(Members Code of Conduct - Part 4A of the Constitution)

To receive disclosures of interests from members and co-opted members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

Notes:

(1)       Members may remain in the meeting and take part fully in discussion and voting unless the interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an interest which the Member feels would call into question their compliance with the wider principles set out in the Code of Conduct.  Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(2)       Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

(3)       Members are also welcome to disclose interests which are not disclosable pecuniary interests but which they consider should be made in the interest of clarity.

(4)       Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received.

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Jane Lythgow - 01274 432270)

There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents.

Any referrals that have been made to this Committee up to and including the date of publication of this agenda will be reported at the meeting.

There were no referrals made to the Committee.

The Chair opened the meeting by thanking Gerald ‘Sam’ Samociuk who was standing down as a co-opted member of the Committee after five and a half years.  She remarked that Sam’s contribution to the Committee’s work had always been greatly valued especially when ensuring that the wellbeing of health and social care staff was part of the discussion. On behalf of the Committee she wished Sam well for the future.

On 23 December 2020 the Care Quality Commission published its Quality Report on Cygnet Woodside (copy attached).  Cygnet Woodside is a private mental health hospital that provides assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for adults with learning disabilities and autism.  The hospital received a rating of inadequate and has been placed in special measures.

The Strategic Director of Quality and Nursing at NHS Bradford District and Airedale Clinical Commissioning Group will attend the meeting to update Members on the report and the impact on Bradford residents.

(Michelle Turner - 01274 237707)

On 23 December 2020 the Care Quality Commission published its Quality Report on Cygnet Woodside a copy of which was appended to the agenda.  Members were aware that Cygnet Woodside was a private mental health hospital providing assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for adults with learning disabilities and autism.  The hospital received a rating of inadequate and had been placed in special measures.

The Strategic Director of Quality and Nursing at NHS Bradford District and Airedale Clinical Commissioning Group attended the meeting to update Members on the report and the impact on Bradford residents.

A summary of the inspection included the background to Cygnet Woodside; the rationale for conducting the inspection; how the inspection was carried out and detailed findings from the inspection.

A detailed presentation was provided which included CQC themes and trends; a response to the concerns; safeguarding and safety and future plans.

Members expressed concerns that despite the purpose of scrutiny reports being to provide reassurance it was felt that they almost never had that satisfaction.  They expressed concern that the service had gone from a rating of Good to Inadequate in a short space of time and that issues highlighted in the inspection had not been identified prior to the CQC visit. Concern was also expressed that members of the management team were not in attendance.

In response Members were advised that there had been an immediate response to the concerns and that the new host commissioner role and responsibilities recently published would strengthen the powers of the Local Authority and regular visits would be undertaken.  The Host Commissioner role would provide a central point of contact and would hold partnership meetings including with the CQC and the Safeguarding board.   The Local Authority had also identified a resource for support to be proactive and preventative with independent hospitals and that would include Cygnet.

A number of additional queries and concerns were raised to which the following responses were provided: -

·         There had been long term placements at the facility.  The CQC report did refer to a person staying at the Cygnet Woodside for up to five years.

·         Conduct issues raised in the report may be confidential, however, generally could refer to capability or other concerns.   Those issues would need to be considered on a case by case basis.

·         At the time of publication of the report there were nine people using the facility.  Since that time four people had transitioned to alternative provision.  The CQC and partner organisations were meeting with Cygnet on a weekly basis to look at the safe transfer of those service users remaining and wellbeing checks were being conducted to support those people.

·         The response and work carried out would not be wasted as the service model changed.  The new model would transfer to the local authority which would act as lead commissioner.  The response and work carried out since the inspection would not be wasted and would enhance the future provision.

·         The home first approach was adopted wherever possible to support people  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

The report of the Quality Care Commission Inspection Manager,

 (Document “X”) provides a current update from the Adult Social Care Directorate. This is based upon published reports. 

Recommended –

That the report be noted.

(Lorna Knowles – 03000 616161 / 07789875791)

The report of the Quality Care Commission Inspection Manager, Document “X” provided a current update from the Adult Social Care Directorate based upon published reports.

Members were assured that throughout the pandemic the CQC’s regulatory role did not change and the core purpose of keeping people safe remained.  The routine inspection programme paused, however, an Emergency Support Framework (ESF) was launched and used as a monitoring tool. 

