Content

12.1

The
Assistant Director of Living and Ageing well introduced the report
to the Committee which provided:
 
·      
Further update regarding Living and Ageing Well Short-Term service
provision including Occupational Therapy, Equipment, Adapted
Housing, City-Wide Care Alarms and Technology Enabled Care services
setting out the current position and achievements since the
previous report to committee in March 2024.
·      
Activity underway to achieve an accessible, responsive suite of
services to improve long term outcomes for local people in the
city.
·      
Current commissioning arrangements for the Integrated Community
Equipment Loan Service and the options for recommissioning, along
with key updates with regards to implementation of national
guidance.
·      
An update on the City-Wide Care Alarms service including proposals
in relation to charges to customers.

12.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health
and Social Care Policy Committee:-

Approve an extension of the Integrated Equipment Loan Services
(ICELS) of 18 months consultation and engagement will take place
regards future of the ICELS contract commencing in November 2024 to
enable a recommendation to be proposed at Committee in March
2025.
Notes
consultation and engagement will take place between September and
January 25 regards the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and
discretionary funding policy to enable a recommendation to be
proposed at Committee in March 2025.
Notes
the update on the delivery of the Council’s Occupational
Therapy and City-Wide Care Alarms Services.
Notes
progress in delivering Technology Enabled Care ambitions including
the financial impact of digital switchover.
Approve charging the amount reflective of the additional digital
cost, where the digital switchover is applied to customers, so that
Sheffield City Council is not at a financial loss.
Notes
engagement will take place between October 2024 and February 2025
to propose increase in City Wide Care Alarm charges to achieve an
affordable service. The outcome of the engagement will be provided
to Committee in March 2025.
Approves an annual review of the Citywide Care Alarms charging
policy to ensure sustainability of the service.
Requests that the Strategic Director Adult Care and Wellbeing
provides the Committee with updates on progress and outcomes in
relation to the performance and financial spend on a six-monthly
basis.

12.3

Reasons for Decision

12.3.1

The
decision to approve an extension of the Integrated Equipment Loan
Services (ICELS) of 18 months provides the time required to
undertake the work regarding development of a new specification
including consultation and engagement regards the future of the
ICELS contract.

12.3.2

This
decision will support consultation, and engagement regards the
Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and discretionary funding policy,
enabling us to have clear practice guidance for both people
requiring access to the funding and our workforce which is
reflective of learning from previous ombudsmen
decisions.
 

12.3.3

The
performance updates and focused delivery plan gives a structured
approach to the promotion of independent living as well as how the
service is addressing waiting lists and ensuring that progress is
being made and people are supported to wait well. It will also
provide greater accountability and transparency of how we will do
this.

12.3.4

Providing regular updates and latest position of the service and
the key priority workstreams including commissioning arrangements,
future opportunities and performance ensures the Committee, wider
stakeholders, and the public the ability to hold the Council to
account for progress and provide an additional mechanism to input
to future development and oversight.

12.3.5

The
approval to undertake a review of charging for City Wide Care
alarms will enable us to have a more viable business model and
better reflect the increased cost for the upgrade to digital
equipment and ensure that we are delivering value for money whilst
not operating at a loss.

12.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

12.4.1

Alternative Option 1:
 
·      
Don’t complete the identified recommendation
and actions risking the implementation of service improvements.
performance and financial recovery.
·      
This option does not provide the assurances
required.
 

Alternative Option 2:
 
Recommended:
 
·      
To note the identified recommendations and actions
including the implementation of delivery plan for equipment and
adaptations performance and financial recovery.
·      
This would provide the assurances required to ensure
that we are striving towards a high performing and financially
sustainable service