Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

An apology for absence was submitted from Rebecca Margetts.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 July 2022.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 19 July 2022 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the inclusion of Alison Swaddle having attended the meeting virtually.

To receive any declarations of interest

Andy Croy declared a general personal interest on the grounds that he worked for an Adult Social Care company.

To answer any public questions

A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice.

The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the work of this committee.

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Committee or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting.  For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

There were no public questions.

To answer any member questions

There were no Member questions.

To receive a presentation on MIND in Berkshire - Wokingham Wellbeing Service.

Alex Hills, Wellbeing Service Manager (Primary Care), Oxfordshire Mind, provided an update on the Wokingham Wellbeing Service.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

·       The service provided 1-1 person-centred support for mental health and wellbeing to service users.  This helped to reduce pressure on other services, particularly Primary Care.   The service also introduced tools and techniques to maintain or improve wellbeing, pro-actively linked people with services and community resources, and supported them to identify and utilise existing support.  It helped to support the Wokingham voluntary and community sector to identify, and respond collaboratively, to local mental health and wellbeing needs.

·       The service was for those who were 18 and over, and who were experiencing a number of different issues such as social isolation and loneliness, mild-moderate mental health concerns, drug and alcohol issues.  A service was also provided for carers.

·       Alex Hills outlined the service access criteria in more detail.

·       Service users must be aged 18+ and registered with a Wokingham GP practice or a resident of Wokingham Borough. They could be:

Ø  People with mild to moderate mental health issues (e.g. mild/moderate depression or anxiety)

Ø  People who may need non-clinical support for stress, poor sleep, difficulties concentrating or relaxing, feeling overwhelmed etc.

Ø  Those with social issues or practical issues (including drug and alcohol use, abuse, bereavement, loneliness, and isolation).

Ø  Those who would benefit from having a broad chat about wellbeing (and need more than a 10 min GP appt).

Ø  Families and carers who were experiencing an impact on their wellbeing or mental health.

·       Work was undertaken in all of the GP practices in the Wokingham Primary Care Networks. 

·       Alex Hills outlined how the service was delivered.  There were 4 Wellbeing Workers who delivered the sessions across the Borough, and a Project Manager.  When someone was referred to the service, they could receive up to 6 non clinical 1-2-1 support sessions.  Alex Hills emphasised that it was not a counselling or befriending service, but person centred, goal focused practical support.  The service was offered in different ways; in person, virtually or via telephone.

·       Alex Hills highlighted some of the key projects since the service had begun in February 2021.  Members were pleased to note that by August 2022 the service was receiving over 100 referrals a month.

·       It was noted that in the case of 99.8% of those referred, contact had been attempted within 3 working days.

·       As of September 2022, the service had, had over 1,000 referrals.

·       A short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) was completed at each initial session, and a comparative measure at the end of service, to measure the impact on the service user.  The target was for a satisfaction rate of 90%, but 99.5% had been achieved in the last quarter.

·       The service wanted to survey other professionals such as GP Practice staff, the Voluntary and Community Sector and statutory partners which regards to their views on the service.  Service user events would be held to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To receive an update on the vaccination programme covering the Wokingham Borough.

Jo Reeves, Newbury Locality Manager, BOB ICB, provided an update on the Berkshire West Autumn Covid 19 Vaccination Plan September-December 2023.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

·       The Plan had been adopted by the Berkshire West Vaccination Action Group which was chaired by Susan Parsonage.

·       Invites for the autumn booster vaccinations were now being sent out from the NHS via text and letter, to those who were eligible.  The national booking system was open to over 65’s, front line health and social care workers, patients who were pregnant or at high risk of poor outcomes from Covid.

·       Primary Care Networks were prioritising patients who were in care homes and those who were housebound.  The vaccinations were being co-administered with the flu vaccines where practicable.

·       A draft Vaccines and Equalities Plan was recently presented to the Vaccination Action Group.  The Plan identified priority groups for community engagement, targeted communications, and the Health on the Move service. 

·       With regards to overall coverage in Wokingham, all of the Primary Care Networks were on board with a small number of pharmacies operating at low intensity.

