Agenda item

The committee’s comments are needed on the data update, and the update to the Llechen Lân workstreams

 

To accept the report and the work programme but express concern about the magnitude of the demographic challenge highlighted in the latest data.

 

To recommend to the Cabinet Member that the Llechen Lân board should develop a detailed action plan with clear milestone priorities and measures of success with particular attention to the workforce, extra care housing, the financial sustainability of the programme, the development of preventive services and an innovative way of delivering care, the promotion of preventive self-care and collaborate with the education department to include young people in the work programme.

 

To provide the committee with a further update within 12 months on progress against the Llechen Lân board's priorities, including the latest data on inward migration and deaths, and the work programme to deal with recruitment and care workforce challenges.

 

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being. Reference was made to the publication of the Llechen Lân report in September 2024, which outlined projections that would affect services for older people over the next 20 years. It was envisaged that the population would change over the next 20 years and would significantly affect the demand for care in Gwynedd. It was explained that there was a need to consider the ability to satisfy the need and predict the expected financial pressures. When considering the 2026 data update, there was concern that the actual situation would be more extreme and much worse than the original forecasts. It was explained that the report detailed the forecasts up to 2047.

 

-       Attention was drawn to the impact the population projections had on the workforce projections, and it was noted that the increase was alarming, bearing in mind the demand there would be for services and the need for staff to care for the older population.

-       It was trusted that the departments were delivering within the work programme but it was recognised that a great deal more needed to be done to deliver due to the increasing need over the next few years.

-       It was explained that there was a need to do more and create alternative strategies to be able to cope with future demand.

-       It was emphasised that more national attention was needed regarding this and to constantly refer to this over the coming years. 

 

Observations and questions were welcomed from Members;

 

-       In response to a question, it was confirmed that the projections were specific to Gwynedd and based on local data.  It was explained that people tended to live longer with an illness and needed more care for a longer period, which placed pressure on resources and services. It was noted that the healthy life expectancy age had fallen in Gwynedd, due to various factors such as being over-weight, and therefore there would be more people requiring care earlier. Emphasis was placed on the importance of preventative work to try and cope with the increasing challenges.

 

-       Concern was expressed about the content of the report and the vulnerable situation facing the county. There was a discussion regarding the lack of young people to serve older persons, and the departments were encouraged to act at once on the up-and-coming work programme. It was questioned why the Education Department was not actively involved with the work programme, and the importance of the younger generation. It was elaborated that the county's young people were core to the county's prosperity, and it was noted that the Education Department had a duty to ensure that young people receive the correct education of how to live a healthy life as part of the preventative work. It was argued that there was a need to promote the care careers to young people to attract them to the care workplace. It was noted that it was key to provide career opportunities for the county's young people to try and ensure that they do not leave the county to look for work and bring up a family beyond Gwynedd. The comments were accepted and it was ensured that it was possible to work with the education department as part of this work.

 

-       During the discussion, a Member suggested the possibility of rewarding people in Gwynedd to have more children, to increase the population to ensure that there were enough people in Gwynedd to care for the older generation. It was acknowledged that this was a national and international problem by now and it was a confusing and complex matter. There was a discussion regarding social changes and expectations, development of contraception methods and the impact of poverty as part of this.

 

-       The number of overseas workers that come to the area and provide care to the older generation were considered and it was recognised that the county was currently dependent on overseas workers. It was anticipated that there would be additional problems with this in the near future, and it was noted that this would also need to be taken into account when making future plans. It was noted that a report on the Angor Framework will be presented to Cabinet in September/October which will set out the Council's objectives for promoting a healthy life to be sustained in the future. It was noted that it had been submitted through Public Health Wales and the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board to see what the Council could do to support people to live healthy, happy and fit lives within their communities.

 

-       A Member asked for more information in relation to the extra care homes that were being planned in Gwynedd. In response, it was confirmed that these were extra care homes to provide care to support older people to live more independently. It was confirmed that there were currently 3 in Gwynedd, in Bala, Penrhosgarnedd and Hafod y Gest in Porthmadog. Details were given of the care homes, noting that they included a restaurant and community accessible spaces for people to attend as they wish. It was noted that it was possible to adapt the houses in accordance with the personal needs of the tenants to ensure that individuals can continue to live within their communities for as long as possible. It was explained that these do not operate as a residential care home. It was explained that the Council had recently commissioned a piece of work from the 'Housing Lynn' organisation which were experts in housing across the country. Attention was drawn to the report's findings which highlight the need for different accommodation for older people in Gwynedd over the next 20 years to correspond to the Llechen Lân timetable. It was noted that it highlighted what type of accommodation was needed, and in which areas, and this included extra care housing. There was concern that this would cost the Council millions and that plans took time to become established. It was confirmed that extra care housing was part of the scheme in Penrhos.

