Agenda item

7.1  Susanna White reported that an action plan had been developed to implement the recommendations of the Care Quality Commission (CQC).  She explained that the commission would have been moving away from the current way of assessing and, following government announcements, that there would not be any assessment of adult care this year.

7.2  Sarah McClinton, Deputy Director Adult Social Care, stated that the focus would be on improving services in safeguarding and on preventing people coming into the care system.  In response to questions she explained that Southwark had started on the personalisation journey relatively late.  Designing new systems had required a lot of work but a good foundation was now in place which needed to be implemented and rolled out at a faster pace.  Annie Shepperd clarified that the reason behind the late start was that Southwark was one of only a few authorities with a system which provided for people who had lower care needs.  As a consequence this demanded a review of the criteria for services together with appropriate consultation.

7.3  Annie Shepperd stressed the importance of Southwark’s own self-assessment.  Very high ratings had been given by service users and she took the view that Southwark was in a stronger position than that described by the CQC.  Sarah McClinton added that, in terms of bench-marking, Southwark was not at the bottom when compared with other London authorities and was now focussing on the personalisation approach.  She commented that Southwark Circle was an example of Southwark leading the way in terms of more personalised services.

7.4  Members queried whether there remained areas where officers felt that the CQC had marked Southwark lower than it should have been.  Annie Shepperd stated that officers had come to the conclusion that it was not worth making any further challenge.  The focus should be on what service users were saying.  In response to further questions she assured the sub-committee that no time had been wasted in challenging the previous year’s CQC report.  Susanna White added that the CQC’s report had been very stringent and did not necessarily coincide with some areas where officers knew results were outstanding.

7.5  Members highlighted the disappointing results in Outcome 5, Freedom from discrimination and harassment.  Annie Shepperd emphasised that Southwark had been awarded beacon status for its work on equality and diversity and was one of the leading authorities in this area.  The CQC did not agree but could find few complaints or provide examples of better practice.  Annie Shepperd could not find any activities in other authorities which Southwark was not already doing.

7.6  Members asked for an explanation of the areas for improvement identified by the CGC, Equality Impact Assessments in key areas and embedding equalities considerations in all service developments.  Annie Shepperd’s opinion was that the CQC was applying a set process and that Southwark did not waste resources doing Assessments when these were not necessary.  The evidence put before the CQC had been robust and strong and officers did not believe that it could be matched anywhere else.  Officers had taken the decision that, rather than put energy into challenging the CQC report, it was more important to move forward on all the recommendations and concentrate on how to make improvements for the future.

7.7  The sub-committee took the view that it was important for the areas of improvement to be fully embraced and for a dialogue to take place on any difference of opinion over performance and actions necessary for improvements.  Sarah McClinton confirmed that an action plan had been devised and that all recommendations would be implemented.  She agreed to circulate this to members of the sub-committee.

  RESOLVED:

1.  That areas of improvement identified by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) be embraced.

2.  That a dialogue be engaged in with the CQC to determine particular failings, what specific actions are needed to address these and any sources of best practice.

3.  That the NHS Southwark action plan in response to the CQC report be circulated to members.