8th May 2008

Present: Ann Brookes, Caroline Dutton, Irene Parker, Sarah Watts, Shirley Ward, Caroline Wookey, Helen Caldwell, Chris Taylor, Geoff Weekes, Gill Richards, Angela Smith, Pat Perkins, Wyn Abbott, Caroline Round, Judy Overton, Sarah Watts, Chiquita Cusens, Lyn Davies

Apologies: Maggie Hall, Sandra Cockle, Michaela Knighton

1.Matters Arising

a) Judy has fed request re more formalised fee negotiations to Jo Gray and Linda Frankland.

Judy updated the forum on integration with PCT=new health and social care organisation with Rhona McDonald at the helm. Jane Ashman is interim Head of Commissioning.

There will be some re-structuring over the next 6-12 months into two arms – service delivery and commissioning. Jo Gray heads up service delivery.

Action: Judy to invite Jane Ashman/ Jane Shayler to future forum meeting to continue strategic discussions.

Update: Neither Jane A nor Jane S can attend July meeting so invited to September meeting.

b) Domiciliary Care. Angela updated on contracts with five domiciliary care providers selected through the tender process.

Review process with clients starting. Service Users given option of DPs.

2.Training

a) EILS (Education, information and learning service) proving very successful and B&NES now subscribing in own right so new registration number.

 b) Project launched re adequate nutrition. 

Anne looking for Provider reps to join steering group- commitment to 4 meetings and interest in championing this issue.

Project looking to develop screening tool and promote access to e-learning package.

Action: Providers to volunteer themselves or one of their managers direct to Ann Brooks.

b) Training programme for September being developed.

Providers welcomed ‘free’ training and commended B&NES for this action.

Ann looking at results of survey and looking to run courses to meet training needs identified within budget allocation.

3a) Statistics

Clarified what figures represent.

c) Finance

Helen reported financial re-assessments underway.

4.CSCI

a) Lyn reported major problem with their phone lines which has been a concern with the C&C team. Lyn hopeful it will improve soon. In the interim Lyn will give us her mobile for use by C&C team and for IPF members i.e. not for wider publication.

b) Regulations being re-vamped to bring together mental health act commission, health care commission and CSCI into one set of regulations.

-  streamlining regs and focus on fitness of registered managers.

c) An alert that proposals being developed re-defining ‘personal care’- prompting may be included which may bring a number of supporting people type services into the ‘personal care’ definition.

5.IPF Website

Geoff opened up debate- we need to look at this in wider context i.e. what is the IPF for? Who are Providers representing? This leads into discussion on the website itself.

Agreement that IPF website is useful tool.

Immediate actions:

• Notes of the meetings to go on the website (Maggie/ Caroline)
• Future agendas to go on so Providers can see what is coming up at next meeting (Caroline)
• Proforma to Providers to indicate their membership of other forums/ boards (circulated with these notes)
• Agenda review of forum for future IPF meeting

6.Safeguarding

a) There are links to Safeguarding from IPF website.

b) Vetting and Barring has been deferred to October 2009 for new recruits and 2010 for existing staff.

c) Members confirmed that annual disclosures not required for all staff. Good practice would be 3 yearly checks unless there were reasons to accelerate.

d) Shirley gave forum headlines of 2007/2008 annual report which will be published and links given on IPF website in due course.

positive that 113 referrals (58 in 2006/07)

e) Shirley organising course for chairs of strategy meetings/ officers undertaking investigations.

f) Shirley looking to run bite size training increasing awareness in specific areas of work. Providers will be welcomed.

g) Shirley has updated procedures based on National Framework.

‘No secrets’ is being reviewed so this is interim.

Consensus that new procedures are much clearer.

h) Shirley also responsible for Mental Capacity Act implementation and alerted the meeting about ‘deprivation of liberty’ regs coming into place in April 2009.

Providers urged to look at positive care planning to prepare for this.

Action: Good practice guidance for care homes will be sent out with notes( see related documents)

i) Independent sector reps on Safeguarding Board are:- Fran Ashby, Greenhill House; Chris Lester, Freeways; Karen Webb, Ivybank; Irene Parker, Cedar Care.

7.Complaints

Sarah updated the meeting on new procedures which some LAs have started to implement.

Sarah has met with colleagues and drafted new procedures and actions required (see related documents).

8. AOB

a) Judy informed the forum that Maggie Hall is leaving to work as Regional Manager for SCOPE from 28th May 2008. Caroline round will take on lead for care homes.

b) Judy also informed the meeting that she is leaving Social Services after 23 years, most of which spent in Commissioning and Contracts work. Judy wished the forum well and assured colleagues that forum will continue with new chair and that Council will be making arrangements for management cover on temporary basis because of wider integration agenda.

Geoff commended Judy on excellence of chairing (thank you Geoff) and wished her well on behalf of the forum.

c)  Ann will send info on Learning Exchange Network for distribution with notes.(See related documents)

Contact: Caroline Tarbuck caroline@carelearning.org.uk 0117 9528259

9. Next Meeting

Next Meeting 18th September 2008, 10am, Room 8, Riverside, Keynsham.