Issue - meetings

Adult Social Care Transformation Programme

Meeting: 16/11/2021 - People Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 27)

27 Adult Social Care Transformation pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To scrutinise outcomes from the implementation of the Adult Social Care Target Operating Model (TOM).

Decision:

RESOLVED that: the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

a)    Recorded its thanks to staff involved in the successful implementation of the Adult Social Care Target Operating Model.

b)    Requested to be provided with aligned data for the outcomes produced by the Adult Social Care Target Operating Model in the periods before and after vesting day for the new Northamptonshire authorities.

 

Minutes:

The Assistant Director – Safeguarding and Wellbeing presented the report, which gave an overview of the aims, development and implementation of the Adult Social Care Target Operating Model (TOM).  The TOM had been introduced and funded by Northamptonshire County Council (NCC).  It had now been operating for 13 months and it was important to review that it was achieving its purpose.  The Assistant Director highlighted the following points:

·         The need to develop a new approach had been informed by feedback from service users that the previous service model was not clear to them, involved too many different contacts and not enough coordination between organisations providing services.

·         Diagnostic work had made clear the proportion of time that practitioners were spending outside of contacts with service users and their families, which added to the need for a different approach.

·         Newton Europe had provided expert support for the development of the new TOM.  The fact that they were also now supporting the Integrated Care across Northamptonshire (iCAN) programme gave continuity.

·         The design of the new TOM had been led by practitioners and had included work with Northamptonshire Healthwatch on service users’ views.

·         New care pathways had operated from 19 October 2020 using the footprint for the unitary authorities.  Services were linked in to local communities, used the ‘three conversations’ approach and supported a more flexible, outcome-focussed response to service users’ needs.

·         The TOM was delivering clear benefits in terms of outcomes for service users.  It was ahead of target on financial delivery in all areas, which was assisting WNC to manage current demand on services.  The iCAN programme would further build on this progress.

·         WNC would continue to develop its service offer using a place-based model to deliver positive outcomes for service users and staff and that left flexibility for partnership working.  The next phase of development would focus on linking in to wider issues around housing and communities and the Integrated Care System. 

 

The Committee considered the report and members raised the following points:

·         It appeared that one of the challenges in getting appropriate care in a timely manner was the need for occupational therapy (OT) assessment.  Could this be carried out in a different way?

·         Where did the voluntary and community sector (VCS) fit into the model for care provision?  Age UK had lost staff at Northampton General Hospital due to the termination of a previous NCC contract.  There seemed to be a better position at Kettering General Hospital.

·         How did WNC deal with the implications of people being discharged from hospitals in neighbouring areas into the authority?

·         How could WNC ensure that support was in place before people reached the point of being unable to cope, particularly if this resulted in them feeling unable to engage with reablement support?

·         The reported performance outcomes for the TOM pre- and post-vesting day did not align.  It would be helpful to have further information that would enable a better comparison to be made.

·         What risk to WNC would result if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27