Cyflwynwyd gan:Cyng / Cllr. Dafydd Meurig
Decision:
¾
It
was agreed to establish a new model for providing and commissioning domiciliary
care based on sub-areas, and jointly-commission with the Health Board.
¾
It
was approved to implement on the grounds of the favoured option, namely support
a mixed market by tendering in a way that is likely to lead to achieving the
aims of the department.
¾ To ask the Department to review the
financial model in order to ensure that it does not hinder their ability to
achieve their savings and report back if there is a risk of that.
Minutes:
Presented by Cllr Dafydd Meurig
DECISION
¾
It was agreed to establish a new model for
providing and commissioning domiciliary care based on areas, and to jointly
commission with the Health Board.
¾
It was
approved to implement on the grounds of the favoured option, namely to maintain
a mixed market by tendering in a way that was likely to lead to achieving the
aims of the department.
¾
To ask
the Adults Department to review the financial model in order to ensure that it
did not hinder their ability to achieve their savings, and to report back were
there any risk of that.
DISCUSSION
The report was presented and the decision was noted,
emphasising that the reason the new model was needed was to move away from the
practice of funding per package or individual, and to create a flexible
provision across areas. It was added that the favoured option was to maintain
the internal:external market split. It was noted that financial and legal risks
had emerged during the negotiation phase, but that arrangements were in place.
It was expressed that a number of pilots had been undertaken
at various geographical locations across the county. It was expressed that
these had demonstrated strong examples of flexible care and that the service
users were happy with the care received. It was added that the new model for
providing and commissioning domiciliary care would be jointly commissioned with
the Health Board.
To provide context, the Senior Operational Manager added
that there was a shortage of domiciliary care available. It was expressed that
in order to further understand what was needed, the situation as a whole needed
to be looked at. It was noted that discussions had been held with service users
and emphasis was placed on the importance of a pilot in order to turn the idea
into reality.
Observations arising from the discussion
¾
It was noted that discussions had been held with
the unions. The unions were reasonably supportive but there was a need to
ensure as little an impact as possible on staff. It was expressed that
residents and service users were central to the new model, with staff a very
close second. It was expressed that there was no intention for people to
transfer to other providers should they not wish to do so, and arrangements
would be in place to protect staff. It was added that discussions were being
held with the unions to ensure that the transfer process had as little impact
as possible on staff and to ensure that employment was maintained.
¾
The new model was welcomed, but it was
emphasised that recruitment was a historical problem, and enquiries were made
as to whether the new model would change this. It was expressed that the new
model would encourage and give staff the opportunity to be more creative, and
that a higher proportion of the funding available would go to staff.
As funding the scheme meant using savings deriving from
changes to work arrangements and as the Adults Department was also dependent on
this to achieve its savings programme, concern was raised with regard to the
financial model following the Cabinet's discussions the previous week around
the Department's performance. It was emphasised that there was a need to ensure
that the new model did not hinder the Adults Department's ability to achieve
its savings, and it was asked that the situation be thoroughly assessed, and
reported back upon should there be any risk of that.
Awdur:Aled Davies
Supporting documents: