To receive apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Committee.

Apologies for absence was received from Councillors Loxton and O’Dwyer.

It was reported that, in accordance with the wishes of the Liberal Democrat Group and Conservative Group, the membership of the Sub-Board had been amended to include Councillors Dudley and Foster in place of Councillors Douglas-Dunbar and Barnby respectively.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board held on 24 November 2022. 

The minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Board held on 24November 2022 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairwoman.

To review domiciliary care in Torbay and how this is delivered and monitored.

(Note: Jo Williams, Director of Adults and Community and Steve Honeywill, Head of Adult Social Care Commissioning will present this item).

Jo Williams, Director of Adults and Community Services and Steve Honeywill, Head of Adult Social Care Commissioning presented their report on the review of domiciliary care in Torbay and responded to the following questions:

·                     How many people were subject to 15 minute visits?

·                     Did the 15 minute visits apply to individuals who just need help taking medication and a welfare check rather than those requiring personal care?

·                     How quickly does the Council and its partners find out if an individual who is the subject of care, has been admitted to hospital?

·                     Does the Council have the ability to check computerised information as to hospital admissions?

·                     Do the figures presented include intermediate care?

·                     Was there a good relationship and information sharing with housing providers?

·                     What approach do care providers and their staff take to covering the Torbay area and was it a coordinated approach?

·                     Was there still extra training available for staff undertaking intermediate care?

·                     Excluding intermediate care, was there a standard price per hour or different rates for different care agencies and what was it?

·                     As a Council working with the NHS, was the proportion of funding split 50% between each organisation?

·                     After 4 weeks could the level of care be reduced to basic care?

·                     Do care staff receive the same rate of pay or was it dependent upon the care agency?

·                     Where working hours were variable and flexible, could that affect staff benefits? 

·                     Were respite care numbers included within the figures presented?

·                     What were the figures for Torbay in respect of delayed discharge from hospital because the individual was waiting for care to be arranged?

·                     How does Torbay Hospital compare with Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Derriford Hospital in Plymouth in relation delayed discharge from hospital because the individual was waiting for care to be arranged?

The Sub-Board expressly congratulated the ICO (Integrated Care Organisation) for having no individuals in the hospital waiting for care at the current time and praised Domiciliary Care providers for their excellent work particularly during the pandemic.

Resolved (unanimously):

1.         that the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board supports the proposals set out in the submitted report; and

2.         that the Board reviews the Transformation and Sustainability Plan for Adult Social Care when it is available.

To consider a report on the review of unpaid Carers in Torbay.

(Note: Jo Williams, Director of Adult and Community Services and Katy Heard, Carers Lead, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust will present this item)

Jo Williams, Director of Adults and Community Services and Katy Heard, Carers Lead, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust presented a report relating to a review of unpaid carers and responded to the following questions:

·         Does the Council carry out assessments and meet the cost of respite care?

·         Does the Council provide any financial support for the cost of white goods or was there financial or practical assistance available from other organisations or charities?

·         Was the carers’ services budget met by the Council?

·         Were there any proposed changes in the Council’s budget to support carers?

·         How could the Council identify people who were carers before they become ill themselves?

Members noted the submitted report in respect of the review of unpaid carers.

To receive an update on the implementation of the actions of the Sub-Board and consider any further actions required (as set out in the submitted action tracker).

The Sub-Board noted the submitted action tracker.  The Clerk provided the following updates:

·                     Update on Minute 8 - An e-mail was circulated to Members on the 19 January with information provided by Shelly Machin, System Director, Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust Foundation, as requested by the Sub Board at the meeting held on the 27 October 2022.

·                     Update on Minute 16 - The One Devon Partnership Integrated Care Strategy was still under development so all the Sub-Board’s comments would be taken into account during the production of the next version(s).

It was agreed that Healthwatch would provide copies of their reports via the scrutiny inbox, which would then be circulated to all Councillors for their information and then used as reference for future discussions by the Sub-Board.