Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 July 2013 and authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2013 were then agreed, subject to one minor change to the attendees (Hamad Patel from HealthWatch Havering was also present). The minutes were signed by the Chairman.

To note the revised membership of the Committee.

The Committee noted the revised membership, and welcomed Councillor Denis O’Flynn to the meeting.

The Committee will receive a presentation on employment opportunities for people with Learning Disabilities.

The Committee received an interesting presentation on Learning Disability Employment from the Community Learning Disability Team Manager.  The national and local factors about disabled people in employment were explained.  In England only 6.4% of people with moderate to severe learning disabilities know to adult social services are in paid employment, this is far lower than the employment rate for all working age disabled people (46.3%) and the working age population in England (76.4%).

Officers informed the Committee that the term “Learning Disability” can vary in meaning, depending on the source.

A Community Care Magazine “A life like any other” campaign in May 2007 showed that of those people with a learning disability 22% had a paid job and 66% would like a paid job.  The Committee were informed that the position had not changed significantly in the last 6 years.

The reasons for engaging people with learning disabilities in employment were explained, they included:

·         Social inclusion

·         Improved financial situations

·         Opening up another source of friends and social contacts

·         Increase in self-esteem

·         Integration

·         It is want people with learning disabilities want.

The Committee was informed that there were a number of barriers and challenges in getting people with learning difficulties into employment, the largest being parental attitude and the education of employers.  However there was a good business case for employing people with learning disabilities since they were a valuable resource, reliable, committed and highly motivated to get a job done.

Nationally, the Office for Disability Issues was working with various government departments on a number of projects which attempted to address getting people with learning disabilities into employment.  These included:

·         Project Search, which helped people with learning disabilities secure and keep permanent jobs through a series of work rotations with a host employer

·         “Getting a Life”, which aimed to identify and tackle the issues young people with learning disabilities face when they left education so they could get a job and enjoy a full life.

·         Jobs First, a one year project with six demonstration sites in England (this was still in the development stages).

Locally, the Council had recruited 29 people with learning disabilities into paid positions in various departments across the council.  An employment champion was identified in Human Resources so that activity could be coordinated.  The Council also worked closely with the local Supported Employment services i.e. ROSE Programme.  Often “job-carving” was needed, so that specific tasks of jobs could be set out specifically for the employee. This included re-writing some of the job descriptions as well as ensuring that they were accessible and easy to apply for.

Officers shared successful case studies of people whom, through various support and organisations that the Council work with, have moved into paid employment.

A member asked if there was sufficient preparation in education establishments for young people with learning disabilities about entering employment.  Officers explained that generally all pupils were treated the same in mainstream education.  Offers of alternative avenues included the continuation of education or a day provision.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Committee will received a presentation on the Winterbourne View Hospital.

The Committee received a presentation from the Community Learning Disability Services Manager on the Winterbourne View Hospital.  The Hospital was exposed on a BBC Panorama programme in May 2011, where a catalogue of bad practice and abuse was exposed.  This included:

·         Douching patients with water whilst fully clothed

·         Poking patients in the eye

·         Water from flower vase being poured over a patients head

·         Mouthwash poured over patients

·         Hitting and slapping of patients

·         Pulling patients across the floor

·         Patients being held down and pinned under a chair.

The Committee agreed with this happening in 2011, it was understandable why there was so much parental resilience to the previous item, given the abuse highlighted at Winterbourne View.

Following the Panorama Programme a number of safeguarding boards were established together with reviews of the hospital.  Criminal proceedings were taken against the care workers in the hospital.  6 out of 11 care workers admitted a total of 38 charges of neglect or abuse of patients had been jailed.  5 others were given suspended sentences.

Officers added that all staff employed at Winterbourne View were qualified to carry out the care of people with learning disabilities, however the hospital itself was an in-patients service for assessment and treatment, which should be a short term/ respite care facility.  It was found that some patients had been living at the hospital for over 3 years.  The location of Winterbourne View was in an industrial estate, families were ushered into a communal lounge when visiting, could not see their children in the privacy of their own room and often personal things went missing.  Officers stated that providers should be welcoming, opening and engage with families so that there is transparency and these issues are avoided.

