Agenda item

To consider and discuss the current position with regard to quality of residential care in Blackpool.

Councillor Cain, Cabinet Secretary (Resilient Communities), Councillor Collett, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Reducing Health Inequalities and Adult Safeguarding and Miss Karen Smith, Deputy Director of People (Adult Services) were in attendance to take part in a thematic discussion on Quality and Residential Care.

Miss Smith assured the Committee that measures were in place to ensure quality in residential care homes and to provide a challenge mechanism to ensure the level of quality was monitored.

Members queried why nine residential care homes were not compliant with Care Quality Commission standards and how many of the nine were at a critical stage. Mrs Smith advised that detailed discussions were being held with two of the providers to determine whether to continue to commission their services. It was noted that although the Council could not close a commissioned facility it could serve notice on the contract it had with the provider. It was likely that if the Council contract with a provider ceased then the care home would close if the majority of residents there had been placed by the Council. Members further queried the level of concern at which that could occur and were informed that if a provider was not compliant with a number of Care Quality Commission standards and was also not showing an ability to improve sufficiently within an acceptable timescale, the cessation of the contract would be considered.

In response to a question, Miss Smith advised that the Council had a good working relationship with the Care Quality Commission.

The Committee noted that two providers were currently suspended and Miss Smith reported that they were suspended to new admissions, but that existing residents remained at the home. She explained that the situation occurred where the Care Quality Commission had inspected a provider and identified non-compliance with some standards, but that residents were still considered to be safe. If residents were considered to not be safe they would not be left at the care home. The Council also ensured full disclosure to residents and family members so that they understood the action being taken.

The Committee noted that the new standards had been challenging and questioned what arrangements were in place to assist care homes in meeting these. In response, Miss Smith advised that provider forums allowed homes to work together and to receive presentations from organisations including the Care Quality Commission on the changes to inspections guidance. She further advised that detailed information was available from the Care Quality Commission setting out the requirements of a ‘good provider’ as well as what would be considered as ‘requires improvement’ and ‘inadequate’.

The Committee also queried if training courses were organised for providers and was informed that a range of courses were available for internal staff and external providers. Miss Smith added that other assistance was provided such as a Council funded Pharmacist who provided advice and guidance on medication matters where required.

Members noted that providers had expressed concern on the level of information received. Miss Smith reported that it was typically information from social workers or health staff and that the providers had raised these concerns in relation to urgent admissions where social workers might not have all the necessary information to pass on to providers. It was noted that in those circumstances the service focussed on ensuring no person was left at risk.

Members questioned the impact of a reduced budget on the provision of services and in particular if it was having an impact on the number of people in residential care homes. Councillor Collett advised that the priority was that all adults must be safe and the budget must be met.

The Committee asked for further information on the management arrangements of those residential care homes which did not currently have a manager in post. Miss Smith advised that this would be a matter for each individual business, but for example they could be cross managed with other care homes or by senior staff undertaking increased responsibilities. She added that the Registered Manager of a residential care home was a key position and any home without a manager for six months or more would not meet Care Quality Commission standards. In response to a further question Miss Smith advised that she was unsure if any homes had not had a manager for this timescale, but would provide this information following the meeting.

The Committee agreed to receive an update on the quality and performance of residential care homes as part of the next Adults Social Care Overview Report to be presented to the Committee in September 2015.

Background Papers: None.