To consider an update on the Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy.
Minutes:
The Sub-committee received a presentation that provided an update on the adult social care workforce development strategy.
The sub-committee received detailed information about the internal and external social care workforce, including workforce profile information.
A workforce development strategy has been developed to provide a 3 year plan, with progress reported to SMT on a quarterly basis.
The report outlined the future challenges facing the sector, including a projected increase in older people in the borough by 2030, both clients and carers, ongoing financial challenges, and ongoing difficulties with recruitment and retention due to increased competition for jobs from other sectors and also the NHS. There will also be a new inspection framework introduced in the near future and legislative changes, including the adult social care reforms that have been pushed back to 2025.
It was noted that recruitment and retention issues were impacting on services. For example, some nursing homes have been de-registering and becoming residential homes only due to a lack of nursing staff. The Council is monitoring the situation with care homes across the borough.
The presentation outlined the introduction of the Care Academy, working with the market and external partners including the DWP to bring information and employers together in one place. This would be developed going forward to include job adverts and recruitment information.
There was a wide-ranging discussion about the difficulties in the Care Sector. It was highlighted that the differential between private and local authority rates was increasing, although these increased rates were not being passed on to care staff in terms of higher wages.
It was noted that the Council had recently carried out an analysis of care costs as part of the preparation work for the adult social care reforms and proposals that would allow private clients to commission services for residential care via the local authority at the local authority rate. This ‘fair cost of care’ work had been sent to the Department of Health in the autumn, but the reforms were now on hold to 2025.
The Sub-committee were of the view that they would like to look at adult social care in more detail next year. It was noted that a study group had undertaken a review of Home Care during 2021-22 and made recommendations to the Cabinet.
There was some discussion about other ways of addressing issues around adult social care including a possible motion to Council, in-depth scrutiny reviews or a spotlight review. It was noted that the arrangements for scrutiny were due to change going forward but to note the request for this issue to be added to the work programme of the relevant scrutiny committee.
It was agreed that the Sub-committee would:
- Suggest members explore putting together a Council motion requesting more government action in relation to Adult Social Care.
- To include Adult Social Care as a key item on the work programme for next year, to include:
- the ‘fair cost of care’ analysis,
- residential care in the borough;
- the Care Academy and training packages;
- To consider alternative ways of scrutinising this issue, such as via a study group or spotlight exercise or visits to other authorities.
- To invite the Cabinet Member to future meetings in relation to Adult Social Care;