Agenda item - Worcestershire Older People's Strategy - Presentation

Agenda item

Worcestershire Older People's Strategy - Presentation

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Board welcomed Elaine Carolan, Lead Joint Commissioning Manager (Older People & Physical Disability Service, Worcestershire County Council) and Keith Hoare, Joint Commissioning Officer (Joint Commissioning Unit, Worcestershire County Council).

 

Ms. Carolan explained that Worcestershire County Council (WCC) had an Older People’s Strategy which came to an end in March 2010 and which would be replaced by 1st April 2011.  The autumn budget review would be taken into account when developing the new Older People’s Strategy for Worcestershire, together with the recent white paper regarding primary care trusts.  The Strategy looked at where the dementia care strategy, extra care housing strategy and other pieces of work would come together in order for people to clearly understand what would be on offer to them, with the aim of having one point of access for all services available.

 

Mr. Hoare informed Members that WCC were very keen for district councils to be involved in the development and delivery of the strategy.  The Director for Policy, Performance and Partnerships had agreed to join the consultative group which was a stakeholder group leading on the strategy and also a smaller project group carrying out the more detailed work.  

 

The strategy would cover the following:

 

  • Setting of strategic objectives and priority actions
  • Securing buy in of key partners
  • Managing expectations and defining the balance of responsibilities
  • Building on the success of other strategies and service developments

 

The client group for the strategy was ultimately older people; however it would also include the providers of services for older people within the voluntary sector, private sector and within the statutory sector.  It would also inform local members, as key decision makers around services and use of resources and commissioners within key organisations.

 

Statistical information was provided in respect of the expected increase in the number of residents aged 65+ and 85+ countywide, together with details of the increased number of residents who would suffer long term conditions and the growth in the number of residents diagnosed with dementia and living alone.  The key issue was that more people would require care and support within the home in the county over the next 15-20 years and the pressures therefore would be on social care and support services, far more than on health services.

 

An issue, which would be important for districts to consider individually, was the lack of affordable housing of the appropriate type and size for the older people who wished to downsize within the local community.  The provision of suitable housing for support workers to remain in the local area to provide the workforce that would be needed to allow older people to remain independent within their homes was also problematic.

 

The financial position at both national and local level was discussed in view of the announcements from Government on the expected spending review in autumn 2010.  The strategy would be reviewed once WCC were aware of what funding would be available overall, following necessary savings.  The strategy had been developed by reviewing current strategies, consultation with older people’s forums, and a workshop with stakeholders.

 

The proposed offer of services which would be signed up to by WCC, NHS Worcestershire, all district councils, voluntary sector partners and potential private sector partners had a clear balance of responsibilities between what the state was responsible for, what the individual was responsible for and what the family and community was responsible for.  It would have a strong focus on wellbeing and social care and support in order to maintain independence for older people for as long as possible.

 

Key roles of the district would include the following area:

 

  • Supported housing/extra care
  • Community development and social networks
  • Community transport and community safety

 

There were six priority areas which would be key to making this strategy a success:

 

  • Information and advice
  • Self care and community support
  • Low level support
  • Supported housing
  • Rehabilitation support
  • Dementia and mental wellbeing

 

Members discussed the need for resources and sufficient staff to be in place in order for the necessary support to be successful.  Members agreed that district councils needed to recognise their role in the strategy, both as part of the consultation and in delivery.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet support officer representation from the Council on the countywide groups shaping development of the new strategy.

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