Agenda item

To submit a report by the Director of Social Services.

The report of the Director of Social Services in respect of the Regional and Local Market Strategy (Social Services) was presented to the Executive for consideration.

The Portfolio Holder for Adults’ Services reported that this report was considered by the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on 26 September, 2022 were there was a lengthy discussion on the implications of the Strategy.  He noted that there is challenges facing the Council as to the services that will be afforded over the years.  The Portfolio Holder said that there are recruitment issues across the care sector and especially attracting young people into these roles. 

 The Head of Adults’ Services reported that the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 introduced a new duty on local authorities and health boards to develop a joint assessment of the sufficiency and sustainability of the Social Care Market.  The report enables the authority to understand the social care market in North Wales, so that the authority can effectively commission and support providers of health and social care services to meet the needs of the population effectively.  However, local authorities must ensure that the market stability report also contains an assessment of the market for care and support within each local authority area as well as across the RPB area as a whole.  The report will inform both regional and local decision making around commissioning care and support, feeding into the strategic plan for the RPB area and helping shape local and regional commissioning strategies.  He noted that there is a strong link between the Market Stability Report and the Population Needs Assessment where the population needs assessment sets out current and projected need and demand for care and support, and the range and level of services that will be required to meet that demand.  Both the Population Needs Assessment and Market Stability Report documents will be used to plan local and regional delivery plan and service development plans going forward.  He further reported that Home Care Service has seen an increase in demand for the service of 33% over recent years and the demand is projected to grow.  There has been a fall in providers affording the Home Care service and it is concerning that recruitment into the Care Sector is decreasing and especially within the Home Care provision with the average age of Home Carers being over 50 years of age.  The Head of Adults’ Service further said that there is a need to support Informal Carers within the Island.  He referred to the need for an increase in specialist provision for complex conditions together with Dementia Care due to the ageing population.  As regards to Children’s Services there need to be an increase in the provision of children and young people with complex needs i.e. learning difficulties, emotional and mental health issues.

The Scrutiny Manager, in the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee, said the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held on 26 September, 2022 discussed the Regional and Local Market Stability Report and having considered the report provided by Officers at the meeting, the Committee referred to the challenges in recruiting staff to the Care Sector and that the Council should continue to work closely with the schools and local colleges to attract young people to work within the Care Sector.  The Committee noted that there is a need for a national solution for a pay increase to recognise the essential work provided by Care Workers.  The Committee also highlighted the challenges in recruiting bilingual staff as Home Carers and especially within Residential Care Homes.  Discussions were also undertaken as to the effect of the decision by the two neighbouring local authorities recently to change the national fees structure of the Residential and Nursing Care Homes. Having discussed the report in detail the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee accepted the report.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

It was RESOLVED to approve the North Wales Market Stability Report and the Market Stability Report for Anglesey.