Meeting documents

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Derek Beer, Graham Carr-Jones and Clare Sutton and from Helen Coombes (Transformation Programme Lead for Adult and Community Forward Together Programme).

Members are required to comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 regarding disclosable pecuniary interests.

·         Check if there is an item of business on this agenda in which the member or other relevant person has a disclosable pecuniary interest.

·         Check that the interest has been notified to the Monitoring Officer (in writing) and entered in the Register (if not this must be done on the form available from the clerk within 28 days).

·         Disclose the interest at the meeting (in accordance with the County Council’s Code of Conduct) and in the absence of a dispensation to speak and/or vote, withdraw from any consideration of the item.

The Register of Interests is available on Dorsetforyou.com and the list of disclosable pecuniary interests is set out on the reverse of the form.

There were no declarations by members of disclosable pecuniary interests under the Code of Conduct.

Councillor Mark Roberts stated that his company had a small adult care contract with

the County Council so he would not take part in discussions about contracting

arrangements.

Councillor Shane Bartlett declared an interest as his wife worked in a school.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2018 were confirmed and signed.

To consider a report by the Transformation Programme Lead for Adult and Community Forward Together Programme.

The Committee considered a report by the Transformation Programme Lead for Adult and Community Forward Together Programme which set out Cabinet decisions arising from Committee recommendations and outstanding actions identified at previous meetings.

The Chairman highlighted that the Committee's recommendations from the last meeting had been upheld by the Cabinet on 5 September 2018.

Noted

To receive any questions or statements by members of the public.

Public Speaking

There were no public questions, statements or petitions received at the meeting in accordance with Standing Orders.

To consider a report by the Director for Children's Services.

The Committee considered a report by the Director for Children's Services which provided an update on the future relationship between the local authority and schools, how other local authorities managed school improvement, the consultation that took place with headteachers and how the local authority was working with Weymouth and Portland schools and the impact that this was having.

Officers summarised the report.  Members noted that at the consultation with headteachers undertaken on 9 July 2018 broad support was given for future work based on school clusters.  Commissioned support was provided for category three schools in Weymouth and Portland and grant support sought for Budmouth College and All Saints School; sponsors for these schools were expected to be announced in November 2018; and Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) targets were already being met for both 6 and 16 weeks, with the target for 20 weeks expected to be met by November 2018.

The Assistant Director for Schools and Learning added that the overall consultation had involved headteachers from Multi-Academy Trusts and other schools in order to identify a model for future strategic school improvement in Dorset.  This has led to the introduction of a Dorset School Improvement Board (DSIB); a school-led initiative with the County Council having a supportive role.  The County Council is being asked to provide funding of £100k to support the introduction of the DSIB.  It was hoped that this would enable schools to share best practice and lead to improved school standards across Dorset.

The County Councillor for Westham welcomed the introduction of the cluster-based approach but asked whether funding for student support and SEND provision was equitable across the County, or whether funding was based on the number of students needing support in a particular area.  He also asked how well EHCPs were being delivered and whether the funding to deliver this was available.  The Assistant Director explained that funding was provided based on a model and that Weymouth and Portland would receive a share, there was no additional funding based on the number of children with additional needs. In relation to EHCPs, these had increased by 49% over the last three years and it was difficult to find resources to meet this increasing demand.

In response to questions it was explained that administrative support for the new cluster-based model was currently provided by the Regional Schools Commissioner with any other costs being a matter for schools; the Dorset School Improvement Board would target initiatives and officers would report on whether this had led to any improvement; an invitation might be extended to schools in Bournemouth and Poole to take part; and whilst the current stress on teachers and schools was acknowledged, the new model was based on an effective model which would provide the space for change without increasing workloads and, through economies of scale, might reduce them; headteachers would remain responsible and accountable but the new model would identify areas for improvement and enable this through partnership working and sharing of best practice; and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

To consider a report by the Transformation Programme Lead for Adult and Community Forward Together Programme.

