Issue - decisions

Councillor Bobby Feeley - Lead Member for Wellbeing and Independence presented the Community Support Services Market Position Statement (MPS) 2021-24 report (previously circulated).  The MPS set out the Service’s offer to the market, and summarised current needs and priorities.  It would help current and potential providers (including independent sector, third sector, not for profit and social enterprise) to develop and shape their care and support services offer for adults in Denbighshire.

The last MPS was finalised in 2017, there had been many changes in needs and demands since the last statement was agreed. The proposed new statement was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The new MPS for 2021-24 has been fully updated to reflect new evidence of needs and demand, new priorities and directions of travel, and included some summary detail of specific plans for new developments where those were already known. It also included a brief chapter on the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis in terms of how the Service must respond and shape its social care planning and delivery.

The Social Services and Wellbeing Act remained the underpinning strategic driver for commissioning plans and development activity in Community Support Services. Consequently, the MPS placed a clear focus on earlier intervention, increasing preventative services within the community, helping people to maintain their independence, and ensuring that citizens had a voice, choice and control when it came to their own care and support.

The MPS also explained the Service’s desire to work with providers who would offer best value through achieving priority outcomes, and creative collaborative working. All commissioned services must avoid duplication, and reduce demand upon statutory services.

The Head of Community Support Services informed the Committee that the Service was required by statute to produce a MPS.

The following points were raised during the discussion –

·         The Committee highlighted the challenges which arose with regards to provision of services through the Welsh language and the difficulties encountered in recruiting sufficient numbers of staff to deliver care services through the medium of Welsh. There were concerns that some people were moved from their local communities to receive care and due to where specific types of care provision were located there were at times a lack of sufficient provision through the medium of Welsh. Officers agreed that there were challenges within the sector including provision through the Welsh language, however all efforts were being taken to ensure that Welsh language standards were being met.  The need to meet service-users’ Welsh language requirements as part of the provision of care and support services was already integrated into the tendering aspect of the procurement process.

·         Going forward the Council hoped it would be able to utilise individuals who had come forward as befriending volunteers during the COVID-19 crisis to assist with the Welsh language needs of residents.

·         Difficulties in relation to recruiting care sector staff was a national problem and not unique to Denbighshire.

·         Members praised the objectives laid out in the MPS aimed at ensuring that people stayed in their own homes rather than going into care.  However, it was queried whether there were financial incentives or support available to encourage more people to stay at home. Officers clarified that direct payments scheme was used to support those who chose to stay at home.  These payments enabled the person themselves to choose and buy in care and support services which suited their individual needs.

·         The Committee enquired on how families could initially access care and support services in an emergency, officers clarified that they would need to contact the Single Point of Access (SPoA).  From there they would be signposted to the relevant services that could provide support.

·         Respite care for residents and carers could be provided in a variety of settings, not necessarily in a care home setting.

The Committee:

Resolved: subject to the above observations to confirm that –

(i)   the Community Support Services’ Market Position Statement 2021-2024 reflects an understanding of the local market and business of local providers, and that it clearly sets out how the current and future range of care and support will be influenced and tailored to respond to specific local issues, and support the delivery of key corporate and Community Support Services’ priorities; and

(ii)  as part of its consideration it had read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment at Appendix 2 to the report.