·       As mitigation and to reinforce the Covid vaccination supply in Wokingham, Oxford Health would be continuing the outreach service, which would be moving to the Civic Centre shortly.  They would be operating 2 days a week.

·       The overall national target was a take up of 75% of those who were eligible.  This would be monitored, and data reports would be shared fortnightly and interrogated by the Vaccination Action Group.  Information would also be emailed to the local authorities.

·       A Member commented that the national booking website had indicated that a lot of venues were providing vaccines on a first come, first served basis, but that on arrival at the venue, people were finding that this was not the case.  Jo Reeves appreciated that this was frustrating.  Feedback suggested that providers would often try, if able, to vaccinate on a walk in basis, but then may have to keep back their vaccination stock for booked appointments.  She would feed back the issue to NHS Digital who were responsible for maintaining the national website.

·       Members raised concerns regarding the location of vaccination centres for residents.  Reading town centre and Wokingham town centre were not particularly convenient for residents throughout the Borough.  Jo Reeves emphasised that there were a number of vaccination providers within the Borough, including PCNs and some pharmacies.  There was also the Outreach team.  The NHS target was that there should be access within a 30 minute drive.  Within Berkshire West most residents had access within a 15 minute drive, although it was appreciated that not everyone could drive.

·       Members requested a list of venues where the vaccination was being offered within the Borough.

·       A Member commented that in the last round of vaccinations, there had been a gap in provision for those aged 17-19 who had not been covered by the school service.  Ingrid Slade clarified that the autumn booster was not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To receive an update on the work of Healthwatch Wokingham Borough.

Sarah Deason, Business Development Director of The Advocacy People, provided a presentation to Members.

During the discussion of this item the following points were made:

·       The Advocacy People were the new host provider for the Healthwatch Wokingham Borough service.  The service had started on 1 April.

·       Sarah Deason outlined the role and remit of Healthwatch Wokingham Borough including making sure that the voice of the public was heard and signposting.  Issues could also be escalated to Healthwatch England.

·       The current focus was on recruiting staff and volunteers.  No staff and only a couple of volunteers had TUPE’D across from the previous providers.

·       Healthwatch had an office in the Wokingham Charity and Community Hub which made it more visible.  An online poll had shown that awareness of Healthwatch Wokingham Borough was quite low, so a focus was to improve awareness.  Even though the email address and phone number remained the same, very few comments from the public had been received, although this was now increasing. 

·       Healthwatch Wokingham Borough was networking with the voluntary sector and statutory services and sharing information with the public, to raise awareness.

·       Advocacy People ran separate contracts for the three Healthwatch services across Berkshire West, which meant economies of scale could be provided e.g. for staffing meetings. 

·       Priorities and projects were starting to be identified.

·       Members requested that the slides be provided prior to the meeting in future to assist with questioning.

·       A Member referred to a tweet that Healthwatch Wokingham Borough had issued in August which had asked people for their good news stories with the hashtags #positivity matters and #thankful Thursday.  He questioned whether this approach was in line with Healthwatch’s remit.  Sarah Deason explained that Healthwatch England had been clear about what it required from local Healthwatch and that was to hear people’s experiences, both positive and negative.  This provided a balanced picture.  Healthwatch was acutely aware of the difficulties in the NHS but there were many staff who appreciated good feedback on their hard work.  When things went wrong Healthwatch also wanted to hold the relevant organisations to account.

·       A Member commented that access to GPs was an issue of concern in the Borough, and questioned whether the lack of a GP at the Burma Hills surgery had been raised with Healthwatch Wokingham Borough.  Sarah Deason confirmed that it had not.

·        A Member referred to Healthwatch Wokingham Borough’s website and questioned how who formed the Board as this section was empty.  Sarah Deason explained that the previous providers of Healthwatch Wokingham Borough had been a company interest company and had a Board which ran this and were the advisory Group for the service.  Advocacy People had a different model, in that the advisory group at a local level, were not involved in the governance of a charity.  All the information was on the Advocacy People website.  In Wokingham Borough there would be an advisory group of volunteers who would scrutinise the work plan and work being undertaken.  Members suggested that the Healthwatch website  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To receive the Adult Services Key Performance Indicators.

