Portsmouth City Borough Council Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing & Social Care Meeting

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Brian Madgwick.

There were no declarations of interest.

Alison Lawrence, Portsmouth Adults Safeguarding Board (PSAB) Manager, introduced the report.

Members said it was good to see examples of lived experience in the report and that such experiences will form more of an impact because they shape services. Ms Lawrence confirmed lived experiences are an area services are keen to focus on in the Strategic Plan.

Councillor Winnington thanked David Goosey (PSAB Independent Chair), Ms Lawrence and the safeguarding team for their comprehensive report. From the point of view of councillors, their work ensures that safeguarding is everyone's business. Councillor Winnington recently attended a safeguarding conference which considered many areas of safeguarding together with examples of lived experience. The conference was very well received by colleagues at the council and Solent Mind. The Peer Review is very worthwhile and a good way of expressing challenges openly and honestly, which is how to move forward with them.

The Cabinet Member noted the report which is for information only and is not subject to call-in.

Andy Biddle, Director of Adult Care, introduced the report, noting that the Discharge to Assess model emphasises assessment as the vast majority of people coming out of hospital do not need to go to a care home; they can be in their own home with support.

Mr Biddle updated members on developments since the report had been written. Around 8 January a further £200m funding was announced for the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to purchase care home beds. Planning how the funding will be used across the Hampshire & Isle of Wight ICB is still evolving and is monitored daily at the request of Department of Health & Social Care. Some of the funding could be used for the top floor of Shearwater as some former East Cosham House residents have moved on and created capacity.

The £200m funding is only applicable until 31 March and for the first four weeks after discharge so it cannot be used if people are going to stay permanently in Shearwater. However, Adult Social Care is aiming to provide some beds from 6 February. Officers can bring an update in late spring or early summer if any more funding is received and report on how it has been used.

Members said that so many pots of money being allocated to discharge will hopefully enable winter planning to be done earlier this year. Services can see what worked well and what was not needed. Portsmouth seems to be leading the way as it has joined up working with its NHS partners, which many local authorities do not have. Members gave a "massive well done" to the team. They said it would be good to see what happens with Shearwater.

Mr Biddle said that the previous week the Chief Social Worker had visited St Mary's, the Portsmouth Community assessment Team, Urgent Community Response Team and Portsmouth Rehabilitation & Reablement Team. The visit provided a focus on integrated working and Adult Social Care is ambitious to go further with integration so that there is no "ping-pong" between them and health services. 

Councillor Winnington thanked officers for the report. Health and social care services do not know how much funding they will receive each year. The extra £200m funding will be allocated to the ICB but they do not commission beds; local authorities do. This is where using Shearwater as contingency came into its own as it avoids having multiple providers. However, Adult Social Care cannot take on people who are under-funded as this will create problems for the future. It would be good to have funding for five years ahead, let alone ten, rather than firefighting every year. Portsmouth's Discharge to Assess model is one that other areas should be considering. It helps make discharges work in difficult circumstances and Adult Social Care would be in a much worse position without it. If Portsmouth has a good discharge pathway then it can support its neighbours who are served by QA.

The Cabinet Member noted the report which is for information only and is not subject to call-in.