The Committee was informed that Havering had 27 homes for adults with learning disabilities, the largest had 34 beds, however this was due for closure as the building was not fit for purpose.  All the residents were being accommodated elsewhere in the borough at suitable premises.  The smallest home had 3 beds.  There were 15 supported living units and 7 day providers.  The client base was fairly small with around 600 people with learning disabilities.  The homes were based around the borough, with a large cluster in the north of the borough (Harold Hill) and fewer in the south of the borough (Rainham).  There were 78 people living outside of the borough, as far out as Wales, Devon and Gloucestershire, however the majority lived in the borders of Essex.  Most of these people living outside the borough, did so to be close to family members.

There were a number of support and monitoring systems in Havering to support adults with learning disabilities and autism.  These included the Safeguarding Board, the Quality and Suspension Team, the Learning Disability Partnership Board (which reported to the Health and Wellbeing Board), the Community Learning Disability Service, a multi-disciplinary team of nurses, psychology, psychiatrist, social workers etc.  There were also links with individual clients, their families  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Committee will receive an update report on Dreywood Court Extra Care Scheme.

The Committee received a report updating it on the progress of Dreywood Court, the new high quality extra care housing scheme.  The scheme comprised ninety eight flats, twenty for shared ownership and seventy eight for rent.  These were approximately split 50/50 between 1 and 2 bed flats.  Havering already had two extra care housing scheme, where care and support is commissioned by Adult Social Care.  These were Paines Brook Court in Harold Hill and St Ethelburga Court in Harold Wood.  Whilst the scheme provided extra care housing, Dreywood Court also provided a shared ownership scheme.

The scheme opened and was handed over to the Council in July 2013. However East Thames Group, who built the scheme, was still the registered landlord responsible for developing the scheme in partnership with the Council.  It also fulfils a number of other on-going supports, including tenancy agreements and housing management.  Once all the allocations are made, they would work closely with the care and support provider, to ensure the scheme remained a vibrant and inclusive community.

Sanctuary Home Care (Ltd) was awarded the contract for the personalised care and support service for the residents of Dreywood Court.  Sanctuary Home Care established their office at the scheme in advance of the first residents moving in and began assessing applicants for Dreywood Court from April 2013.  Sanctuary Home Care had a presence since the day the scheme opened.  The whole scheme is fully accessible and there were 8 adapted flats for wheelchair users. 

The scheme had its own allocation panel, which assessed all applications.  There was 100% allocation for the socially rented flats and 15 of the 20 shared ownership flats had deposits put down on them.  An assurance was given that all allocations were from Havering residents who had resided in the borough for at least 2 years.  The criteria for extra care housing was for people aged 55 and over, who required some care and support but who wished to retain the independence of living in their own home rather than having to move into a residential care home.  Six people had transferred from Newstead House, the Learning Disability Home which was no longer fit for purpose.  It was felt that even though these residents were under 55, there were exceptional circumstances, which the scheme could support.

To ensure the moving experience was not a barrier to the most vulnerable and elderly, Age Concern Havering were commissioned to support people to move. The level of support required had been tailored to people’s circumstances. The support programme was well underway and regular updates were showing the value of the support given.

In addition a protocol had been developed with the Benefits Service.  Each time an applicant moved into the scheme the volunteers completed the housing benefit forms and verification document which were collected daily from the scheme. This ensured a smooth transition and reduced the burden of unnecessary delays or rent arrears.

The scheme had lots of circulation and social inclusion areas.  There would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Committee will receive a report on the Corporate Performance Information as agreed by Cabinet at its meeting in July.  This includes the Quarter 4 report.

The Committee were provided with details of the Annual Corporate Performance Indicators for 2012/13. The Committee agreed that any questions should be e-mailed to the Head of Adult Social Care.

The Committee did not wish to add anything further to its work programme at the present time.

A number of members stated that they would have to give apologies for the next meeting (4^th December 2013) therefore the Chairman stated that it may be necessary to re-arrange the date of the next meeting.