Matt Pope, Director Adult Social Care, presented the Adult Services Key Performance Indicators for Q1.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

·       Members were advised that the key performance indicators needed to be seen in the context of the current unprecedented demand post Covid.  Safeguarding concerns were up 76% for example, and front door contacts for Adult Social Care were up 35%.

·       There was a pressure on Adult Social Care nationally.   Matt Pope emphasised that there was a need to keep the pressure up on the future Funding Bill for Adult Social Care, and to create a workforce to meet that demand.

·       A Member commented that it would be useful to have comparative data in all the tables such as the direction of change.

·       In response to a Member question Matt Pope confirmed that he was still committed to setting ambitious stretch targets, although against a backdrop of the current climate.

·       In response to a Member question as to why safeguarding referrals had increased by 76%, Matt Pope commented that this was often the result of inappropriate referrals from the Ambulance Service.  The Ambulance Service was under considerable pressure.  Members questioned what an inappropriate referral looked like and were informed that the referral may have information missing which had to be followed up.  Work was being undertaken across Berkshire West to address this.

·       A Member asked what the level of referrals would look like without the inappropriate referrals.  Matt Pope agreed to feed back to the Committee.

·       Councillor Hare indicated that a safeguarding training session would be held for all Members.

·       With regards to AS2: Social work assessments allocated to commence within 28 days of the requests (counted at point of allocation), Members were pleased to note that the waiting list had been reduced to zero.  A Member asked whether the redeployment of staff to deal with the waitlist had had an impact elsewhere in the service.  Mat Pope indicated that the Council had temporary flexible resource which was moved around to help with pressures.  Previously this staff had been paid for by the NHS to help with discharge from hospital.  However, this funding had since ceased.  These staff had been moved across to help with health assessment levels. 

·       With regards to AS5: New permanent admissions to residential or nursing care homes (65+) (ASCOF 2A2).  A Member questioned whether the aim of reducing these levels conflicted the aim of reducing bed blocking.  Matt Pope explained that there were different pathways on leaving hospital – those that required no support up to those who had to go into nursing homes.  Wokingham was good at providing people with sufficient levels of support to enable them to go home, and only those that really needed to, went into residential care.  It was noted that there was a national issue of insufficient nursing home care places.  Matt Pope referred to a recent Government announcement of an additional £500million nationally to create additional capacity.   It was suggested that the commentary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To consider the forward programme for the remainder of the municipal year.

The Committee considered the forward programme for the remainder of the municipal year.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made.

·       The Chairman indicated that he had held meetings with the Director Adult Social Care, the Assistant Director of Population Health, Integration and Partnerships and the Clerk to discuss how the Committee’s work programme could align with priorities and best add value.

·       Members had found the briefing note produced by Officers to be useful.

·       Members requested a broader update on mental health post Covid for its November.

·       Members had previously expressed an interest in receiving an update on the Primary Care Networks.  This was scheduled for November.  A Member suggested that each surgery be asked about the particular challenges that they were facing.  The Executive Member suggested that the Committee receive information on what a GP surgery was about.

·       An update on NHS Continuing Healthcare was scheduled for November.

·       The clerk questioned whether the Committee still wished to receive an update on the continence service and confirmed that new Healthwatch had not received queries about this service.  The Committee requested that an update be scheduled for the January meeting.

·       The Autism Strategy had previously been scheduled for June 2023.  Members requested that this be brought forwards to the January 2023 meeting.

·       Members were encouraged to put forwards topics which they wanted the Committee to consider.  A Member suggested that South Central Ambulance Service and Westcall be added.  The Clerk indicated that the West Berkshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee had these items on their work programme, and it would be useful to hear the outcome of their discussions.

·       A Member asked that the managers of Burma Hill surgery and Wokingham Medical Centre Surgery be invited to a future meeting. 

RESOLVED:  That the forward programme be updated and noted.