Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care (IASC/23/1) presenting the Market Sustainability Plan for Integrated Adult Social Care, attached.

RESOLVED

(a) that the key risks to market sufficiency as set out in the Market Sustainability Plan, be noted;

(b) that the actions being taken to tackle the market sufficiency issues be endorsed; and

(c) where appropriate, influence and lobby Government to improve funding for adult social care and increase the recognition and increased pay for care workers to secure future market sustainability to support the people of Devon.

(Councillors Biederman, Brazil, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care (IASC/23/1), 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.

The Report updated Cabinet on market sufficiency challenges and actions the Integrated Adult Social Care team were taking to address concerns in the adult care and health provider market. The Market Sustainability Plan (MSP) had been published on 27th March 2023. The Cabinet further noted that the Department of Health and Social Care required Local Authorities to complete and publish the MSP as part of the grant conditions for the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund.

The adult social care market was fragile and challenged and had been slow to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. The market issues present prior to the pandemic had been exacerbated, however there remained a strong partnership between the Council, NHS and independent sector providers.

One of the key challenges was the availability of workforce. Recruitment of Adult Social Care staff improved temporarily during 2020, but had now become very difficult, with heightened competition for labour across the wider economy as well as care staff returning to their native countries following the UK exit from the European Union. Devon also had proportionately fewer working age people compared to the rest of England and the age profile of the County meant there was greater demand for adult social care, both local authority and privately funded.

The care home market also needed to develop and diversify to ensure sustainability. There was an over provision of general residential homes, but a need for more bedded capacity to support people with complex needs including dementia. The nursing home market was also assessed as being high risk due to a lack of nurses in social care, the number nearing retirement, the estate (many buildings are not fit for purpose) and some homes in rural settings, making accessibility challenging. Capital investment had also not been sufficient. Workforce was also the biggest anticipated risk to maintaining a sustainable domiciliary care market.

Section 3 of the Report highlighted the actions to try and address the sufficiency issues, with the Council and NHS Devon developing a joint strategic approach to supporting people to live independently in Devon 2020 to 2025. The Council continued to work in partnership with NHS colleagues and providers to increase the range of housing and accommodation for older people to maximise their capacity for independent living. The Council would also:

·                         collaborate with partners to identify solutions to attract the right workforce;

·                         work with District and City Councils to support provision of accommodation for key workers as well as opportunities for housing with support models (e.g. extra care housing);

·                         develop community services and housing with support offers;

·                         commission alternatives to ‘traditional care’ models, reducing reliance on bed-based care; and

·                         enhance the use  ...  view the full minutes text for item 313