 

-       As part of the discussion, mention was made of the work of the Care Academy. Details of the scheme were given, stating that there was a clear career pathway for individuals to gain experience and qualifications in the care field, whilst being paid for their work. It was recognised that more funding was needed to expand this provision and everyone was assured that it was currently a success and that many young people were keen to join and qualify in the field.

 

-       There was a discussion about the workforce in the field of care. It was explained that the developments ensure that people have more freedom and choice to determine what type of care they want, in line with their personal needs. It was confirmed that this would reduce the need and pressure on traditional care homes, and expand the provision available to different people, such as unpaid carers with support. It was explained that direct payments to carers reduce the demand on traditional care provision.

 

-       It was asked whether the department was confident that it was possible to recruit and retain additional staff to meet the demand for services? It was asked whether the department had modelled what the impact would be on the growth in demand on the workforce and staff? In response, it was confirmed that the department had been looking at workforce planning in conjunction with human resources. It was noted that there was an intention to appoint a workforce planning officer in the field of care because of the recruitment challenges. It was hoped that the officer would proceed with many of the suggestions raised in the discussion. It was noted that there was an intention to report soon to the committee on this workstream.

 

-       It was asked whether the department had modelled the impact of the growth in demand? It was asked whether there were any discussions underway with local colleges, the Health Board and independent education providers to look at developing and increasing the workforce? In response, it was confirmed that this work was ongoing and that developments were underway. It was noted that regular discussions were taking place with partners to expand education in the care field and to develop skills to promote care work in Gwynedd. It was noted that the discussions were also taking place nationally. It was hoped that the Llechen Lân report showed that the Council was working proactively and was at the forefront and working to have a sustainable service to care for the older generation, despite the ongoing challenges.

 

-       Surprise was expressed that many young people qualified in the field of care in Gwynedd and were unable to get a job locally. It was noted that this created serious difficulties in the field, as there was insufficient funding to provide jobs for individuals who have taken time to get their education and have to move to find work. It was stressed that there was a need to look at the model within the workforce. 

 

-       Reference was made to the provision of palliative care for residents in Gwynedd. A Member expressed concern that many people were dying due to a lack of care provision and that the demand for services was so high. Frustration was expressed regarding the waiting times for ambulances nationally. It was emphasised that proper treatment needs to be provided promptly to people. It was asked whether it was possible to obtain data on the number of deaths in Gwynedd and from what cause, to try to plan to reduce the numbers and provide prompt care to people in need. In response to this, it was noted that this was part of the department's preventive work discussions.

 

-       As part of the conversation about the provision of care for older people, a member expressed frustration that the same provision was not available for younger people who suffer from mental health issues. It was asked whether the care home provision could be expanded to include younger people suffering from mental health conditions.

 

-       It was questioned why section 4 of the report, which indicated the next steps, was blank? It was asked what specific strategic decisions would the Llechen Lân board be looking for from the Scrutiny Committee to guide the next piece of work? In response to the observation, it was explained that this section was deliberately blank for the officers to discuss the steps forward with members of the Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet at the Leadership Team Meetings. Reference was made to the intention to continuously scrutinise the issue as part of the developmental work over the coming years.

 

DECISION

 

To accept the report and the work programme but to express concern about the magnitude of the demographic challenge highlighted in the latest data.

 

To recommend to the Cabinet Member that the Llechen Lân board should develop a detailed action plan with clear milestone priorities and measures of success with particular attention to the workforce, extra care housing, the financial sustainability of the programme, the development of preventive services and an innovative way of delivering care, the promotion of preventive self-care and collaborate with the education department to include young people in the work programme.

 

To provide the committee with a further update within 12 months on progress against the Llechen Lân board's priorities, including the latest data on inward migration and deaths, and the work programme to deal with recruitment and care workforce challenges.