Issue - meetings

Report of the Joint Associate Director of Commissioning (ACH/20/126) outlining the Market Sufficiency Position Statement (Adults) for 2020, attached.

The Impact Assessment that was carried out in January 2020 is still valid and can be found on the Impact Assessment Website.

(Councillors Biederman, Dewhirst, Hannaford attended remotely in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Joint Associate Director of Commissioning (ACS/20/126) outlining the Market Position Statement (Adults), circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

At its meeting on 15 January 2020, Cabinet required (minute 448) that a

Market Sufficiency Report be presented annually (in September). The Report also detailed the initial impacts of COVID19 on adult social care markets

and set out actions to respond to them.

In terms of the strategic context, the pandemic had reinforced the importance of the adult social care sector to the safety and well-being of people and Cabinet noted that Devon’s health and care system had performed well throughout the pandemic, with support to providers and a strong platform to address future challenges. Work continued on new challenges, especially preparations for winter and assessing future risks.

A strong care workforce was paramount and the Report highlighted the recent ‘Proud to Care’ campaign which had resulted in approximately 150 new recruits as well as the Council’s increased investment into the pay of domiciliary care workers and commitment to review pay and conditions in care homes.

The Report set out 5 priorities which included Care Homes, Regulated (Domiciliary) Personal Care, Replacement Care, Day Opportunities and Supported Living with each section outlining the key risks and issues facing that sector.

Section 4 of the report outlined the work in relation to transforming the independent sector workforce and what a transformed social care workforce might look like in the future.

In summary, the Market Position Statement, along with the Sufficiency Statement, were key tools for analysis of the marketplace and delivering plans, both countywide and at a local level. Without a vibrant market, the Council would find it difficult to fulfil statutory obligations. Providers were significant partners as well as contractors and the Council continued to work with them to adapt the profile of supply and assist with planning.

Cabinet noted that the impacts and uncertainties arising from Covid-19, added to the issues that had already been present in the market, would be a major challenge for some years to come.

The matter having been debated and the other relevant factors (e.g. financial, consultations, risk management, equality, legal considerations and public health impact) set out in the Joint Associate Director’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Leadbetter, SECONDED by Councillor Hart and

RESOLVED

(a) that the impacts of COVID-19 on the adult social care market, together with associated financial risks (as outlined at sections 3 and 5 of the Report), be taken into account as part of budget preparation;

(b) that the actions being taken to address sufficiency and to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 540