Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to advise the Democratic Services Officer of any apologies for this meeting.

Councillors Caren, Gregory and O’Neill.  

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2024 are attached.

The minutes of the meeting on 16 September 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Government guidance expected Members of Scrutiny Committees not to act in accordance with party whipping and that, if they did, they were to declare it.  

Government guidance expected Members of Scrutiny Committees not to act in accordance with party whipping and that if they did, they were to declare it.

Resolved: There were no declarations.

Please find attached a link to the Council’s Forward Plan, which details the forthcoming Key and Non-Key decisions that are due to be taken by the Cabinet, a Member of the Cabinet (Portfolio Holder) or a Designated Officer relating to the service areas of this Committee, at this time: Forward Plan of Key/Non-Key Decisions

The Committee considered a report outlining the Council’s Forward Plan of forthcoming key and non-key decisions to be taken by the Cabinet, an Individual Portfolio Holder or delegated officers, in relation to the relevant service area.

Resolved: The Committee notes the forthcoming decisions as outlined within the report, with no items being requested to be placed on a future agenda of the Committee.

Report of the Assistant Director – Adult Social Care Practice is attached.

The Committee considered a report and presentation of the Assistant Director – Adult Social Care Practice, Mike Wharton, and Assistant Director – Finance (Adults), Leon Bergman, which provided an update on the progress against the transformation programme to date and focused on the impact this had had on residents, staff delivering care and support services and the wider health and care system.

During its discussions, the Committee raised the following salient points:-

?           whether closer cooperation between partners was possible regarding discharge;

?           what the three different pathways were;

?           whether one of the three pathways was more desirable than the other; and

?           whether improvements in sickness and absence had been seen since the strategies were introduced.

The Assistant Director – Adult Social Care Community Services informed the Committee that it was the responsibility of every partner to improve. The Council had worked closely with Greater Manchester (GM) Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Wigan, Wrightington and Leigh (WWL) Trust on a Better Lives scheme, the details of which would be brought to a future meeting of the Committee.

The Assistant Director – Adult Social Care Practice advised Members that Pathway One enabled the patient to be discharged from hospital with a package of care. Pathway Two denoted patients having required intermediate care, whilst Pathway Three meant the patient needed long term residential care. In addition to these pathways, there is a Pathway Zero, which meant the patient could be discharged from hospital without the need for formal care.

The Assistant Director – Adult Social Care Community Services informed Members that the aim would be for patients to return home to where they were comfortable. However, in certain cases where this was not possible, the characteristics of each case would be assessed to find the most suitable pathway and support for that individual, whether it be intermediate care or long-term residential care.

The Assistant Director – Adult Social Care Community Services advised the Committee that since the new supervision framework had been introduced, It felt anecdotally that levels of sickness absence, recruitment and retention had all improved.

The Assistant Director – Adult Social Care Practice informed the Committee that it was the responsibility of every partner to improve. Members were advised that the Council had worked closely with Greater Manchester (GM) Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Wigan, Wrightington and Leigh (WWL) Trust on a Better Lives scheme, the details of which would be brought to the Committee in the future.

The Assistant Director – Adult Social Care Practice informed Members that pathway one enabled the patient to be discharged from hospital with a patch of care. Pathway two denoted patients having required intermediate care, whilst pathway three meant the patient needed long term residential care. In addition to these pathways, the Committee were informed that there had been a pathway zero, which meant the patient could be discharged from hospital without the need for further care.

The Assistant Director – Adult Social Care Practice informed the Committee that the aim would be for patients to return home to where they were comfortable. However,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Report of Healthwatch Wigan and Leigh is attached.

The Committee considered a report of Co-opted Member for Healthwatch Wigan and Leigh, Adrian Hardy, presented by the Engagement Officer – Healthwatch Wigan and Leigh, Andrea Arkwright and Service Manager – Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Jackie Latham, which detailed the outcome of the research conducted in 2023-24, into the provision of mental health services in the Borough. The review was undertaken following Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMHFT) taking over the work in conjunction with private sector providers.

During its discussions, the Committee raised the following salient points:-

?           whether the actions from whether the actions from the feedback were communicated back to those who participated in the survey;

?           what progress had been made towards increasing permanent staff;

?           whether the waiting list for hospital admissions had reduced; and

?           whether further links could be made with veterans who were discharged.

The Engagement Officer provided the Committee with an example at Brookfield Supported Living, where the residents asked for Healthwatch to return to present their findings and the action plan. Members were informed that this had now been done, with this having now been undertaken, with a follow-up report also having been published.

The Service Manager informed the Committee that staffing levels had increased and were monitored on a weekly basis. Additional staffing is utilised when patients were unwell for example, which could lead to the use of bank and agency provisions being utilised. Bank staff however, were a part of the NHS and all staff were offered the same induction and mandatory training as permanent staff.

The Service Manager advised Members that multi-agency discharge events (MADEs) had helped the flow of patients to reduce the length of stay for patients who are deemed clinically ready for discharge. Community services also provided information and advice to support people in accessing urgent mental health support.  

The Engagement Officer advised the Committee that Senior Support Armed Forces Officer was employed at the Armed Forces HQ who provided support and advice towards mental health services.

The Service Manager informed the Committee that staffing levels had increased and were monitored on a weekly basis. Gaps were noticed when patients became unwell for example, which then led agency provision needing to be increased. Agency staff however, were a part of the trust and all staff were offered the same induction and training opportunities as permanent staff.

The Service Manager advised Members that multi-agency discharge events (MADEs) had helped the flow of patients to ensure that they did not stay in hospital for too long. Community services were also in place to signpost individuals towards help if their mental health deteriorated.

The Engagement Officer informed Members that a Learning Information Networking and Knowledge (LINK) Officer was employed at the Armed Forces HQ, who provided support and advice towards mental health services.

Resolved: The Committee:-

(1)     thanks the Co-opted Member for his presentation; and

(2)     endorses the content of the report and the range of quality improvements being undertaken by Greater Manchester Mental Health as a result of this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.