Agenda and minutes
PDF 134 KBVenue: 160, Tooley Street, SE1 2QH
Contact: Julie Timbrell, Project Manager (scrutiny)
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Apologies
To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Cllr Charlie Smith gave apologies. |
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Notification of any items of business which the chair deems urgent
In special circumstances, an item of business may be added to an agenda within five clear working days of the meeting. Minutes: There was none. |
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Disclosure of Interests and Dispensations
Members to declare any interests and dispensations in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting. Minutes: There was none. |
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Minutes
To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2025. Supporting documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2025 were agreed as an accurate record. |
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Children's respite care
A presentation on Short Breaks and preventative care is enclosed. Supporting documents: Minutes: The Chair welcomed Simon Rayner, Assistant Director for Children’s and Adults’ Services, who attended to present the Short Breaks and Preventative Support Offer, as circulated with the committee papers. The Chair explained that the purpose of this item was to scrutinise the new service model following the Orient Street being repurposed for aduls only. Previously it provided residential respite care for children and young people (CYP) with SEND. Summary of Presentation by Simon Rayner Simon Rayner outlined the transformation of Southwark’s short breaks provision, highlighting the shift from a residential model to a broader, more inclusive and preventative approach. Key points included: Three-tiered provision:
Expansion of services:
Online booking platform launched to improve access and oversight: www.eequ.org/southwarkshortbreaks Alignment with Southwark 2030 Vision:
Overnight care:
Survey feedback:
Member Questions and Officer Responses Q1: How are children and young people with more complex needs supported? A: There are specific services tailored to complex needs, including autism-focused support. CYP with the highest needs are supported through all-age disability services, which provide more intensive and long-term care. Q2: How many families use the Family Link service? A: Usage is relatively low, partly due to a shortage of foster carers. However, Direct Payments are available to enable carers to support families within their homes, particularly where needs fluctuate due to changing circumstances. Q3: Is it possible to identify who receives overnight care packages? A: Yes. Overnight care packages differ from broader all-age disability support, which includes day and night in-home care for hundreds of families. Residential care is now used by only two families, with most opting for in-home support. Orient Street previously provided occasional residential care, not long-term placements. Q4: Is there a waiting list for short breaks? A: There is generally no formal waiting list. However, the booking system requires families to plan ahead, and not all preferred slots may be available due to demand and capacity.
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Cancer prevention
A presentation has been provided by Southwark Council’s Public Health team and South East London Cancer Alliance to support the scrutiny mini review on Cancer Prevention and Early Diagnosis. Supporting documents: Minutes:
The Chair welcomed council officers and health colleagues attending the meeting to present on Cancer Prevention, in support of the Commission’s ongoing scrutiny review into Cancer Prevention and Early Diagnosis. Presenters:
· Liz Brutus, Assistant Director & Consultant in Public Health, Southwark Council · Zara Gross, Senior Programme Manager – Early Diagnosis, South East London Cancer Alliance · Vicky Stewart, Senior Programme Lead for Lung Screening, South East London Cancer Alliance · Smitha Nathan, South East London Cancer Alliance · Dr Nancy Küchemann, GP and Co-chair of Partnership Southwark, Deputy Medical Director, SEL Integrated Care Board
The Chair invited the presenters to introduce themselves and provide the presentation circulated with the agenda papers. Discussion and Questions Cervical Cancer Screening:
· A pilot self-screening programme is being launched to improve uptake. · Innovative outreach methods have included Tinder promotions and plans to engage local sports clubs and pharmacies. · Drop-in clinics are being trialed, including Saturday sessions.
FGM and Screening Barriers:
· A member raised concerns about the estimated 7,000 women affected by FGM in Southwark, and the associated psychosexual trauma that deters cervical screening. · Public Health officers noted targeted outreach in languages with higher prevalence. · SELCA representatives highlighted that self-sampling could reduce barriers and proposed developing language-specific information packs. · A member stressed that while safeguarding issues to do with children are raised by GPs with women, their trauma is rarely addressed, and this gap needs attention. Prostate Cancer and Black Men:
· SELCA highlighted the Brother to Brother survivors support group as part of community engagement efforts.
Collaboration with Environmental Health:
· Public Health is working with Highways and local industry on the Air Quality Plan to address environmental risk factors.
Smoking and Vaping:
· Increasing tobacco costs have shown a positive impact on reducing smoking rates, though not universally effective. · Free stop smoking services are available. · Concerns were raised about vaping and its health impacts. · It was noted that it takes an average of six attempts to quit smoking. · Discussion included the potential of stronger legal disincentives, though caution was advised about pushing activity underground. SELCA noted the presence of a black market in cigarettes. · Smoking rates have declined from 30% to around 12–13%.
Hepatitis C Testing:
· A question was raised about the rationale for Hepatitis C testing, given the availability of effective treatments. · Testing is being conducted in STI and drug use clinics, where prevalence is highest. · Data collection is ongoing to support targeted interventions.
RESOLVED
A briefing will be provided outlining the health impacts of Vaping.
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Nursing care home delivery scrutiny review report
The final scrutiny review report is enclosed, to note. Supporting documents: Minutes: Members noted the final scrutiny review report and reported that this was presented at cabinet.
The below steps were agreed to scrutinise delivery of the new home through the market led approach of a land transaction.
RESOLVED
A briefing will be requested asking the following questions:
• The EADDAT - which underpins our globally recognised 'Gold' standard in design for dementia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5UBIEk3850 https://www.dementia.stir.ac.uk/newsblog/tax-8y9m9-4pdt5-xfdmp-2ze6s Environmental Toolkit (EADDAT) – Dementia Services Development Centre
• PhD research from Dr Martin Quirke on building layouts in residential care: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368642727_Plan-EAT_A_Tool_for_Assessing_Dementia_Design_Quality_in_the_Layout_Planning_of_Residential_Aged_Care_Environments
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Safeguarding scrutiny review
This item is to recap on progress to date and to plan future items. Supporting documents: Minutes: The reports were noted. |
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Work Programme
Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED
Add the following to the work-plan:
· Menopause
· FGM
· University of Stirling’s work on dementia friendly design |