The Scrutiny Health & Social Care Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss the Adult Social Care and Health Directorate's budget and savings for 2023-24, alongside updates on its transformation programme. The committee was also set to receive an update from Healthwatch Croydon and review its work programme for the upcoming year.

Adult Social Care and Health Directorate Budget, Savings and Transformation

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to review the financial performance of the Adult Social Care and Health (ASCH) Directorate for the 2023-24 financial year, up to Period 6 (September 2023). The report indicated a forecast overspend of £0.2 million against a budget of £141.0 million, which represented an improvement of £1.2 million from the previous month's forecast. The Directorate faces challenging savings targets of approximately £10 million for 2023-24, primarily related to placements and care packages, which are being addressed through demand management, commissioning, and care package reviews.

The report also detailed the Directorate's performance against the London average for long-term support expenditure. For those aged 65 and over, the cost per adult in long-term support was £1,103.57 in 2022/23, which was slightly below the London mean of £1,109.01. However, this represented a worsening of the cost per head position compared to 2021/22. The percentage of the 65+ population receiving long-term support continued to decrease, falling to 5.78% in 2022/23, below the London mean of 7.40%. For adults aged 18-64, the cost per head in long-term support was £262.46 in 2022/23, an improvement from the previous year and moving closer to the London mean of £227.02, although still above it. The percentage of this age group in long-term support also decreased slightly to 0.92%.

The meeting was also scheduled to cover the Managing Demand Transformation programme for 2023-24, focusing on prevention through improved Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG), establishing a comprehensive front door for services, developing a capacity and demand model for out-of-hospital care, intermediate care, and promoting independence in long-term care. Updates were expected on the progress of the Strategic Delivery Partner, who was due to commence work in January 2024, and the development of the Directorate's transformation plan for the 2024-2027 Medium Term Financial Strategy. This plan includes savings targets of £5 million for 2024-25, £4 million for 2025-26, and £4 million for 2026-27. The procurement of a two-phase strategic delivery partner contract was anticipated to enhance the pace of transformation and savings delivery.

Update from Healthwatch Croydon

Gordon Kay, a co-optee and member of Healthwatch Croydon, was scheduled to provide an update on recent reports published by the organisation. These reports included findings from a survey on the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers and the results of a mystery shop exercise evaluating Croydon's GP websites.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2023-24

The Sub-Committee was due to review its work programme for the 2023-24 municipal year. The report outlined principles for setting work programmes, focusing on the Public's Money, The Public's Services, and The Public's Voice. Key priority areas for the Adult Social Care & Health service were identified as delivering required savings without detriment to residents, progressing the Transformation Programme, preparing for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Assurance process, and reviewing the Croydon Adult Safeguarding Board Annual Report. The Sub-Committee was invited to consider any additional items for inclusion in its work programme.

The scheduled items for the meeting included a deep dive into the ASCH budget, an update on the Transformation Programme, and the Healthwatch Croydon update. Areas identified for future scheduling included a review of out-of-borough placements, commissioning for community sexual health services, the Dementia Strategy, CAMHS and SLAM services for young people, menopausal health services, the Integrated Care System, dental services, prostate cancer services, and ongoing work with hospitals and commissioning.