The Sub-Committee received a presentation which highlighted (i) the overall budget for adult social care; (ii) the position at month 6 of the 2021/22 financial year; (iii) delivery of savings; and (iv) pressures/risks going forward and the approach to managing these.  A summary of the questions raised by the Sub-Committee and feedback given is summarised below:

The Sub-Committee

v  Agreed that the quality, reliability, and effectiveness of our adult social care system depends on a workforce that feels valued, supported, and encouraged to be the best. 

v  Commented that this support will need to be focused on levelling up the knowledge, skills, and experience of care colleagues across the sector through the establishment of a new knowledge and skills framework, promoting varied careers pathways, and making the most of any investment in learning and development.

v  Noted that patients can defer their operation whilst remaining on the waiting list for treatment, although until now there has been no systematic way of capturing that a patient has chosen to defer treatment (e.g. concerns about COVID-19).

v  Noted that the Department of Health and Social Care will be publishing a White Paper to improve health and social care for all and that the Council and its partners will continue to work with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England as they produce further guidance and support to facilitate the changes envisaged by this bill. Accordingly, Members indicated that they wanted to receive details of any risks envisaged to the delivery of  services to residents from the health and care Bill.

v  Requested a clear outline of process of appeals and fair process for panels and appeals e.g. the scope for a residents’ voice within the debt recovery panels and if individuals might be able to attend their panel meetings.

v  Noted the impacts of Covid on people's physical and mental well-being which can manifest through an impact on their needs for care and support.

v  Acknowledged that carers have also been adversely impacted during the pandemic in several ways and therefore the support that they may have been offered may not been available during significant periods of time through the period of the pandemic and therefore for several reasons people’s needs have become more complex because of that.  In addition, the Borough must work out a whole range of financial implications that are going to start to have an impact and that work has only just started as the Government is due to make further announcements that will provide more details.

v  Noted that from October 2023 the (i) Government will introduce a new £86,000 cap on the amount anyone in England will need to spend on their personal care over their lifetime, (ii) upper capital limit (UCL), the point at which people become eligible to receive some financial support from their local authority, will rise to £100,000 from the current £23,250, and (iii) lower capital limit (LCL), the threshold below which people will not have to pay  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6