CABINET MEMBER REPORT TO THE COUNCIL

Posted By: Dale Mulgrew
Date Posted: 01/05/2009

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET MEMBER REPORT TO THE COUNCIL



REPORT OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE TOTHE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON 29th APRIL 2009


Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Health and Social Care Portfolio.

Adult Care

STARS is officially rated ‘Good’:

I start this final report of the Metropolitan year by acknowledging the great work which has gone into establishing the new STARS service i.e. short term assessment and re-ablement.
The official launch took place recently to a great fanfare. And after an inspection the regulator was impressed with the not just the delivery of the service, but also the results that the service has been achieving - around 50% of service users through STARS no longer require any further ongoing care.
The service has now been passed over to operations after its pilot phase.

Learning Disability Service:

The Learning disabilities partnership board has decided that for its May meeting it will hold an annual general meeting in the Great Hall at Rochdale Town Hall, which will take place between 12pm and 2pm on Friday May 8th.

By increasing the profile of this meeting, it is felt that we are able to place a focus on the strategic direction of the service. We will be inviting a keynote speaker called Dave Spencer, who is the North West lead of the Government’s national agenda for Learning Disabilities called ‘Valuing People now.’

Mental Health:

In March I joined Cllr Robinson on a visit to Rockley House in Littleborough to learn about the Community Restart project that works across Rochdale.

Community Restart helps people with mental illness, who have challenging needs and behaviours. We were both impressed with the set up and the surroundings, as this residential facility is in the heart of the town centre. Moreover, we were able to speak to some of the residents who shared with us experiences that indicated that they were content and well looked after.

Domiciliary Care

A recent documentary from BBC Panorama once more placed into sharp focus the world of home care and the issues that all local authorities face to ensure that levels and standards are maintained. It is well documented that across the nation there is an ageing population, and it is my belief that this is one of the major challenges facing local authorities for the future.

The Panorama programme regrettably highlighted many bad practises and instances of shoddy care by different care providers. It is my understanding that only one of the exposed providers operate in Rochdale. Also, although this particular provider is a national company, it works on a franchise model. I am assured by our head of transformation that he is resolute that the local outfit in Rochdale operating under this name is maintaining standards.

However, there is about to be a shake up in contracting of homecare in the borough as Adult Care is re-tendering all its homecare contracts shortly. It will also be setting up a preferred providers list.

Ally this to the introduction of innovations such as personal budgets, electronic monitoring, and telecare, and you quickly realise that the world of care is evolving very rapidly.


Health


Intermediate Care Review

The HMR local NHS has commissioned an independent review of intermediate care within the borough. I was invited to participate and made sure that my input was recorded.

It is very clear that the hospital discharge process within the borough would be greatly assisted by a step down intermediate care facility, allowing individuals to recover and convalesce away from the intensity of a full acute bed.

This was again proven through the opening of a winter pressures ward at Rochdale Infirmary for the first few months of this year. This greatly reduced the number of problems and complaints normally experienced at such a time, because people are given the time to be handled sensitively and safely.

I am satisfied that there are a number of stakeholders who are asking for this development and so we await the findings next month and what action will be taken by the PCT.



Livelive 2009:

I just offer a supporting statement of praise to the organisers of this year’s LiveLife health conference which took place at the Middleton Arena at the beginning of March.

There was an excellent representation from different organisations and services in a thriving market place, held in the main auditorium. This effort was richly rewarded by a fine attendance from the general public. I also believe there was a number of take ups of for free gym memberships that were on offer at the event, which all bodes well.

This also showed effective partnership working between Link4Life and the PCT, which really was a tremendous success and a great boost for the local health sector.


Health and Well Being partnership board:

This thematic partnership under the borough’s LSP arrangements is now operating at full steam. This is after a lot of exhaustive preparatory work over the last six months.

We have a monthly executive that sits, for which opposition members will be invited to attend very soon; and we will hold full partnership board meetings three times a year.

The May meeting of the full partnership will be an annual review of health issues and an assessment on delivery against aims and objectives. This will take place on the 21st of May.


Birch Hill Low Secure Unit

Certain members maybe aware that the Pennine Care Trust (who manage most of the borough’s Mental Health services) applied to the Council for planning permission to build a low secure unit at their Birch Hill Site.

The planning permission was granted by the Pennine Township planning committee, but unfortunately the Council was at fault on a couple of technicalities, so the permission has been quashed by the Council. This has not deterred the Pennine Care Trust, as I understand that it is their intention to resubmit a modified planning permission later on in the year.

Supporting People
Audit Commission Inspection:

The Audit commission conducted another service inspection of the supporting people service at the end of March. This was a requirement from last year’s rather modest judgement.

We will know the results of this inspection at the beginning of June. Nonetheless, I would like to thank all members of the SP Consultative Group for their commitment and dynamism as displayed when the inspectors participated in a focus group session during their visit.

At the final feedback that I was in attendance at, the lead inspector commented that there was now a ‘high level of support from members.’

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the health and social care Portfolio.

PortReport.Counci