To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2024.

Decisions

1.   To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2024.

2.   To receive the minutes of the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust: Improvement Plan Task and Finish Group meeting held on 20 February 2024.

Report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Services

The purpose of this report is to provide an annual update on the significant work underway to improve the lives of unpaid Carers in the city.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Services that provided an annual update on the significant work underway to improve the lives of unpaid Carers in the city.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         The procurement of a fully commissioned Service Provider through a new contractual agreement;

·         The process currently being undertaken to fill the vacant gap in North Manchester through a Locality Lead Provider (sourced from Carers Manchester Network);

·         Update on work in Central and South Manchester by the Locality Lead Providers;

·         Areas of focus by Gaddum, the commissioned service provider to deliver the Carers pathway;

·         National investment by the Department of Health and Social Care in Carers through the Accelerated Reform Fund;

·         Update from the ASC Statutory Carers Team and latest performance on assessment activity; and

·         Information relating to the Carers Emergency Fund.

The Committee heard from Dave Williams, Chief Officer, Manchester Carers Forum;

Dorothy Evans, Chief Executive, African Caribbean Care Group; Glyn Meacher, Carers Programme Pathway Manager, Gaddum; and Margaret and Ann, carers in Manchester who spoke of their lived experience as carers and of the role of individual organisations to identify and support carers across the city.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         Thanking the invited guests for sharing their lived experience;

·         Carers needed appropriate levels of financial support, noting that the level of Carers Allowance awarded was inadequate;

·         Noting that the report described the significant amount of work being undertaken across the city to support carers;

·         What would be the approach to supporting carers in the north of the city, noting the figures in the report that described that nearly half of Carers (48%) lived in North Manchester;

·         More information was sought in relation to online resources for carers;

·         Noting that unpaid carers saved the public purse by undertaking their role unrecognised;

·         Welcoming the £33 administrative fee was now covered by the Carers budget for the pilot Carer respite break service for the period described; and

·         Noting the many young carers that existed across the city, many of whom did not identify themselves as being a carer and what was being done to support them.

The Assistant Director, Commissioning noted the comments regarding funding and budgets and advised that there had been increased investment into support for carers in the city, however recognised that more needed to be done, especially in regard to identifying those carers that were not known. She commented that a Young Carers Coordinator post existed within Childrens Services and that systems and protocols were established for those young carers to be assessed in a timely manner as they transitioned into adult services. She also referred to the ‘No Wrong Door’ Memorandum of Understanding that would ensure that carers were referred to the most appropriate support pathway at the appropriate time. She added that more detailed information on the work to support young carers could be included in future update reports.

The Assistant Director, Commissioning stated that the Carers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Report of the 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 and wellbeing of the local population. The report can either be a broad overview of a wide range of public health programmes or may have a focus on a particular theme. This year the report focuses on HIV and sexual health.

A digital version of the report will be circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting and contributors to the report will attend the Committee to respond to questions.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Public Health that described that, as part of the statutory role of the Director of Public Health, there was a requirement to produce an annual report on the health and wellbeing of the local population. The report can either be a broad overview of a wide range of public health programmes or may have a focus on a particular theme. This year the report focused on HIV and sexual health.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Part One: “That was Then” described how Manchester responded to the emerging global challenge of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s;

·         Part Two: “This is Now”, highlighted how Manchester had taken the learning from those times into the present day; and

·         “What next for Manchester”, noting that the Director of Public Health had made a series of recommendations for consideration.

The Committee then heard from Richard Scarborough; Paul Fairweather; Priscilla Nkwenti; Mike Narayansingh; Chitra Babu, Clinical Lead, The Northern; Debbie Thomas, Unit Manager, The Northern; Darren Knight, Chief Executive, George House Trust; Jeni Hirst, Director of Service Development and Delivery, BHA for Equality and Lauren Duffy, Head of Sexual Health Services, LGBT Foundation

who spoke to the different sections of the report. They spoke of their individual and collective response to the enormous amount of prejudice and discrimination faced by people with HIV/AIDS and the varied work undertaken over the decades to improve the health and wellbeing of people living with this condition.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         Recognising the report as a powerful and important document that reflected the lived experience of people in Manchester with HIV/AIDS;

·         Noting the report was a testament to Manchester standing up to stigma and prejudice;

·         Manchester was, and remained a voice and champion for all those living with HIV/AIDS; and

·         Noting that reference had been made to a ‘family’ when describing the response and support for people with HIV/AIDS and that the Council was proud to have had been and remained part of this family.

The Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care reiterated the importance of this document as a historical record of the true Manchester spirit in tackling prejudice and intolerance. He paid tribute to the Director of Public Health for his important contribution to the city.

The Chair recognised that this was the last meeting that David Regan would be attending in the capacity of Director of Public Health before he retired. The Members of the Health Scrutiny Committee wished to place on record their gratitude and appreciation for all of his dedication and hard work over the previous 35 years working in health organisations in Manchester and being Manchester's Director of Public Health since 2009, especially for his steadfast leadership during the challenging period of the pandemic. The Committee and all those present wished David a long and happy retirement.

In concluding this item of business, the Committee and all those present  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

Report of the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust: Improvement Plan Task and Finish Group

This report presents the findings of the detailed investigation undertaken by the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust: Improvement Plan Task and Finish Group.

The Committee considered the report of the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust: Improvement Plan Task and Finish Group that presented the findings of the detailed investigation undertaken by the Task and Finish Group.

The Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care informed the Committee that Karen Howell OBE had been appointed to the role of Chief Executive and would join GMMH in June 2024. He commented that he would be discussing the work of the Task and Finish Group when he met with her.

Decision

To note the report and endorse the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

This monthly report includes the recommendations monitor, relevant key decisions, the Committee’s work programme and items for information. The report also contains additional information including details of those organisations that have been inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

The 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

The Committee notes the report and agrees the work programme.