Agenda item

Question time for the Cabinet Member for Families, Health and Social Care, Councillor Louisa Woodley

The Cabinet Member for Families, Health and Social Care delivered a presentation on her portfolio.

The Presentation included highlights and challenges faced which included the following:

-  Transformation of Adult Social Care

-  Savings on Over 65’s care

-  Completion of phase one of the Croydon One Alliance programme

-  The Woodley Review

-  Backlog of ordinary residence related costs

-  Success of LIFE team programme with GP’s expressing a desire for an extension of the programme.

-  Success of the hospital out of care network

-  Workforce reform

-  CQC rating of SLAM community services as requiring improvement. A comprehensive plan had been developed to address the issues highlighted.

The focus for 2018/19 was to include:

-  Management of Budget Pressures due to the aging population and increases in complex need.

- Driving phase two of the Croydon One Alliance

- Further Integration of services

- Lobbying of Central Government for further funding for Mental Health. Croydon currently spent £50 per head below the national average.

In response to Member questions as to morale of permanent front line staff and the situation with recruitment and retention, officers advised that there had been an increase in morale of staff. Senior management was ensuring that they were interacting on a regular basis with staff and the line of visibility had increased. Information derived from staff was that they were aware that services were now being delivered differently. There had been an extensive drive on reduction of agency staff and work was being completed to encourage conversion to permanent contacts.

Members queried the number of agency staff. Officers responded that there were 74 agency staff which was equivalent to 30% of staff, the target was to reduce the numbers to 15% and incentives to make this possible such as a London wide network to cap levels of pay were being considered.

The Sub-Committee was informed that staff were being encouraged to concentrate on their personal development and senior management were working on assisting the workforce to realise their potential through various learning and development programmes. There was a focus on achieving a balance between capability, competence and passion.

The Sub-Committee Members asked what areas were of most concern and presented challenges for the coming years. Officers responded that the impact of overspend on the budget of ordinary residents’ care as a result of people moving into the borough was a key challenge. There were also concerns regarding the appropriate funding of mental health services, in particular the Child, Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) which was not been adequately funded. There had been a rise in incidences of self-harm despite a national suicide prevention strategy. There was work being undertaken in those areas to address ongoing issues.

The Sub-Committee further learned that there were challenges faced in the fragility of the care market and the sustainability of costs. This was a national issue, with a central government funding consultation to take place in March 2018 which Croydon would be looking to influence through suggestions on how to create ways of working to support service users.

Members praised the work completed to date by the Croydon One Alliance and also the Dementia Friendly Borough initiative. They commented that they would like more work done to encourage partnership working with businesses in the area to ensure that they assumed more responsibility for the welfare of the residents in the community.

The Sub-Committee thanked the Cabinet Member and Officers for their responses to questions.