Issue - meetings

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services on the outcome of the independent audit report “Getting It Right: ‘Six Lives’ Audit of Health and Social Care in Barking and Dagenham” which reviewed the services provided by the Council and its National Health Service (NHS) partners to people with learning disabilities.  The study was commissioned in response to a report issued by the Health and Local Authority Ombudsmen into complaints brought by the charity MENCAP on behalf of six people with learning disabilities who died whilst in NHS or council care within the UK between 2003 and 2005.

The independent audit focused on the effectiveness of current systems and the capacity and capability of the Council and NHS Trusts to provide services that meet the needs of people with learning disabilities.  The Corporate Director outlined the key points from the audit and responded to issues raised in relation to the quality of advocacy and joint commissioning arrangements, the impact on resources and the need for greater awareness of the communication requirements of people with learning disabilities.  In this latter respect, the Corporate Director referred to the ‘passport’ system that is used in other areas whereby the individual would carry with them a record of, for example, their dietary requirements or preferred method of communication (e.g. sign language or translation) which would be considered by the service provider as part of the initial assessment.

Noted that the audit report is to be considered by the Borough Learning Disability Partnership Board, North East London Foundation Trust Board, NHS Barking and Dagenham Board and Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital Trust Board during this month prior to being submitted to the Health and Local Authority Ombudsmen by 31 March 2010.

Agreed, to assist the Council and its partners in achieving the Community Priorities of ‘Healthy’ and ‘Fair and Respectful’ and to help safeguard vulnerable adults within the Borough, to:

  (i)  Adopt the recommendations of the independent audit which relate to the Council as set out in pages 30-32 of the report at Appendix 1;

  (ii)  Note the recommendations put forward in the audit report for other bodies;

  (iii)  An update on progress against those recommendations that apply to the Council being presented within nine months; and

  (iv)  Request the Health and Adult Services Select Committee to ask that NHS bodies report back to the Select Committee on the implementation of relevant recommendations.