Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Limited Liability Partnership Strategic Governance Group.

Minute of the Meeting of the Limited Liability Partnership Strategic Governance Group held on 20 June 2017 to be approved and signed by the Chairman.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the meeting of 20 June 2017.

APPROVED the Minute for signature by the Chairman.

With reference to the decision at paragraph 6(b) of the Minute of 20 June 2017, Members noted that the programme of visits was now in progress and that additional requests to take part in this programme should be made to Ms Crombie for SB Cares establishments and Mr Wilson for external providers.

Consider report on the performance of SB Cares by the Finance and Commercial Director on the Management Accounts as at 31 July 2017.  (Copy attached.)

            There had been circulated copies of a report by the Finance and Commercial Director SB Cares updating Members on the Management Accounts to 31 July 2017.  The Appendix to the report included details of the year to date spend against budget and against the previous year spend for both income and expenditure; the year to date spend by service heading; the balance sheet for the period; and the projected cash flow at 31 March 2018.  Ms McPhail advised that a surplus of £115k was being reported as at 31 July 2017, as opposed to the anticipated surplus £88k and she went on to highlight some of the key elements of the current financial position.  The income from Bordercare Alarms had held up well following the price increase for the service agreed by Council in December 2016, with the number of cancelled alarms being lower than expected.  Mr Leys advised that those clients who had cancelled their alarms had gone back into the Social Work to ensure their safety at home.  The new homecare rotas had contributed to savings in staff costs as anticipated and work was ongoing to analyse the cause of a small overspend in staff costs within care homes.  Other savings of £17k and £15k were reported against travel costs and catering costs respectively.  Discussion followed and Ms McPhail confirmed that progress was ongoing in relation to the sale of items to private clients, with an online service going live on the website in the near future.

            DECISION

            NOTED the contents of the report and the actions described to manage budgetary pressures.

Consider update report by SB Cares Operations Director on Inspections by the Care Inspectorate.  (Copy attached.)

            With reference to paragraph 6 of the Minute of 20 June 2017, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Operations Director SB Cares giving the updated position on the inspection of SB Care services by the Care Inspectorate.  Ms Crombie advised that since the last report to LLP SGG, the final report for Deanfield Care Home had been received and the service had shown improvement in particular areas.  Quality of Care and Support had received a Grade 5, with Quality of Management and Leadership; Quality of Staffing; and Quality of Environment receiving Grade 4.  This report contained 7 requirements and 2 recommendations.  The Hawick Community Support Service had also received a positive report.  Only two themes, namely Quality of Care and Support and Quality of Management and Leadership, were inspected on this occasion and both received improved awards to Grade 5.  Home Care East (Hawick, Jedburgh and Newcastleton) had been registered only recently and was currently being inspected for all themes.  The outcome of the inspection would be reported in due course.  Ms Crombie advised that the trend in Care Inspection grades had shown a consistent increase in grades since the inception of SB Cares, with no service now being graded as 3 (Weak) and the number of awards at Grade 5 increasing from 14% to 35%.  Further detail was included in the Appendices to the report.  Ms Crombie clarified a number of points raised by Members and advised that SB Cares was working with colleagues in HR and Borders College to look at training and how that could be delivered to staff.  The Chairman offered congratulations to SB Cares on the improvements made across services.

            DECISION

NOTED:-

(i)      the finalised reports for Deanfield Care Home and Hawick Community Support Service;

(ii)      the percentage of services that had received a grade 4 and above;

(iii)       the requirements and recommendations as contained in the report and Appendix 1;

(iv)      the increase in grades since the transfer to SB Cares as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report;

Before proceeding with the private business, the following motion should be approved:-

“That under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the aforementioned Act.”

            AGREED under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the business contained in the following items on the ground that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 8 of the part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Act.

Consider update report on the delivery of SB Cares Business Plan for 2017-2022.  (Copy attached.)