Agenda and minutes

Councillor Philip Whitehead, Co-Chair of the Board and Leader of Wiltshire Council welcomed everybody to the meeting.

Before the meeting began each Member of the Board, other Councillors and officers who would be contributing to the meeting were given the opportunity to confirm their attendance for those watching the live stream of the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Catrinel Wright, Christina Button, Tracey Cox, Elizabeth Disney, Stephen Ladyman, Douglas Blair, Seth Why, Dr Gareth Bryant, Tony Fox, Stacey Hunter and Kevin McNamara.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2020.

Decision –

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.

To declare any personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named on the front of the agenda for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution.

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on Thursday 19 November 2020 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on Monday 23 November 2020. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

There was no public participation.

To receive the annual report of the SVPP from the Independent Chair, Mark Gurrey.

The Board received a report from Mark Gurrey, the Safeguarding and Vulnerable People Partnership (SVPP) and Wiltshire Safeguarding Adults Board Independent Chair.

The Independent Chair reported that this was the first Annual Report of the SVPP, which was formed in response to the changes set out in Working Together 2018; to replace LSCBs with multiagency arrangements to safeguard children. The SVPP takes a ‘think family, think community’ approach and as such also brings together work which sits across the WSAB and CSP. This Annual Report sets out the work of the Partnership that has taken place during 2019-2020, including Rapid Reviews, workforce development and priorities for 2020-21.

In addition, the Board noted comments on the following matters:

·       The lower than anticipated number of referrals following the reopening of schools.

·       The testing of pupils not back in school and those being educated at home.

·       The increase in complexity of managing the school day for headteachers and staff.

·       Opportunities to intensify engagement with schools

·       Connections with National Reviews to inform local knowledge

Decision –

1.    That the report and comments be noted.

2.    That the Health & Wellbeing Board continue to receive Safeguarding and Vulnerable People Partnership Annual Report

To receive a report on actions following the recent HMIP inspection from Emma Legg - Director for Access & Reablement, Adult Care Operations.

The Board received a report from Emma Legg – Director of Access & Reablement about the recent HMIP inspection of HMP Erlestoke.

The Director reported that a recent inspection at HMP Erlestoke in August 2020 identified concerns regarding support for 6 prisoners with care and support needs and the actions of the Local Authority Adult Care service in terms of assessment and provision of support. The report summarised the role of the Local Authority in terms of assessing and meeting the adult care needs of individuals in prisons and also considers the role of Safeguarding in a custodial setting.

The Board noted that a review was undertaken by adult care to determine any areas of concern. Areas for improvement were identified, both for adult care and the prison, particularly in terms of information sharing and wider communication. The review also details the actions Adult Care and Erlestoke prison have completed to address these concerns and the subsequent plans in progress, agreed in partnership, to improve the working practices across both services.

The Police and Crime Commissioner suggested that representations should be made to the HMIP proposing that the Police and Local Authority should be given the opportunity to comment on inspection reports prior to their publication.

Decision –

1.    That the presentations and comments be noted.

2.    That representations be made to the HMIP proposing that the Police and Local Authority should be given the opportunity to comment on inspection reports prior to their publication.

To receive a report from Helen Jones - Director Joint Commissioning and a presentation from Kate Blackburn – Director of Public Health.

The Board received an update report and presentation from Kate Blackburn, Director of Public Health and Helen Jones, Director of joint Commissioning about the Local Outbreak Management Plan and support offered to Care Homes.

The Directors commented on the following matters during the presentation:

·       7 day cases by specimen date for the UK,

·       7 day cases by specimen date for England

·       7 day cases by specimen date for Wiltshire

·       Rate of new cases in Wiltshire over last 7 days by MOSA

·       Weekly deaths with COVID-19 on the death certificate for Wiltshire up to 13 November 2020

·       Details about the Tier 1, 2 and 3

·       Confirmed number of cases in care homes

·       Covid-19 mortality rate in care homes

·       PHE reports of outbreaks in care homes in the South West

·       Wiltshire care home vacancies

In addition, the Board noted comments on the following matters:

·       No onward transmissions have been experienced from educational establishments

·       Government advice is to reduce travel as much as possible

·       Infection rates may rise within two weeks of restrictions being relaxed during the Christmas period, as experienced during the half term holidays

·       Support and guidance is available to all communities in the County through partnership working 

·       Reduced number of cases compared to outbreak 1

The Chair thanked all care home staff and residents for their hard work and resilience during this unprecedented time.

Decision – That the presentations and comments be noted.

To receive a presentation from Emma Legg – Director for Access & Reablement, Adult Care Operations and Clare O’ Farrell – Interim Director of Commissioning.

The Board received a presentation from Emma Legg – Director of Access & Reablement, and Clare O’Farrell – Interim Director of Commissioning about the impact of COVID-19 on the NHS and Social Care services.

The Director commented on the following matters during the presentation:

·       The current situation at hospitals, in the community for adults and primary care, social care and mental health

·       The BSW system of escalation framework during COVID-19 and the phases of escalation

·       System challenges

In addition, the Board noted comments on the following matters:

·       The excellent co-operation between partners

·       Request for a report focusing on the impact of COVID-19 Children Services

·       Highlighting the need to protect staff who deliver services from burn out, in addition the need to reduce the pressures experienced by staff planning services

Decision –

1.    That the presentations and comments be noted.

2.    That officers be asked to prepare a report focusing on the impact of COVID-19 Children Services for the next meeting of the Board.

To receive a presentation from Tamsin Stone – Head of Service Outcomes & QA Children & Adults and Toby Eliot – Corporate Support Manager.

The Board received an update presentation from Lucy Townsend, Interim Corporate Director of People about the Recovery Risk register and demand modelling across Council service areas.

The Director commented on the following matters during the presentation:

·       Children’s Services demand planning in relation to the work undertaken by the Local Authority, CCG and Police from July 2020

·       The cumulative impact on demand for children’s safeguarding

·       Demand modelling for Adult Services from July 2020

·       Overview of the Risk Register for COVID-19 care, safeguarding and education recovery.

In addition, the Board noted comments on the following matters:

·       The impact of COVID-19 on known vulnerable groups and an acknowledgment that a number of unknown groups were being affected, including those people who find themselves unemployed for the first time in their careers.

·       Preparations in place for future demand on services.

Decision – That the presentations and comments be noted.

To receive a presentation from Clair Edgar – Director of Learning Disabilities & Mental Health.

The Board received a presentation from Claire Edgar, Director of Learning Disabilities & Mental Health about the Wellbeing Hub.

The Director commented on the main objectives of the Hub in particular to offer support, guidance and signposting for the community; enabling a community response to help those who contract COVID-19; working with partners, volunteer groups etc. to ensure a responsive system is in place; and provide access to essential goods and facilities for those in need during the pandemic.

In addition, the Board noted comments on the following matters:

·       Facts and figures connected to the 35,000 contacts with Wiltshire residents since March 2020.

·       How the Hub is operating since the second lockdown

The Chair thanked all officers and the Wiltshire residents for their continued help and support during COVID-19 pandemic.

Decision – That the presentations and comments be noted.

There were no urgent items.

The next meeting is being held on 28 January 2021 starting at 9.30am.

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The next meeting is being held on 28 January 2021 starting at 9.30am.