To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 11 September 2013, as a correct record

Resolved:  That the meeting of the Health Liaison Board held on 11 September 2013, be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Any interests not already registered.

No declarations of interest were made.

With the Board’s agreement the Chairman put back consideration of agenda item 4. 

The actions from the previous meeting were noted.

The Chief Officer Communities and Business advised Members that of the locations which had been identified for closure, two were within the District, one in Dunton Green and the other in Westerham. Other centres would have reduced hours. It was felt by some Members that, in some cases, this was appropriate as the centres were not used to their full capacity.

Action 1: That the update on Children’s centres be circulated.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Turner from Carers First to the meeting.  Mr. Turner reported that Carers First worked in West Kent, Medway, Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley.  He explained that there were more older people than there used to be and that money from Central Government was being cut.  Local Authorities had to transform Adult Social Services for supporting carers.  It was estimated that it was saved society £119 billion per year for funding for carers.

In the 2011 census 15,777 people had said that they were a carer.  Out of this figure 652 were carers that spent 50 hours or more caring for someone who had a Sevenoaks post code.  There were currently no figures available on a District-wide basis.  There were a number of people who were carers but were not seen as carers until relationships broke down or health situations deteriorated and then Adult Social Services and hospitals become involved.  The service provided now allowed for carers to contact Carers First and for home visits.

Mr. Turner tabled a diagram of the Carer Support Model which illustrated the different ways support could be given.  There had been investments in life coaching which was having a positive affect on carers.  The carers assessment worked on a 6 month process where carers were contacted at least 3 times to see how they were, and discussed ways in which they could develop.  The telephone services also allowed Carers First to check how the carers were.  It was also a time when an assessment can be made regarding the breakdown of relationships particularly with dementia and other mental health problems. 

Mr. Turner informed the Board that they were working to raise awareness of dementia and had identified the barriers and changes that organisations needed to make to help become more dementia friendly.  Mr. Turner explained that there was a holistic approach with other organisations and services to intervene early before a carers relationship broke down.  This was helped by the model that had been implemented as it had brought carers to the system.

In response to questions Mr. Turner explained that North West Kent Carers, at the time that Carers First had been commissioned to provide services in their area, had made 60 referrals for carers who might benefit from help provided by Carers First. The number of carers was increasing from 1,900.  In response to questions, he explained that abuse of older people was widespread and that the organisation had safeguarding policies and training in place. 

Members expressed an interest in the literature provided, and questioned whether it was used in local communities to help carers hear of Carers First. A Member suggested that a way to get the information in to GP surgeries was through the Patient Participation Group (PPG). Members also suggested ways in which the District Council could be involved. This was through website links, Inshape and literature packs in reception.  Members could also have the information packs to provide to residents in their wards.

Action 2:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

The Housing Policy Manager explained that there had been some changes regarding the update on the older people’s housing needs study since the briefing note was published.  He explained that an Older People’s housing needs study was to be undertaken.  So far there was funding from Housing Associations and Section 106 money.  The first stage of the stock analysis had been completed.  The second stage was a wider analysis which would include home improvement agencies work and disabled facility grants. 

More older people were wanting to stay in their family homes and not move.  There was a need to improve the system to help people to stay independent.  A wider housing survey would be completed to update the previous studies.  The surveys would be carried out at the same time using the same methodology to reduce the cost; this was why there would be a delay in the studies being completed.  Once the Sevenoaks District Housing Strategy had been completed an action plan would be made. Kent County Council (KCC) had completed an Accommodation Strategy which identified specialist stock at a District level and social gaps. 

Action 3: KCC’s Accommodation Strategy be circulated to the Board.

Once the Strategy was completed an action plan under the Housing Strategy will be made.  Further support for independent living is being looked into through partnership working to allow for trials with residents to take place.

Concerns were raised that older people were worried about moving from their family home and having to downsize.  A Member also expressed concern that homes that were originally designated for older people were no longer purely for older people but for anyone to live in.  The Housing Policy Manager informed the Board that he was not aware of this and would investigate.

Action 4: To look investigate the cases where homes designated for older people that were being used for all ages.

Members discussed that Older People were classed as those who were over the age of 55.  Some Members felt that sheltered accommodation should not be available for those of that age as people were living longer and may lead a different lifestyle to those of an 80 year old.  Other Members felt that having a mixed community provided support for those who were older.

The Board discussed the idea of converting larger properties into smaller ones for people to continue to live in an area they are used to, and that other options for providing housing to older people needed to be looked into.  It was felt that the classification of Greenbelt and Brownfield sites needed to be looked into with the view to changing some Greenbelt sites to Brownfield. Members were keen that this was something that should be brought to Cabinet’s attention.

The Chief Officer Communities and Business reported that the ‘Mind the Gap’ action plan had been approved and that the first quarterly monitoring report would be available at a future meeting of the Board.

The Chairman proposed that the Board should look at each of the six objectives in turn, and that Cllr. Ms Lowe should be invited to speak regarding the work around maternity care.

Verbal update

The Chief Officer Communities and Business informed the Board that Mr Turner from Carers First had touched on the subject and that Sevenoaks District Council were looking into providing training for Staff and Members.  Members agreed that this would be a good idea for more awareness to be raised to help front line staff recognise signs of Dementia in customers.

The Chief Officer Communities and Business explained that the annual report was KCC’s annual health report. She also informed Members that the health walks in the District were well attended.

Members discussed Autism and Asperger Syndrome and the services that were available. A Member raised concerns with children in Swanley who had Autism and Asperger Syndrome and the help they are being provided with and the problem for the time it took for them to be assessed.  Members also questioned their housing needs and what support was available to them.

Action 5: The Housing Policy Manager to look into the needs of those with Autism and Asperger Syndrome.

The Chief Officer Communities and Business informed the Board that someone from KCC could be invited to speak about what is being done for those with Autism and Asperger Syndrome.

Action 6: For KCC to be invited to speak about Autism and Asperger Syndrome.

The Chief Officer Communities and Business informed the Board there had been an update at Kent County Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) the report and minutes of the meeting were available.  Members agreed that it was an item that should be deferred until the next meeting of the Board.

Action 7: 111 Health Telephone Service report and minutes from the HOSC be circulated.

The Chief Officer Communities and Business informed Members that there was no further update to the Mapping the Future documents.  Members agreed that they were happy with the information provided.

Councillor Searles updated Members with the progress of the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Clinical Commissioning Group.  They had identified Dementia, falls, Accident and Emergency and preventative measures as priorities. 

Councillor Searles informed Members that there was an event for putting patients first.  PPGs were invited to attend in Swanley.  Training was being provided for other voluntary organisations to raise awareness of Dementia and strategies for dealing with people who suffer from Dementia.

It was agreed that the following items be added to the meeting of the Board on 2 April 2014:

·         Children’s Best Start

·         Review of Children’s Centres

·         Feedback from Sevenoaks District Children’s partnership

·         Troubled families progress report

·         Autism and Asperger Syndrome

·         Maternity Care