Item 4. Leicester City Council Scrutiny Review. Scoping Document for completion by Members. Draft for consideration by Overview Select Committee

Transcription

1 Item 4 Leicester City Council Scrutiny Review Scoping Document for completion by Members Draft for consideration by Overview Select Committee

2 Background to scrutiny reviews Getting the right topics for scrutiny reviews is the first step in making sure scrutiny provides benefits to the Council and the community. The scoping template has been designed to assist in thinking through the purpose of a review. This scoping document needs to be completed by the member proposing the review. In order to be effective, every scrutiny review must be properly project managed. This is to make sure that the review achieves its aims and has measurable outcomes. One of the most important ways to make sure that a review goes well is to ensure that it is well defined at the outset. This way the review is less likely to get sidetracked or be overambitious in what it hopes to tackle. The task group s objectives should, therefore, be as SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic & Time-bound) as possible. This template includes a section for the Department to complete to allow OSC to consider any additional factors that may influence the proposed review. Scrutiny reviews will be facilitated by a Members Support Officer. Evaluation Reviewing changes that have been made as a result of a scrutiny review is the most common way of assessing effectiveness. This will, in part, be done through the Scrutiny Annual Report which is produced yearly and which will include departmental feedback on which, if any, recommendations from task group reports have been taken forward as well as providing an explanation where they have not been implemented. However, any scrutiny review should consider whether an on-going monitoring role for the task group is appropriate to the topic under review. For further information please contact the Members Support Team on (0116)

3 1. Title of Proposed Scrutiny Review Review of the process of consultation and the proposals to change the nature and provision of elderly person s residential services provided by the Council. Scrutiny views can therefore be used to shape the final proposals for decision in late Proposed by - Councillor Ross Willmott, chair of Overview Select Committee 2. Rationale The City Council is consulting on proposals for the future form and function of residential services for elderly people. The Council is consulting on a variety of options for 8 residential homes. These homes are Herrick Lodge Cooper House Preston Lodge Thurncourt House Abbey House Arbour House Elisabeth House Nuffield House The proposals that are being consulted upon are: (a) Reinvesting in intermediate care through closing some or all the homes (b) Selling or leasing all or some of the homes as going concerns to voluntary, independent or social enterprise providers. (c) Reduce the number of homes by closing those with (or when) they have low occupancy, and not having any more new admissions to the homes.

4 3. Purpose and Objectives of Review This will be a full review of adult social care in the City. For example, do service users want to have their own budgets and remain in their own homes? The review will include an examination of how care for the elderly can be improved where needed. The results of the current consultation on Elderly Persons Homes to be referred to during the review where possible The review will be able to look at both the process and the nature of the proposals consulted on. The review will look at the different approaches taken to each of the phases of the consultation and see what lessons have been learnt and how they might be applied in a wider context to future consultations undertaken by the Council. The review will test the proposals and what led to their development, including consideration of budgetary issues, and charging policies. Scrutiny review will also contribute lessons learned and experiences from other Councils who have undertaken elderly person s homes transformation. 4. Outcome Influence outcome of review by contributing to the development of one or more of the options, or by supporting a particular option, or proposing alternatives. Offer advice and observations on the consultation process Comment on the redesign and /or improvements to the quality of the service Comment on the wider funding issues surrounding adult social care as they impact on this review. A report detailing the findings of the scrutiny process should be available in October.

5 5. Methodology/Approach Take evidence from officers and stakeholders, including outside organisations such as Age Concern at local and national level The Alzheimers Society Older people s Forum Homes staff and their representatives Residents and relatives of residents Carers organisations Private/voluntary homes providers Observe one or more of the consultation meetings Provide document analysis and review web-based information and advice Take evidence from other local authorities. Review Best Practice Provide legislative, policy and financial framework for the proposals Visit homes as appropriate. 6. Time Management The current round of consultation ends on 26 th September. There should be at least one scrutiny commission review meeting before the review ends to discuss the issues set out within this scoping document At least one meeting should take place after the work has been done on analysing the responses and before the final department report goes to Cabinet. That will allow for interviews and other information and evidence gathering/document analysis to take place. 7. Resource Requirements ASC officer time will be required to provide expert advice, information and support to review and to keep the review chair updated on progress. Resources will mainly involve the time of the Member Support Officer and can be contained within existing budgets

6 8. Risks Insufficient time to complete the review Availability of people from whom to take evidence over the summer. Delays in report production will delay decision making and cause unnecessary further anxiety for staff, residents and relatives. 9. Publicity Publicity will be through media release and direct contact with interested groups and individuals. This will be co-ordinated through ASC in order to make sure that information being asked for and distributed is not contradictory and is accurate. 10. Further Supporting Evidence You may feel you would like to add further information to support your case for an inquiry. Please feel free to do so in the space below. Supporting documentation includes 1 Report back from the March-June 2011 consultation 2. Consultation paper re the current consultation 3.Consultation information sent to stakeholders.

7 11. Departmental Comments Scrutiny s role is to influence others to take action. It is, therefore, important for OSC to understand the department s view of the proposed review. Please ensure that the following box is filled in by a relevant officer in the department. This scrutiny review is supported by the Adult Social Care Division. The Department agrees to assist in the proposed review. Departmental Comments Completed by _ Job Title _