The Sub-Committee will receive a presentation updating it on Demand Management and the pilots in Children, Adults and Housing Directorates.
Minutes:
The Sub-Committee received an update on Demand Management. Officers informed the Sub-Committee that a strategy to manage growing demand and implementation was being developed and scheduled for completion in July 2015. Demand Management would be cross-cutting from Children to Adults. The Sub-Committee noted that the work would be on a corporate level across all services.
There were several pilots that had been approved which had been developed by officers and from the “Big Ideas Campaign”. Officers outlined the pilots as set out below:
· Social Value in Commissioning – It was explained that all contracts needed to focus on ensuring the commitment to improve social value. This would improve confidence and health and wellbeing of local residents, by being in meaningful employment which could be a key factor in preventing multiple triggers of demand for services
· Social Isolation – This pilot aimed at decreasing social isolation and increasing an individual’s wellbeing.
· Early Help Offer for Clusters of Education Settings – The Sub-Committee was informed that this pilot is aimed at creating locality-based clusters of educational settings (early years settings and schools) as a hub for access to multi-agency early help/intervention support.
· Maximising Central Government Funding for Service Users – It was explained that traditionally not all Havering residents seek all of the benefit entitlements they could receive. By implementing this pilot there would be fewer local government resources needed to fund or top up services.
· Retention and Recruitment of Hospital and Local Health Care Staff – It was noted that there were some 350 vacancies in the local health sector. The local authority also has problems in recruiting staff for certain roles and this pilot would work with schools and colleges to address this.
· Early Years Intervention and Targeted Funding – The Sub-Committee was informed that additional funding had been agreed to support young children who for 2015 would not be eligible for the two year old offer of a nursery place and who may represent in the educational system at a later date with high levels of unmet need.
· Post-16 SEND Provision – It was noted that new local provisions will be explored for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 16-25.
· Digital Inclusion – The Sub-Committee was informed that this pilot would explore the provision of internet access across the Council’s estates. It is hoped that this pilot could also help with reducing social isolation.
· Home for Hospital to Sheltered Housing – The pilot will explore the option of utilising sheltered housing as a possible option for people who leave hospital but may be unable to return to their own home.
· Supporting Older Residents with Property – The Sub-Committee was informed that this idea had been explored elsewhere, and would effectively offer residents the option of the Council renting out their home if they were unable to continue living in it for any reason. This pilot will first explore what models other local authorities’ offer, and will involve a small pilot to begin with to see if it is something that could be beneficial to Havering residents.
· Making Homeless Hostels places for Positive Change – It was noted that the typical stay in a hostel was between three and four months, could provide an opportunity to support individuals and families on issues including training, employment and finance.
The Sub-Committee thanked officers for a very informative presentation and suggested that some of these areas could be included within a Members Brief session. There were a number of areas that the Sub-Committee wished officers to provide updates on at a future meeting.