Agenda item

To present performance against the Council Plan 2015-2020 for the period 1 April 2017 to 30 September 2017.

Ms Val Watson, Delivery Development Officer presented progress with Council Plan performance indicators for the period 1 April 2017 to 30 September 2017. She explained that a revised approach had been developed with sixteen comprehensive indicators for Adult Social Care and fourteen for Public Health. Both Directors were present to answer any detailed service questions.

She added that performance reports would be biannually with a full end-year report scheduled for the Committee’s July 2018 meeting. She concluded that the performance format was still evolving.

The Chairman requested for the targets for each indicator to be detailed in the main performance pages so that progress could be checked more meaningfully. Targets had only been included in the ‘exceptions’ commentary pages for performance indicators that were not meeting targets.  Val Watson confirmed that robust comparative data would be included.

The Chairman referred to numbers of both opiate and non-opiate drug users successfully completing recovery treatment (and not re-presenting within six months of completion) being well below target. He queried the impact of the new holistic drug and alcohol support service which had been running since April 2017.

Dr Rajpura explained that the initial performance of the new service was similar to comparable areas. Good progress had been made in recent years with drug users supported through to recovery. However, these had been people with less deep-rooted, long-term problems than remaining users who had the most complex and challenging needs. Issues included homelessness, mental health, substance misuse and domestic abuse. Innovative approaches needed to be developed. He added that the Lottery-funded Fulfilling Lives Programme also worked with these individuals.

Ms Judith Mills, Consultant in Public Health added that commissioning of drug and alcohol support services came within a new integrated commissioning approach. The new service tried to encourage people to move straight into detox / rehabilitation stages with an aim to promote robust recovery instead of the six months target.

Councillor Cross referred to the holistic approach of recovery involving skills, employment and housing. She explained that the previous service had included generic support workers covering drugs and alcohol. Specialised staff now provided more dedicated support for each area. The effectiveness of the new staffing approach would be monitored. She added that the data did not include people who might stay on prescribed methadone all their lives but still managed productive jobs. She agreed that more progress was needed.

Ms Mills added that a full first-year progress report for the new service had been scheduled for the Committee’s March 2018 meeting with both commissioner and service provider representatives.

The Chairman referred to the recent poor performance for supporting people to stop smoking within four weeks of referral. The commentary had referred to the support service having been decommissioned and would not be recommissioned. The commentary included reference to smoking being one of the worst illnesses.

Dr Rajpura explained that the data usually came from the NHS Digital Service. However, the latest figures were not available. The data was incorrect and had been provided in error from another source.  He added that performance had declined but a new smoking support service would be commissioned early in 2018.

Members expressed concerns over value for money (efficiency and effectiveness).  There were costs involved in developing support services which needed to be effective for people. Decommissioning and recommissioning could be inefficient. Members suggested that best practice from other councils needed to be considered.

Councillor Cross agreed that there needed to be more effective commissioning of new services and robust contract management. Dr Rajpura acknowledged that health outcomes in Blackpool were poor but all deprived areas faced comparable issues and significant challenges. It was important to work with local people to encourage lifestyle change and develop innovative approaches. He referred to current programmes including Better Start, Head Start and Fulfilling Lives.

Members referred to the ‘Making Every Contact Count’ (MECC) performance which was well below target and did not appear achievable. They noted that the target concerned training frontline Council staff so ought to be manageable otherwise should be reduced. 

Dr Rajpura explained that the target was not mandatory. Public Health staff would be seeing management teams across the Council to identify which staff could make the most impact through this target to support people widely across services. He agreed that the target should then be adjusted. Members added that reducing targets should not be an automatic option if a target was not met. It was important to see the methodology behind a target and associated work.

Members referred to the target to increase the number of people with learning difficulties who had paid employment. They queried whether people in the voluntary sector or other unpaid work should be included in the target. Ms Karen Smith, Director of Adult Services explained that this was national indicator but consideration would be given to the suggestion.

The Committee agreed:

1. That performance reports should include targets for all indicators in the main performance pages.
2. That target-setting methodology should be shown in performance reports where targets were not being met or where there may be proposals to reset targets.
3. That, within performance reports and in reference to the target of people with learning difficulties who had paid employment, consideration should be given to including, people working in the voluntary sector or other unpaid work who had learning difficulties.