(An officer took the chair for these appointments)

Councillor Margaret Mead was appointed Chair. This nomination was proposed by Councillor Kellett and seconded by Councillor Arram. The appointment was agreed.

Councillor Kellett was appointed as Vice Chair. This was proposed by Councillor M. Mead, and seconded by Councillor Arram. The appointment was agreed.

Councillor Arram was welcomed to his first Adult Social Services Review Panel meeting by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Adult Social Services Review Panel's meeting held on 24 April 2013 be signed as a correct record.

[NB the meeting in October 2013 had not taken place]

None

None

RESOLVED that the allocation of items between Part A and Part B of the agenda be confirmed.

The Head of Joint Commissioning and Learning Disability Services gave a short presentation setting out Croydon's Action Plan following the Winterbourne abuse enquiry.

On 31 May 2011 Panorama broadcast a program evidencing abuse of patients with a learning disability at Winterbourne View, a private hospital in South Gloucestershire. The abuses uncovered have led to criminal convictions and enquiries. In December 2012 the Department of Health produced a report ‘Transforming Care: a national response to Winterbourne View Hospital'.

Following the report each Local Authority and Clinical Commissioning Group is required to have in place;

• Systems and procedures in place to ensure that the type of abuses that occurred at Winterbourne will not be repeated.
• Services for people with a Learning Disability who exhibit behaviours that challenge are expected to maintain high quality, safety, dignity, care and promote access to their local community.

The report presented to the Panel sets out the actions Croydon Services have taken in response to the Department of Health report.

The officer explained that there are 11 main local areas that actions and progress will be monitored:

1. Models of partnership

2. Understanding the money

3. Case management for individuals

4. Current Review Programme

5. Safeguarding

6. Commissioning arrangements

7. Developing local teams and services

8. Prevention and crisis response capacity

9. Understanding the population who need/receive services

10. Children and adults - transition planning

11. Current and future market requirements and capacity

Following the presentation the Chair of the Panel congratulated the officers for their hard work. 

Members of the Panel asked questions covering a number of aspects of the report and the presentation. These included; were there sufficient resources to carry out the plan, the assessment and treatment procedures, discharges from hospital and follow up care. 

Following the discussion the Panel RESOLVED to note the report.

The Complaints Resolution Manager presented the report.

The Local Authority Social Services and National Health Complaints Regulations (England) 2009 (the Regulations) requires local authorities to produce an annual report specifying the number of complaints received, the number of complaints that were well-founded, the number of complaints referred to a local commissioner, and a summary of the nature of complaints and service improvements arising.

This report considered by the Panel summarised the department's management of complaints considered in the 20012/13 financial year under the 2009 regulations, as well as complaints about adult social care considered through the council's local complaints procedure. The report also gave details in anonymised form of individual cases to help the panel understand the nature of complaints.

Following detailed questioning the Chair of the Panel thanked officers for the detailed report including the case and resolutions examples and the actions taken to bring in service improvements.

The Panel RESOLVED to note the report.

Officers introduced the report saying that this was the 5th Annual Report and one of the longest.

This 2012/13 annual report for the first time includes comparative safeguarding data with other neighbouring and similar local authorities. The comparative data relates to 2011/12 information which is the latest available and reflects the decrease in safeguarding referrals in Croydon last year, a trend which has been reversed with this year's figures.

The Panel were advised that the data shows that:

• The most common group subject to abuse allegations are older / elderly white women with physical disabilities / frailty.
• The most common locations of abuse are the clients' own homes and care homes.
• The most common category of person alleged to have caused harm are family members and care staff (the former may also be carers).
• The most common types of abuse are physical, financial and neglect.
• Small majority of allegations are not substantiated compared with those that are either substantiated or are inconclusive- although this does not necessarily indicate that the allegations themselves are false - simply that it is not always easy to know at first sight whether someone who may have suffered harm or sustained an injury has been abused.

Following the officers introduction members of the Panel asked a number of questions these regarded; serious case reviews and where the recommendation are sent. Officers advised that all executive summaries are sent to Kings College Research Unit. Workshops are offered and half day seminars to disseminate the learning.

The Executive Director of Adult Services, Health and Housing advised that over 400 people had signed up as dignity champions and other authorities are following Croydon's model.

The Panel thanked officers for their hard work in both preparation of the report and their ongoing work in the area of community care.

The Panel RESOLVED to note the report.

Officers introduced the report saying that Croydon has a high number of care and nursing homes and domiciliary care agencies. These providers make a significant contribution to the economy of the borough. In partnership with the care industry the local authority has led on a Dignity in Care campaign aimed at re-focusing kindness and compassion into everyday care work.

The Dignity Campaign focuses on ten different aspects of dignity. This is known as the 10 point challenge and is outlined below.

High quality services that respect people's dignity should:

1) Have a zero tolerance of all forms of abuse
2) Support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family
3) Treat each person as an individual by offering a personalised service
4) Enable people to maintain the maximum possible level of independence, choice and control
5) Listen and support people to express their needs and wants
6) Respect people's right to privacy
7) Ensure people feel able to complain without fear of retribution
8) Engage with family members and carers as care partners
9) Assist people to maintain confidence and a positive self esteem
10) Act to alleviate people's loneliness and isolation.

There are over 400 people and a number of Councillors (26) that have already signed up as Dignity Champions and the Council are keen that more people to sign up as Dignity Champions. Members of the Panel will encourage other Councillors to sign up. 

The Panel asked what was being done to get GPs to sign up as Champions, officers advised that Croydon's take up was higher than neighbouring boroughs and although some may not be signed up assessments are undertaken by other providers.

The Panel thanked officers for the report and was pleased to note the developments for the future.

RESOLVED to note the report.

The Panel noted the dates for the next two meetings.

• 29th January 2014
• 23rd April 2014

Was moved and seconded and RESOLVED: that the Press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or proceedings to be conducted, that there will be disclosure of confidential or exempt information falling within paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

SUMMARY of proceedings of exempt part B proceedings
(Section 100C(2) LGA 1972 requires a summary to be provided without disclosing the exempt information where in consequence of exclusion of parts of the minutes which display exempt information the minutes of the meeting would not be intelligible as a record.

The Panel considered a report that gave information and updates regarding those care homes currently being monitored through the serious concern protocol, and supported by the Care Support Team. A serious concern may be linked to a poor CQC report or due to a serious incident(s) occurring within the establishment.

RESOLVED to note the report.