Cabinet Member: Cllr. W. Gareth Roberts
To receive
a report by the Adults, Health and Well-being Cabinet Member on the above.
(Copy to
follow)
11.00 a.m.
– 11.45 a.m.
Minutes:
(Councillor Linda Ann Wyn Jones withdrew from the room
and did not participate in the discussion)
a) A report was presented by the Cabinet Member
highlighting the need for Gwynedd Council to set a new transport policy and
arrangements for the Adults, Health and Well-being Department in response to
the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being Act (Wales) 2014. It was highlighted that the Act placed a duty
on the Council to promote the well-being of our citizens in order to promote
and support independence.
Following changes in legislation and the financial
climate, the Cabinet Member noted that there was a need to adopt a fair and
sustainable transport policy. He highlighted that changes could affect service
users, and therefore effective engagement with stakeholders, including users
and their families, would be crucial to the process.
It was reported, as each individual was assessed, that
transport was addressed as part of the care plan - and was part of the plan
rather than an add-on. To address this, each individual would need to be
assessed comprehensively.
The incentive behind the
exercise was to respond to the act, and three possible options for consideration
were highlighted.
·
Decide not to change the arrangements.
There would be financial and cultural implications of not changing our
practice in this field.
·
Adopt the new policy and revisit care packages specifically from the
perspective of the new transport policy.
·
Adopt the new policy in relation to new packages, reassessments and
annual reviews of packages as opposed to conducting a specific review of
transport matters.
It was suggested that option 1 was unrealistic and unsustainable in the
context of the Council's financial situation.
b) In response to a question on why the total cost of
Mental Health was low for the 2016/17 budget (£550.00), it was noted that
nobody with mental health conditions currently received a service and therefore
it was reported that it was solely a ‘suggestion’.
In response to an observation that it was a
scheme to save money and not to promote independence, the Cabinet Member
accepted that there would be a saving of approximately £38k involved with the
process, but it was outlined that the intention was to include transport as
part of the care package. It was reported that there was scope here to work
with integrated transport, e.g. better use of the residential homes' fleet to
move people within the County, to promote well-being and support independence.
c)
During
the discussion, the following observations were noted:
·
Need
to promote independence for older people, ensuring that they had freedom to
leave the house.
·
Need to ensure that the
service was for the whole of Gwynedd and not only the main areas.
·
Need to better coordinate
with the hospital taxi service.
·
In favour of working more
effectively - internal arrangements appeared to be untidy currently and therefore
there was a need to restructure to ensure better arrangements and flexible
transport arrangements.
·
There was a need to
consider transport resources in schools.
·
Need
to ensure that the assessment is correct and that the service is provided to
those with the greatest need.
·
What is the difference
between ‘assessment’ and ‘real need’?? There must be an understanding of the
individual's actual need, by identifying opportunities to meet that need rather
than giving them the impersonal ‘day care’ label.
·
A suggestion that a family
member or carer should be with the individual during the assessment in order to
gain an independent opinion.
·
In the context of the
appeal process - who would be on the panel? Need to consider that people were
vulnerable and that there was no need to set stringent rules. A suggestion that
the appeals process should be accessible and flexible.
·
The
principles of the scheme were welcomed, although concern was expressed
regarding its practicality. Accessibility to services must be ensured, alongside
encouragement and offering users the opportunity to develop skills to nurture
confidence to use public transport.
·
Distance,
the ability to travel themselves and the situation of other counties set a
dangerous precedent.
ch) In response
to a question regarding distance setting a precedent, it was noted that
distance itself did not lead to a 'need for transport', but it was noted that
opportunities to meet the needs of all individuals must be identified.
It was not possible to provide an answer to who
would be on the panel for the appeals process. Assurance was given that a
response would be sent to the enquirer.
d)
In response to a question regarding what other counties had adopted similar
arrangements, it was noted that Flintshire had succeeded in maintaining such a
system. It was noted that officers from Flintshire had collaborated well with
Gwynedd Council officers and had shared good practice.
In response to the comment, a request was made
for the service to consider a county with a profile more similar to Gwynedd.
dd) In
response to a question regarding the assessments, it was noted that the
assessments would be conducted on a more positive basis. It was reiterated that
the same professional workers would be undertaking the assessments, and that
the assessments would be comprehensive. The assessment would lead to outcomes
that required solutions.
The Cabinet Member emphasised that this was a
scheme to meet individuals' needs, that it was a creative, exciting and
challenging scheme for the service, that would provide benefits to all
individuals. The service was duty-bound to offer the best service to citizens,
and all efforts would be made to deliver this - there would have to be
rationalisation, but nobody would be disregarded.
It was
proposed and seconded to support option 3.
RESOLVED
To make the following recommendations to the
Cabinet:
-
To implement Option 3, which corresponds with
the principles of the Social Services and Well-being Act (Wales) 2014, by
building on the individual's strengths and looking at building on community
strengths.
-
To ensure appropriate use and coordinate internal transport
arrangements.
-
To note more details in the Report to the
Cabinet about the appeals process.
-
To carefully consider the impact on individuals in relation to the cost
and whether the impact could be mitigated.
-
To request that Flintshire highlights the lessons learned/obstacles
faced, so that they can be included in the report to the Cabinet.
-
To consider arrangements in other counties that have a similar profile
to Gwynedd.
-
To give equal consideration to every part of rural and urban Gwynedd in
terms of facilitating and coordinating transport arrangements.
Supporting documents: