To consider any questions with notice from Members received in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule No 219 and No 219A.
Minutes:
One question had been received from Miss Waller. Miss Waller put the question to the Portfolio Holder for Health and Adult Social Care:
Question
When the Cabinet approved the development of the Community Agents Scheme it was that the scheme be provided by a partnership of Spire Homes and the Rural Community Council’s Community Spirit. I have recently heard a presentation from both Spire Homes and Community Spirit and it appears these agencies were not working together and have, in fact, set up separate schemes; the Spire Homes’ scheme replacing sheltered housing wardens. Can the Portfolio Holder:
a) Give this Scrutiny Panel an explanation of the contractual and management arrangements of the Community Agents’ Scheme;
b) Give an assurance that a full report on the activities and impact of this scheme will be brought to this Scrutiny Panel as soon as possible given the scheme has been running 7 of its 12 months; and
c) Explain what is to happen to the scheme next April and beyond as it was funded for only one year.
The Chair invited the Portfolio Holder, Mr Clifton to respond to the question. The response is shown below.
Answer
‘The paper went to Informal Cabinet only as the scheme is overseen by the Health and Wellbeing Board under the Better Care Fund. The paper which went in March outlining the operational structure noted:
The contribution to the scheme from the Better Care Fund is £185,216 (from an allocation of £200,000), and the funding from the Lottery via Rural Community Council is £99,980.
The two services running are complimentary, although we have no influence on the Rural Community Council scheme as this is entirely funded by the Lottery. The scheme, now being run by the Rural Community Council as ‘Round Rutland’, combines two of the elements of the original scheme which were outlined in the Informal Cabinet paper in March. As such, the Rural Community Council is still delivering towards the overarching aims, simply under a different scheme name, and these are separate elements to those being delivered by the Community Agents.
The Community Agents scheme is not a replacement for sheltered housing wardens. It works across the county with all age ranges. It will offer some low level support to elderly individuals in any Registered Social Landlords properties as part of the equitable access for anyone in Rutland who needs the help and support which the Community Agents offer.
The Council has a contract with Spire Homes for the provision of this service; no contract is currently in place between the Council and the Rural Community Council. The Community Agent scheme is funded in its entirety by the Better Care Fund and is subject to a contract with Rutland County Council with a detailed specification. In addition, there are 3 other partners also providing dedicated support via the scheme:
1. Citizen’s Advice Rutland
2. Age UK
3. Home Straight
Rutland County Council has contracts with these three partners separately to the Spire Homes contract. Spire Homes provide performance information on behalf of all the partners on a monthly basis and have quarterly formal contract monitoring meetings. A monthly report is also tabled at the Health and Wellbeing Board’s Integration Executive as part of the Better Care Fund monitoring arrangements.
There is monthly activity and performance information available, including case studies, which is used to manage the contract. The scheme was discussed in detail at the September Health and Wellbeing Board and the papers are publicly available on the council website.
An evaluation of the scheme is underway as part of a wider Better Care Fund programme interim evaluation. This is being done to help shape the 2016-17 Better Care Fund plan, and will provide an opportunity to reflect on the scheme and how it might be further developed. The resulting evaluation and new programme will be presented to and approved by two partnership-based Boards, the Better Care Fund Section 75 Partnership Board and by the Health and Wellbeing Board (provisionally in January 2016, but timing may need to be adjusted depending on national Better Care Fund timetables and dependencies). The January Adults Scrutiny meeting is dedicated to the budget, but the evaluation and plan could be shared with you if members felt it appropriate.
To illustrate activities and impact to date, by the end of October, 227 clients had accessed the community agents or health agent, for one-off information and advice or for more intensive support and advice. Everyone exiting the service so far has done so having made progress against their identified issues (e.g. looking after yourself, feeling positive, managing symptoms, managing money). Work to encourage and establish new community groups is also progressing with nine in place.
Recent case studies include an isolated individual with health difficulties who has been helped to remain living at home via a range of support including increased companionship and support for day-to-day living. In a further case, the support needs of a lady in her 80s had changed following a period in hospital, and the community agents facilitated a range of work by different agencies to help her and her husband to remain living at home, including levelling access to the house, adaptations within the home and fall detectors.
The initial funding of one year was instigated for two reasons: firstly in line with the Better Care Fund arrangements whereby we had no future confirmation of funding at the time; and secondly in order to ensure that we had the ability to sufficiently revise the scheme in line with any changes needed to ensure its effectiveness. We now have confirmation of the Better Care Fund funding for next financial year. The scheme will be revised in line with the evaluation being undertaken. This will allow the scheme to build on aspects of delivery which are having greatest impact and re-focus where necessary. In line with our wider commissioning intentions, the Community Agents Scheme will be considered as part of our overall commissioning work with the voluntary/community and faith sectors due to take place over the next twelve months.
The Community Agents – Better Care Fund (Spire Homes (Longhurst Group) Ltd) contract runs from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016, with a 12 month extension option which is likely to be invoked until 31st March 2017, albeit under a revised specification.’