Issue - meetings

Baker Anne Bristow, Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services, presented the report which contained the responses from the partners on their preparedness to meet the requirements of service provision and support that would be required by the Care Act 2014 and assurances that resources would be in place.

Councillor Carpenter asked for clarification on the comment on Page 101 of the agenda about the expected price differential and possible disruption of the local market for residential care and the price discrimination between local authority procured and self-funded provision.  Anne Bristow explained that due to their buying power, local authorities can often achieve very keen charges and could also give a level of assurance of the quality being provided.  The Council could also be approached to arrange care, and gave the example of beds being bought to support the winter crisis points.

Councillor Carpenter commented that the BHRUT answers seem rather brief and needed more specific detail and Sara Baker commented that there was not explicit information about transition care.  Anne Bristow advised that we are clear about what the Act requires and how it should operate but at the moment there was still a concern that health partners may not be 100% ready and conversations would be continuing with the health partners to obtain more details and assurances.

The Chair said that she could not stress strongly enough the implications of this Act and the resource needed and that she still had  concerns about individuals deciding what care they wish to buy and from whom, which then turned out to not be the best choice for their need.

Having received the report and presentation, the Board:

(i)  Noted the submissions at Appendix 1 of the report, from NHS organisations, which gaveassurance of their Care Act awareness and preparedness.

(ii)  Noted the duties and requirements highlighted at Appendix 2 of the report.