Issue - meetings

Report of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Health & Social Care) Dementia Working Group

The Cabinet considered the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care) Working Group which undertook a scrutiny inquiry into issues around dementia in the Borough.

Councillor Webster, Lead Member of the Working Group outlined the key findings and recommendations of the scrutiny inquiry and responded to questions from Cabinet Members.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       care home providers be advised by the Social Care and Well Being Directorate that it is considered to be essential for all care staff in care homes, particularly Elderly, Mental and Infirm (EMI) homes, and domiciliary care staff, to receive training and attend training courses in relation to all aspects of dementia;

(2)       the Social Care and Well Being Directorate be requested to consider and report back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care) on the possibility of the implementation of a voluntary local kite mark or certificate, stating that the staff at care homes have undertaken training in all aspects of dementia care;

(3)       the Social Care and Well Being Directorate be requested to consider and report back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care) on the possibility of delivering training to care staff within some of the larger care homes and that all care homes be advised of relevant training courses and invited to attend;

(4)       the intention for officers of the Social Care and Well Being Directorate to visit 2 star homes within the Borough be welcomed and the Strategic Director be requested to report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care) on the possibility of extending this to provide for officers to undertake visits to all care homes that are likely to have residents who have dementia;

(5)       the Social Care and Well Being Directorate be requested to prepare information on dementia and its early detection, to appear within the Directorate’s web pages on the Council’s website, providing links to the local Alzheimer’s Society and other useful organisations;

(6)            information on raising awareness of dementia, for all members of the public, be prepared by the Social Care and Well Being Directorate and circulated by the Head of Corporate Finance and Information Services with the Council Tax demands for 2011/12, the wording to be approved by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care), prior to its circulation;

(7)       it be acknowledged that dementia, and care for people with it, particularly for those people living alone without support networks, will increase in the future and place increasing demands on the Council and the NHS;

(8)       it be noted that Members of the Dementia Working Group intend to submit a motion to Council in due course, requesting support for a cross-political motion, calling on the Government to recognise that Sefton has a high number of older people which is likely to increase, within its population, and that the Central Government Formula Grant should allow the Council to meet adequately the needs that this section of the community requires, in order for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive.

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive, formally presenting the final report of the Dementia Working Group.

The Working Group had made a number of recommendations that required approval by both this Committee and the Cabinet.

Members of the Working Group outlined the findings of the review.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the thanks of the Committee be extended to the Working Group Members, namely Councillors McGuire, Pearson and the Lead Member, Councillor Webster, and also to the Acting Head of Overview and Scrutiny, for their input into the review;

(2)            subject to the Cabinet approving the recommendations in (3) below, an update report back to this Committee, on the implementation of the recommendations within the review, be requested in six months time;

(3)       the following recommendations be supported and commended to the Cabinet for approval:-

A.        That care home providers be advised by the Social Care and Well Being Directorate that it is considered to be essential for all care staff in care homes, particularly EMI homes, and domiciliary care staff, to receive training and attend training courses in relation to all aspects of dementia;

B.        that the Social Care and Well Being Directorate be requested to consider and report back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care) on the possibility of the implementation of a voluntary local kite mark or certificate, stating that the staff at care homes have undertaken training in all aspects of dementia care;

C.        that the Social Care and Well Being Directorate be requested to consider and report back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care) on the possibility of delivering training to care staff within some of the larger care homes and that all care homes be advised of relevant training courses and invited to attend;

D.        that the intention for officers of the Social Care and Well Being Directorate to visit 2 star homes within the Borough be welcomed and the Director be requested to report to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Health & Social Care) on the possibility of extending this to provide for officers to undertake visits to all care homes that are likely to have residents who have dementia;

E.        that the Social Care and Well Being Directorate be requested to prepare information on dementia and its early detection, to appear within the Directorate’s web pages on the Council’s website, providing links to the local Alzheimer’s Society and other useful organisations;

F.         that information on raising awareness of dementia, for all members of the public, be prepared by the Social Care and Well Being Directorate and circulated by the Head of Corporate Finance and Information Services with the Council Tax demands for 2011/12, the wording to be approved by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care), prior to its circulation;

G.        that the Cabinet be requested to acknowledge that dementia, and care for people with it, particularly for those people living alone without support networks, will increase in the future and place  ...  view the full minutes text for item 105