Agenda item

For the Committee to consider and comment on the Quarter 2 Integrated Performance Report (period covering April - September 2023).

The Committee received the Integrated Performance Report, which gave a retrospective summary of the Council’s performance at the end of Quarter 2 (April - September 2023) against the strategic priorities and areas of focus set out in the Council Plan 2022-2027. Key sections of the report focussed on: 

·   Performance against the Performance Management Framework

·   Progress on the Integrated Delivery Plan

·   Management of Finance

·   Management of Risk

The Chair referred to the pre-committee briefing session on performance and the Power BI platform. Questions and comments were submitted on the following areas:

• Clarity was provided on the target and actual data for people supported in residential or nursing care, both for people aged under and over 65 years of age. In both cases this was an area where the current target was being exceeded, so it was ‘not on track’. This was an area where it would be useful to provide additional context in the report and an offer was made to circulate a briefing note.
• Referring to the above point, it was questioned if there was an increasing trend in service demand. Pete Sidgwick said there had been an increase in the number of people being supported and of those, a higher proportion were in residential or nursing care placements. There was a financial impact and currently, the cost per placement was also higher. A perceived contributor was the worsening health and wellbeing of an aging population. Reference also to the national datasets, against which Warwickshire had historically compared favourably. It was reported that the local data had increased but all areas were seeing a similar growth in data for these indicators. Increases in NHS activity also had an impact on the number of people requiring onward care.
• A member asked if increases in the cost of living was a contributor. This view was not shared by officers, it being seen more as the worsening health and wellbeing of the older population with significant care and support needs. The Chair added that people were living longer with acuity of need and increased frailty.
• It was noted that the strategic risk register had been refreshed, with three areas relating to Adult Social Care. Clarity was sought on the classification of risk which differed in two sections of the report. It was agreed that this be researched, and clarification would be provided to members.
• Reassurance was sought on the falling data for number of carers receiving support each month. There had been no change in policy or procedures in this area delivered by the Carers’ Trust. The data did fluctuate with factors such as school holidays having an impact. There had been a lot of work to improve performance in this area and it was expected that the data would now level out.
• There was concern at the forecast budget overspend for Adult Social Care, it being asked if the forecast was realistic or if the end-of-year position could be even worse.  Officers responded that the position would become clearer as the financial year-end approached. The current pressures had not been seen historically and no reduction in demand was expected. The forecast was believed to be accurate. There was a recovery plan with actions in place to mitigate the pressures.
• Information was provided on carers who received direct payments, which was managed by the Carers’ Trust.
• On care placements, a member asked if there was data on the NHS contributions and associated care thresholds. Pete Sidgwick gave an outline of the differing approaches for younger and older age people requiring support, the NHS and joint funding streams for eligible people. This was a technical area, for which members may wish to receive a detailed briefing. The Chair agreed this could be a useful briefing or potential item for a future committee meeting.

The Committee noted the Quarter 2 Integrated Performance Report.