To consider a report by the Care Cabinet Member on the above.
Minutes:
A report was presented by the
Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, outlining the future vision and direction
of the Adult Service focusing specifically on the field of care for older
people.
The Cabinet Member for Adults
and Health outlined the background and stated that a huge change was in the
pipeline not only in Gwynedd, but for the whole of Wales. He
noted that a change of direction was vitally important and the key driver for
change was the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, together with
the views of older people about the type of services and provision they wish to
see in their old age. It was necessary
to conduct comprehensive work with users and at the same time the financial
cuts could not be ignored and if they sought to safeguard the current situation
this meant financial savings in other fields.
During the ensuing
discussion, the following points were highlighted by individual Members:
a)
Dual registration had been discussed several
times in the past and concern was expressed regarding the current system with
patients being discharged from hospital to residential care homes for
intermediate care and staff without appropriate qualifications to safeguard
patients’ needs. It was further felt that this was a
means for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
to get patients out of hospital sooner.
b)
Disgruntledness that
persons who had worked and contributed financially throughout their lives had
to pay for care whilst others received it free of charge.
c)
That older people were eager to be independent
for as long as possible before their health deteriorated.
d) The
above comment was supported and it was added that the infrastructure was not
correct and individuals accessed the service when they were in crisis.
e) It was
suggested that it would be beneficial for the Members of this Committee to
receive a copy of the Social Services and Well-being Act together with training
on the implications of the Act.
f) The
contents of the report disregarded the needs of older people and certain
sections were frivolous.
g) Whilst recognising that the principles and the
vision were excellent, concern was shared on how this would be implemented at
grassroots and how accountability would
be ensured.
h) Whilst agreeing that persons were eager to
live independently it had to be recognised that the service had a
responsibility if they were suffering and in the end this would be more costly.
i) Concern
that young doctors were not keen to work as GPs especially in rural areas.
j) It was stated that the need for care provision was increasing for incomers who move into the countryside and need a care provision as they have no family support living nearby.
k) The telecare service was vital to many older people.
l) That the respite care provision in Arfon was insufficient and there was a genuine need for such a provision for carers.
m) The
importance of collaboration with the third sector and reference was made to
schemes such as the “Befriending Scheme” that was a very successful provision.
The Cabinet Member for Adults
and Health and the officers responded to the above observations as follows:
(i)
They sympathised with individuals who had saved throughout
their lives and had to pay for the provision, however, they had to comply with
the regulations of the law in
this case.
(ii)
They tried not to overly protect adults which
would result in deterioration and the idea was for adults to be more physically
and mentally active and consequently this would reduce brain
deterioration.
(iii) The
wishes of older people who were keen to remain in their own homes had to be
respected.
(iv) That
the appendices to the report presented a picture of the type of information collected
as examples and they tried to emphasise that cases had to be dealt with in a
different way as a result of the changes and this would not only have an impact on staff but also on third sector
organisations.
(v) That
the Welsh Government website stressed the importance of giving attention to the wishes of the individual and
this was in compliance with the ‘Ffordd Gwynedd’
strategy.
(vi) That
the Act created a far reaching change and the importance of safeguarding the
most vulnerable individuals was stated. It
was further noted that there was a risk to safeguard those who do not require
the provision and it was important to listen
to individuals and provide in accordance to their needs. Individuals
could not receive a statutory service
before they needed it and therefore the importance
of getting the equation correct by safeguarding the most vulnerable people with a series of preventative
services was noted. It was stressed
that it was important for everyone to play their role as elected Members and officers
and to work together in order to succeed.
(vii)In
response to a query by a Member regarding the exact figure in terms of the
number of beds in Residential Care Homes in Gwynedd, it was promised that the details would be sent directly to the Member together
with information about the waiting list.
(viii)That there was no specific scheme for
respite care provision and they would look at how the development could
contribute to this.
(ix) The
first step was to complete the ‘Beginning to End’ piece of work and they would
then be in a situation to submit a report to this Scrutiny Committee in
September.
Resolved: (a) To request that the Interim Head of
Adults, Health and Well-being organises in consultation with the Training Unit
for Members of this Scrutiny Committee to receive training on the Social
Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
(b) To request that the Corporate Director and Statutory
Director of Social Services presents:
(i) details regarding the plans
afoot within the Strategic Plan to the preparatory meeting of the Scrutiny
Committee on 28 July 2015.
(ii) a report on the ‘Beginning to End’ scheme to the next meeting of
this Scrutiny Committee on 22 September 2015.