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) thematic reviews and risk inspections were in place together with Designated setting inspections and Infection Prevention Control (IPC) outbreak inspections.

Thematic work reviewing the use of do not resuscitate decisions during COVID-19 was also presented.

Appended to Document “X” was an update from the CQC Adult Social Care Directorate in the Bradford district.  This included a summary of the current situation; COVID-19 response priorities; developments in the monitoring approach; responding to risk; rating providers and reporting on findings including statistics for Bradford services; piloting new ways of working; lessons learnt and the future of adult social care.

A definition of ‘culture’ contained in the presentation was requested and it was explained that this was how services were run, how things were done and learnt behaviours.  A closed culture indicated a service where people had worked for a number of years, they all knew each another, not many visitors were allowed and rules where not always followed as staff believed they knew what they were doing.  Closed culture produced bad, learnt, behaviour.  Rather than do what was correct staff would do as older staff exhibited.  There would be inspections if a closed culture was suspected as closed cultures were not good for service users.

Members raised a number of questions to which the following responses were provided: -

·         Key Lines of Enquiry would be conducted by telephone and in response to comments that this could not be independent if conducted whilst managers were present assurances were provided that calls were made to staff outside of their working hours.

·         There had, at the start of the pandemic, been huge difficulties in getting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to staff.  If problems were identified in IPC decisions were made and enforcement or a S164 letter issued highlighting concerns with 24 hours to respond were issued. Other agencies such as the IPC team in Bradford were contacted and made aware.

·         Visits to Care Homes were not allowed.  There should not be blanket restrictions and reports of that would be a concern.  Care must be taken with the management of gifts but care homes would be expected to facilitate contact.

·         The Government were considering compulsory vaccinations of care home staff, however, refusal would impact on staffing levels. All Inspectors were vaccinated and tested weekly.  Lateral flow tests were also conducted on the day of inspection visits.

In response to concerns that there were approximately one quarter of services in the District rated as inadequate or requiring improvement it was reported that these were monitored closely and enforcement action taken.

 A Member was anxious that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

The Director of Public Health will provide a verbal report on the Department of Public Health’s strategic Covid-19 plan including updates on testing, NHS Test and Trace, outbreak management and the vaccination programme.

A presentation will be provided and to enable Members to consider up-to-the-minute information the slides to be used in that presentation will be uploaded on to the Council’s website prior to the meeting.

The views of Members are requested

(Sarah Muckle – 07816071701)

The Director of Public Health provided a presentation on the Department of Public Health’s strategic Covid-19 plan including updates on testing, NHS Test and Trace, outbreak management and the vaccination programme. To enable Members to consider the most up to the minute information the presentation was not available prior to the meeting and was subsequently published on the Council’s website.

The presentation outlined: -

·         Bradford’s Local Outbreak Management Plan

·         A summary of the national Road Map between 8 March and 21 June 2021.

·         Key statistics on vaccinations; hospital admissions; deaths; infection rates and testing

·         The management of outbreaks including those in education; care homes and the work place

·         Local contact tracing

·         Testing for those symptomatic; asymptomatic and challenges faced

·         Bradford District and Craven COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

The Director was thanked for a very informative presentation and the impressive work conducted in the area.  It was noted that the Prime Minister had referred to the great leadership shown in the District.

Infection rates were discussed and it was requested that a breakdown of all cohorts in addition to the Over 60s be provided in future. 

The effectiveness of Lateral Flow Testing (LFT) was questioned and the need for people who had been vaccinated or were young and less likely to be harmed to be cautious was debated.  The Director acknowledged the points made but stressed the need to be careful until all people were vaccinated and to avoid further lockdown measures. 

A Member referred to difficulty he witnessed in getting workers who needed to be tested to take those tests.  He believed that it was those very people who should be checked and referred to a recent webinar he had viewed which suggested 80% of people broke COVID rules. 

The accessibility of testing centres in the Keighley West Ward was raised as a matter of concern as it was believed that people in that area were having to undertaken long and difficult journeys to the nearest facilities.  It was requested that GP surgeries be organised to vaccinate residents.  In response it was agreed that those comments be forwarded to the appropriate bodies.

In summation the Committee thanked all the staff and leadership teams involved for their assistance in the District.

Resolved –

That the Department of Public Health and all Council staff be thanked and commended for their work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

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