A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Council and councillors

Agenda item

HOMECARE RECOMMISSIONING

To receive a presentation from Mr M Andrews (Deputy Director for People)

Minutes:

A presentation (appended to the minutes) was received from Mr Mark Andrews, Deputy Director for People, the purpose of which was to brief Members on a holistic homecare model that was being trialled in Rutland.

 

The Chairman welcomed the following attendees to the meeting:

  • Janet Musson – Service User
  • Tammy Thurley - Community Support Services Team Manager
  • Joanne Carter - MICARE Community Support Coordinator
  • Carol Taggart - MICARE Community Support Worker
  • Tracey Taylor - MICARE Community Support Worker
  • Gaynor Poole - MICARE Community Support Worker
  • Liz Perkins - MICARE Community Support Worker
  • Tracey Gilbert – Community Support Services Manager

 

Ms Musson was invited to share her experience of the service with the Panel.  Ms Musson noted the following:

  • She had been receiving 30 hours of care on her return home from residential care. Ms Musson was discharged from hospital into residential care  after a fall;
  • The Support Workers had helped her to improve her mobility and confidence and her care package had reduced to 2 hours per week as a result; she has also had her driving license re-issued.
  • The Support Workers had also helped her with moving house, and confidence to use the stairs so she could sleep upstairs again.

 

 

During discussion the following points were noted:

 

  1. The model had been very successful for complex cases, but would need to be tested for low level care and may need adapting;
  2. Care was person centred and flexible, allowing the support worker to form a relationship and use their judgment, taking into account the feelings and preferences of the Service User.  This takes a specific type of person and recruitment could be difficult;
  3. The deadline for recommissioning homecare had been pushed back to allow for further work and evidence to be developed;
  4. Support workers discussed the needs of the service user with them and designed a support plan around those needs.  The service user was more important than timescales, so support workers could have a chat and a cup of tea with the service user before assisting with tasks.  They were able to spend less time on one visit if appropriate and more time on another to suit the service user;
  5. Support Workers felt that they were able to get to know the service users and were trusted to work flexibly in the best interests of the service user, this led to a feeling of achievement when the outcomes were good and greater job satisfaction;
  6. Members observed that the staff were committed and engaged and that as the service was developed their input should be sought;
  7. Growing the service would be complex, particularly as it had been trialled in Oakham which brought economies in terms of travelling costs and time, but also in terms of changing the organisational culture to accept a different way of working;
  8. Members noted that the service must bring a great sense of relief not only to service users, but to their families who must be reassured by the focus on the emotional, physical and social well-being of their loved ones;
  9. The service was not more expensive than more traditional models, but the savings were not always directly attributable to the Local Authority; and
  10. Members requested that the success of this model should be highlighted in local media.

 

AGREED:

 

The Panel ENDORSED the model and awaited further update on how the model might be adapted to roll out in other areas of the County.

 

The Chairman expressed the thanks of the panel to the service user and support workers in attendance at the meeting and the information they had provided.

 

Supporting documents: