Agenda and minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no interests declared.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 21 May 2024.

Consideration was given to the minutes from the Committee meeting held on 21 May 2024.  Updates were provided on the following items that were on the agenda:

·       Scrutiny Review of Access to GPs and Primary Medical Care: The Committee’s final report was presented to Cabinet yesterday (17 June 2024) where all recommendations were subsequently endorsed.

AGREED that the minutes of the meeting on 21 May 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Consideration was given to the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023-2024.  Introduced by the SBC Director of Public Health, the report contained the following:

·       Foreword (SBC Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture)

·       Introduction (SBC Director of Public Health)

·       Executive Summary

·       Our picture in Stockton-on-Tees

·       What do local people say?

·       What works? Addressing health inequalities

·       Current local context

·       Local action

·       Approach – what next in Stockton-on-Tees?

·       Next steps

·       Appendices (life expectancy; inequality in life expectancy; intersectionality; life expectancy gap between the most and least deprived quintiles of Stockton-on-Tees by cause of death, 2020 to 2021)

The Committee was reminded that, under the Health and Social Care Act (2012), the Director of Public Health had a duty to prepare an independent annual report.  This latest version outlined the challenge of persistent health inequalities experienced by people in Stockton-on-Tees.  The report highlighted existing examples of good practice and strong partnerships with other organisations and the voluntary and community sector, but was clear that a holistic and systematic approach was required to go further and faster in addressing inequalities.  The proposed approach with interventions in civic society, community and services based on a self-assessment complemented the Council’s Powering Our Future policy.

With reference to the report’s Executive Summary section, attention was drawn to the Population Intervention Triangle (PIT) model as a proposed way of addressing inequalities, along with practical tools which could be used to ensure this approach was embedded across the Council and the wider local system.  The report concluded with a list of ‘next steps’ to be agreed and implemented across partners and communities which needed to be embedded in strategy, policy, design, action, monitoring and evaluation.

Welcoming the information provided, the Committee supported the use of the PIT model and emphasised the need for action to be co-ordinated across the health system.  Ensuring oversight of all groups who held public health-related information was also highlighted.

AGREED that the SBC Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023-2024 be noted.

To receive a briefing on developments around this initiative.

Noting with interest the ongoing developments regarding the new Tees Valley Care and Health Innovation Zone, the Committee received a briefing on this initiative following a request to senior SBC officers in February 2024.  Led by the SBC Head of Policy, Development and Public Affairs, and supported by the SBC Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing, a presentation was given which covered the following:

·       Health and Social Care Sector

·       Initial Vision Statement

·       The Vision

·       The Zone

·       Four Building Blocks

·       Programme Governance

·       Workstream 1: Integrated Clinical Facilities / Capital Delivery

·       Workstream 2: Education, Skills & Workforce

·       Workstream 3: Innovation / R&D

·       Workstream 4: Commercial / Business Growth

·       Workstream 5: Masterplanning & Infrastructure

The importance of the health and social care sector within the Tees Valley footprint was emphasised from the outset, with benefits in relation to employment, innovation, research and development, and its vital role in addressing inequalities highlighted.  However, there were significant issues across the sector too, particularly around skills and recruitment, and the condition of estates.  The Care and Health Innovation Zone had the potential to help address these challenges, with a projected 9,000 additional jobs located directly on-site and an annual Gross Value Added (GVA) worth of £470 million to the Tees Valley economy (if the vision was fully realised).

An initial vision statement was produced (a link to the published document was included within the covering report for this agenda item) which outlined the key objectives: to breathe considerable new life into Teesdale Business Park (fully utilising all 50 hectares); to bring forward the holistic regeneration of Tees Marshalling Yards (60 hectares) in terms of employment, housing and other ancillary uses; to grow all aspects of the health, public health and social care sector (including supply chains) and make the area a recognised UK cluster; to link the Zone with Stockton Town Centre, boosting connectivity through transport and active travel links.  With regards transportation, existing infrastructure (Thornaby Train Station, A19 / A66 roads) was noted.

Four key building blocks had been identified to drive forward the initiative – integrated clinical facilities (‘system’-wide), skills pathways, research and development / business incubation, and healthy place making.  Dedicated resources (funding and staff) had been assigned as part of this joint project with the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), with governance structures consisting of a Board (involving senior representation from SBC, TVCA, local acute and mental health NHS Trusts, Teesside University, and the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB)) and five workstreams.

The presentation concluded with an overview of the current activity being undertaken by the five workstreams.  For the ‘Integrated Clinical Facilities / Capital Delivery’ strand, a collective look at the facility requirements would culminate in a finalised list by the end of summer 2024, whilst the ‘Education, Skills and Workforce’ group was focused on getting local people into local jobs and removing barriers.  Linking academia with business and identifying the Zone’s unique selling point was a key feature of the ‘Innovation / Research and Development’ workstream,  ...  view the full minutes text for item ASCH/14/24

To receive a briefing on preparations for the anticipated Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) adult social care services.

The Committee received a briefing on preparations for the anticipated Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) adult social care services.  Introduced by the SBC Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing, who began by welcoming developments in relation to this new requirement, information was provided on the following elements:

·       What is the CQC Assurance Framework?

·       How is the assessment structured?

·       What preparation have we done for the CQC Assurance Framework?

·       What’s going to be happening next?

This regulatory framework, enacted through the Health and Care Act 2022, gave the CQC the powers to assess how well Local Authorities were meeting their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014.  Assessment would take place across nine ‘quality statements’ mapped to four key themes (‘working with people’, ‘providing support’, ‘keeping people safe’, and ‘leadership’), with all Local Authorities in England expected to be evaluated by December 2025.

Once SBC received its notification, it would have three weeks to return its Local Authority Information Return (LAIR) which would include a self-assessment and SBC performance data, strategies and policies.  After the completion of extensive off-site preparation work (including speaking with the Council’s partners and reviewing the LAIR / published data), the CQC would then conduct an on-site visit within six months (giving around six-eight weeks’ notice).  It was noted that the regulator may want to speak to the Committee and / or other Elected Members.

In readiness for its assessment, SBC had received a peer inspection in October 2023 (which identified key development areas), a monthly CQC Programme Steering Group had been formed (overseeing progress of the Action Plan which was created following the peer inspection), and a SBC Assurance and Co-Production Manager had started in January 2024 to co-ordinate the work needed to prepare for the Assurance Framework and, alongside the SBC Lived Experience Co-Ordinator, to ensure that people’s voices and their involvement was woven into what the Council delivered.  In addition, a ‘Making it Real’ Board (comprising of people with lived experience, the Lead Member for Adult Social Care, and Council Officers) was formed in January 2024.

Further preparatory work was highlighted, with SBC due to take part in the Local Government Association (LGA) Assurance Peer Challenge in July 2024, and a programme of support to Council staff being put together (including access to external sessions to aid understanding of the framework and practice answering questions from assessors / peers).

Submitted for consideration alongside the briefing paper, a draft self-assessment document had been prepared ahead of the CQC inspection.  The new SBC Assurance and Co-Production Manager outlined the content which included:

·       Overview of the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees

·       Our Strategic Vision and Key Priorities

·       Working in Partnership

·       Our Adult Social Care Services

·       CQC Assurance Theme 1: Working with People

·       CQC Assurance Theme 2: Providing Support

·       CQC Assurance Theme 3: Ensuring Safety within the System

·       CQC Assurance Theme 4: Leadership

·       Feedback from People

The production of this key part of the LAIR had been guided by self-assessments provided by other  ...  view the full minutes text for item ASCH/15/24

Consideration was given to the minutes of Health and Wellbeing Board meetings which took place in January 2024, March 2024 and April 2024.  Attention was drawn to the following:

·       31 January 2024: Members noted the ‘Care and Health Zone’ agenda item, a presentation which was not provided to the Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee until today’s meeting.

·       27 March 2024: Regarding the ‘Pharmacy Needs Update’ item, the Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee had not been informed (as was required) of the proposals to close the pharmacy in Thornaby – this was being followed-up with relevant health bodies.  Members also welcomed the change in ownership of the pharmacy at 70 Bishopton Lane following issues with the previous proprietor.

AGREED that the minutes of Health and Wellbeing Board meetings which took place in January 2024, March 2024 and April 2024 be noted.

Chair’s Update

The Chair informed the Committee that the date for the first Tees Valley Joint Health Scrutiny Committee meeting of 2024-2025 was still to be confirmed.  It was noted that attendance at these meetings by representatives of other Tees Valley Local Authorities was often poor during 2023-2024 and that efforts were made to address this throughout the year – attendance statistics had been collated and could be shared with Members if requested.

Work Programme 2024-2025

Consideration was given to the Committee’s current work programme.  The next meeting was due to take place on 23 July 2024 and items were scheduled to include the draft Action Plan in relation to the recommendations from the recently concluded Access to GPs and Primary Medical Care review, the PAMMS Annual Report (Care Homes) 2023-2024, and the latest CQC / PAMMS quarterly report (Q1 2023-2024).  Initial planning for the Committee’s next in-depth review of Reablement Services would also commence shortly with a view to presenting a draft scope and plan for approval at the July 2024 meeting.

AGREED that the Chair’s Update and Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee Work Programme 2024-2025 be noted.