Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Moores and S. Hussain. Portfolio Holder, Councillor Brownridge and Jayne Ratcliffe also submitted their apologies.

Councillor J Harrison declared a non-disclosable interest in Item 8 Adult Social Care workforce update in respect of a family member who was a service user.

There were no public questions received.

The Minutes of the Adults Social Care and Health Scrutiny Board held on 16^th January 2024 are attached for approval.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th January 2024 be approved as a correct record.

This report providers an overview of provision delivered by sexual health services in the borough to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of Oldham’s residents.

The Director of Public Health submitted a  report providing an overview of provision delivered by sexual health services in the borough to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of Oldham’s residents.

Andrea Entwistle, Senior Business and Commissioning Manager introduced a presentation  given by HCRG Care Group (Stephen Giles) and Early Break (Janine Day) providing an update on progress made by the services in improving sexual health outcomes and achieving budget reduction targets.

It was reported that having a high functioning sexual health offer for our residents is an essential component of the range of activity required to achieve better population health and reduce demand on health and social care services. As per Public Health funding conditions and mandated responsibilities, the Council is required to ensure access to sexual health services for all of its residents.

Oldham, Rochdale and Bury Councils (ORB) collaboratively commission the provision of an Integrated Sexual Health Service (ISHS) to support better population health and meet our mandated responsibilities for open access sexual health services. HCRG Care Group had been commissioned to provide Oldham, Rochdale and Bury Integrated Sexual Health Service (ORBISH) since 1 April 2022, for an initial 5-year contract term, with an option to extend by up to 5 further years. 

HCRG also work in collaboration with Early Break to provide an integrated Young People’s Sexual Health and Substance Misuse Service (Meeting Your Needs Oldham – MYNO) and have been commissioned to deliver this service since 1 April 2021. Cabinet recently approved the option to extend the contract for a period of 2 years, until 31 March 2026. 

The presentation provided information of Oldham’s sexual health profile and gave an update on both walk-in and on-line clinical activity in the past year. This showed that there had been a reduction in on-line services but that there had been an increase in walk in patients.  It was acknowledged that their were confidentiality concerns about pharmacies and that improvements were being looked at.

The presentation highlighted that Oldham, like most other areas, had seen a increase in the rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) with a particularly concerning increase in Gonorrhoea and Syphilis. A key aim of the partnership was to target harder to reach groups.

The presentation also emphasised the increasing importance of pharmacies in delivering contraception and sexual health services. This reduced the pressure on GP surgeries and offered wider choice to people seeking support.

MYNO has been subject to a budget reduction for the periods of 2023/24 and 2024/25. Savings of £65,000 had been achieved in 2023/24  in areas of staffing, on costs and drug procurement and medical device costs. A further saving of £85,000 was necessary in 2024/25 and a range of options were being examined as well as seeking new sources of funding.

A member asked about HIV testing and information on the number of people receiving PrEP. A discussion took place on the importance of early testing and diagnosis of HIV for prevention, treatment and outcomes. It was  suggested that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To present proposed Terms of Reference and Working principals for the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) for the Northern Care Alliance.

The Assistant Chief Executive and Statutory Scrutiny Officer presented a report on proposed Terms of Reference and Working principals for the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) for the Northern Care Alliance and seeking the Scrutiny Board’s support for the establishment of such a body and accordingly to recommend its establishment to Council.

The purpose of a JHOSC would be to scrutinise services provided by the Northern Care Alliance relating to the health of the population in Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Salford and contribute to the development of policy to improve health and reduce health inequalities in respect of services provided by the hospitals.

The Committee would be made up of member representatives from Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Salford Councils. The JHOSC will have delegated powers, on behalf of the four local authorities, to undertake all the necessary functions of health scrutiny in accordance with part 4, Health Scrutiny by Local Authorities, of the Local Authority (Public Health, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny) Regulations 2013, relating to reviewing and scrutinising health service matters provided by Northern Care Alliance. A similar arrangement was previously in place in respect of the NHS Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust.

It was reported that Bury MBC’s Health Scrutiny Committee had considered the Terms of Reference and Working Principles and wished the TOR to reflect that at least one Councillor from each of the four authorities must be present to decide as opposed to a quorum of three. This was to prevent decisions being made which could affect all authorities but to which one authority had not been party to. Bury MBC had also asked for clarification if the first meeting of the JHOSC would agree to waive political proportionality.

Options considered:

Option 1         To support the establishment of a Joint Scrutiny Committee

 Option 2        To not to support the establishment of a Joint Scrutiny Committee

RESOLVED

1.         That the Terms of Reference, attached at Appendix 1of the Report be recommended for approval with the inclusion of the proposed amendments submitted by Bury MBC.

2.         That the Council be recommended to authorise the establishment of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Northern Care Alliance.

To provide the Scrutiny Board with an update on the Adult Social Care whole service workforce strategy, and related programme plan.

Hayley Eccles and Claire Hooley presented a report of the Assistant Director – ASC Reform & Improvement providing an update on the Adult Social  Care workforce and strategy.

Workforce had been highlighted as a significant risk by a recent peer review, the Adult Social Care (ASC) Management Team, and the Skills for Care report, ‘The State of Adult Social Care sector & workforce in England’ in reference to the wider workforce pressures in the care provider market.  Recruitment and retention of staff was proving increasingly difficult in Adult Social Care  as increased case complexity, increased volume of referrals post-Covid 19, and front- line staff leaving to work for agencies or other localities with better salaries, terms, and conditions, meant an increased workload for staff at all levels. 

The delivery of the new Target Operating Model and associated savings, improvements in quality in the ASC directorate, and sustainable staffing across the provider market and ability to deliver statutory Care Act duties are directly affected by challenges in recruitment and retention.  

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) were expected to undertake the formal assurance process within the next two years.  An inability to deliver the statutory duties of Adult Social Care owing to staffing issues, created significant risk for the department and the Council itself. 

In response to these concerns, a whole service workforce strategy, and related programme plan, had been drafted. The strategy aimed to attract and retain the best staff and to improve the learning environment to attract students and apprenticeships, leading to employment opportunities within the borough.  The strategy sought to establish clear career pathways from school and college onwards, in all roles across adult social care, including qualified practitioners through to leadership and blended roles for care workers (to include progression policy options for SW).  An important aspect of the strategy was to reduce the reliance on costly agency staff. The strategy would pay particular attention to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion to ensure our workforce feels appropriately understood and valued.

The report highlighted a number of milestones and timescales. These were:

By end of March 2024:

• ASC Workforce strategy developed and signed off

• Workforce dataset in place with confirmed, recurrent sources

• Retention comms package developed

• Scope of Social Care Academy developed and signed off

By end of June 2024:

• Recruitment comms package developed and commenced

• Workforce dataset / dashboard reported monthly (forum tbc)

• Retention comms package delivered & embedded

By end of December 2024: • Social Care Academy live

Scrutiny Board members welcomed the report and the establishment of an academy. It was suggested that the academy should look at how people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) can be included in the programme to address the low level of employment of people with SEND. Members also asked if the possibility of working with other authorities could be examined.

Resolved:  That the report be noted and approval be given to the direction of travel of the Workforce Strategy.

To consider the Adults Social Care and Health Work Programme 2023/24

The Adults Social care and health Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme 2023/24 was circulated for members consideration.

Resolved:

That the work programme be noted.

To consider any rule 13 or 14 decisions taken since the previous meeting.