The Committee considered a report by the Transformation Programme Lead for Adult and Community Forward Together Programme which set out performance against the 2017-19 Corporate Plan and population indicators for the Health and Independent outcomes.  The report also included performance measures which showed the Council's Services contribution and impact on outcomes, and risk management information relating to outcomes and population indicators.

Particular attention was drawn to suggested areas of focus - inequality in life span, alcohol and substance use, excess weight, mental health, cardiovascular disease, levels of physical activity in adults, percentage of children with good attendance at school, percentage of children ready to start school, percentage of 16 and 17 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs), and delayed transfers from hospital care.

A member suggested a twelve-month rolling programme of performance as a better means of indicating of trends.  Officers agreed to consider this.

Attention was drawn to the fact that people moving to Dorset tended to be elderly and could skew figures relating to Dorset residents living longer and that many young people moved away from Dorset and did not return until after they retired.

Officers agreed to provide members with information in relation to whether figures given for equality of lifespan and isolation took account of rural and urban areas.

The Assistant Director for Commissioning, Community Services, Partnerships and Quality confirmed that information relating to delayed transfers was correct at the time the report was written, but performance had improved and was now below the target figure of nine days, with the intention of reducing this further.  This figure was monitored on a daily basis.  Figures did include Dorset residents leaving hospital in Bournemouth and Poole.

One member referred to the percentage of clients of the alcohol treatment service drinking less at 3 months which had dropped from 60% to 38% between Quarter 4 2017-18 and Quarter 1 2018-19 and the percentage of young people who had successfully completed substance use treatment which fell from 88% to 53% during the same quarters. She was concerned about the emotional and financial cost of this and whether this was a good use of resources, Officers referred to the County Council's aim to deliver better outcomes for people and questioned whether investment in these areas was providing value for money.  It was agreed that the Chairman, Councillor Wheller, the Group Manager - Governance and Assurance Services and the Intelligence, Insight and Performance Manager would review impacts and trends and include the outcome in the next Outcomes Focused Monitoring report.

Also highlighted were the fact that suicide rates were not included, the impact of the lack of social and affordable housing, young people were leaving Dorset as they did not see a future for themselves here, the difference in residents' standards of living, impacts on residents' mental health, and the hope that the new Dorset Council might be able to improve the current situation.  Officers agreed to review suicide figures.

Resolved

1.   That the Chairman,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

To consider a report by the Better Care Fund Project Manager.

The Committee considered a report by the Better Care Fund (BCF) Project Manager which provided information on the progress of the Dorset Better Care Fund, including performance against the four Better Care Fund Metrics (non-elective admissions, permanent admissions to residential care, reablement, and delayed transfer of care).

Members were reminded that the Dorset Health and Wellbeing Board monitored BCF performance.  As reported earlier in the meeting, delayed transfer performance had improved and was monitored on a daily basis but there would always be occasions when there would be delays due to difficulties in finding appropriate care and support, particularly if these involved specialist services.

Attention was drawn to the fact that Bournemouth Hospital had closed a ward in order to better support community care received at home and a questions asked as to whether Dorset County Hospital would be mirroring this as many readmissions were due to early discharge and the lack of support at home.  The Assistant Director explained that a Home First Approach was being worked on. This would provide people with adequate support in order to return home and them being assessed there for the support they needed.  The BCF encouraged joined up working across the system as a whole and provided a focus to drive improvement.

A member asked whether the delay in the provision of specialist equipment could be shortened.  Another member added that in his experience people were discharged and then had to wait for specialist equipment to be provided.  The Assistant Director explained that discharge could only be achieved if it was safe for the person to return home.  Performance was improving and the situation was constantly reviewed.  He offered to speak to members outside of the meeting about individual cases.

Noted

To consider the Committee's Work Programme. 

The Committee considered a report by the Transformation Programme Lead for Adult and Community Forward Together Programme which provided an updated work programme for 2018-19.

The Chairman reminded members that there was limited time available for in-depth reviews.  Updates on delayed discharges, integrated transport and mental health would be provided for the meeting on 9 January 2019.

Noted

To answer any questions received in writing by the Chief Executive by not later than 10.00am on 5 October 2018.

No questions were asked by members under Standing Order 20(2).