes would be communicated to those in receipt of care.

Members discussed the figures that presented a breakdown of who received care in Manchester and sought clarification on how this was to be addressed to ensure there was an equality of allocations.

Members noted and supported the procurement activities that were described in the report and in particular welcomed the inclusion of the voluntary and community sectors.

Members discussed the issue of subcontracting of care and sought an assurance that any such arrangements would be vigorously monitored and all staff would be paid the Manchester Living Wage as a minimum, noting that this was important to ensure the continuity of care and reduce levels of staff turnover.

Members sought further information on the proposed savings that were to be achieved through the new model of care.

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing advised that the new approach would better meet the needs of those in receipt of care and for staff delivering care. She said that people in receipt of care had been fully consulted upon, in addition to carers, service providers and a range of health professionals, and had been involved with the coproduction of this new model

The Executive Director Strategic Commissioning and Director of Adult Social Care said the new model would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

Report of the Director of Population Health and Wellbeing/Director of Public Health

As part of the statutory role of the Director of Public Health there is a requirement to produce an annual report on the health of the local population.  This report can either be a broad overview of a wide range of public health programmes and activities or have a single issue focus.  The 2018 report has a single issue focus on air quality.

The Committee considered the Public Health Annual Report 2018 submitted by the Director of Population Health and Wellbeing and Director of Public Health. The 2018 report had a single issue focus on air quality.

The Director of Public Health referred to the main points of the report which were:-

·                         Providing a description of pollution and the sources of this;

·                         The impact of poor air quality on health;

·                         Inequality and air pollution;

·                         A description of national and local policies and strategies to address air quality;

·                         Air quality in Manchester and its local health and economic impact;

·                         Actions at a Greater Manchester (GM) level, including the GM Low Emissions Strategy / Air Quality Action Plan; and

·                         Actions citizens could take to improve air quality.

Members commented that whilst they welcomed the report too much emphasis was placed on the actions of the individual and not enough attention on the role of businesses and other organisations that contributed to poor air quality.

Members commented that other factors, including those that the Council could seek to influence, for example road traffic management were absent from the report.

A Member commented on the wider impacts of poor air quality on the local population, stating that social isolation, loneliness and childhood obesity could be attributed to poor air quality. He said that improved connectivity across the city was important to improve rates of active travel stating that he welcomed the announcement that Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) plan to deliver 1000 miles of walking and cycling routes and 1400 new crossing points. He said that public transport needed to be improved and Green Travel Plans could be easily established for schools and partner organisations. Members further commented that public transport links between hospitals needed to be improved, action needed to be taken to address vehicles idling, in particular taxis and walking routes established.

The Member noted that the Neighbourhoods and Environment Scrutiny Committee regularly received reports around the issue of climate change and emissions and requested that the Chair enquired if the Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport would be willing to address the Health Scrutiny Committee at an appropriate time to inform the Committee on the actions taken within her portfolio that addressed the issue of poor air quality. The Members supported this recommendation.

A Member discussed the issue of second hand tobacco smoke and the health implications of this and asked for an update on what was being done to address this.

A Member commented that the report was silent on the impact of the airport and associated car journeys to and from the site that have an impact on the health of the local population. He said the airport needed to be more accountable to the local population and enquiries should be made with local GPs to establish the levels of asthma and other respiratory conditions and compare these to other areas of the city.  

The Assistant Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing said that there were many good examples  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

Report of the Executive Director of Strategic Commissioning and Director of Adult Social Care

This paper is Manchester’s draft input to the Local Government Association’s green paper on adult social care and wellbeing, ‘The lives we want to lead’.  The period for consultation ends on 26 September 2018.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Strategic Commissioning and Director of Adult Social Care that presented Manchester’s draft input to the Local Government Association (LGA) green paper on adult social care and wellbeing, ‘The lives we want to lead’.  The period for consultation would end on 26 September 2018.

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing informed the Committee that the Government had repeatedly failed to respond to the challenge of an increasing demand on adult social care services in a context of austerity and increasingly reduced budgets to deliver these important services. She said that the publication of the green paper had been an attempt by the LGA to stimulate this discussion. She said that Manchester needed a fair settlement to fund adult social care to bridge the funding gap.

Members discussed the content of the LGA green paper and welcomed the proposed response presented within the report. Members commented that they fully supported a progressive taxation approach to fund adult social care, commenting that increasing Council Tax was not an appropriate or fair method of funding adult social care and penalised the poorest members of society.

Members debated the merits of means testing some universal benefits such as the winter fuel payment and television license however on balance felt that this was not appropriate. 

Decisions

The Committee:-

1.         Recommend that the comments of the Committee be incorporated into the response to the LGA consultation;

2.         Supports the proposal of a progressive taxation system be implemented to fund adult social care; and

3.         Endorses that there should be no changes to universal benefits.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

This report includes details of the key decisions due to be taken that are relevant to the Committee’s remit as well as an update on actions resulting from the Committee’s recommendations. The report also includes the Committee’s work programme, which the Committee is asked to agree.

A report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment. Members were also invited to agree the Committee’s future work programme. 

Decision

To note the report and approve the work programme.