To review the report and make recommendations to Cabinet.

The Head of Commissioning – Adults, Children and Health reminded Members that the provision of Adult Services was to be transferred to Optalis, in a partnership with Wokingham Borough Council. She stated that the Business Plan being considered by Members related to the operational delivery of services, and there would be a separate commissioning contract arrangement to sit alongside the operational delivery.

Cllr Airey asked if and how the partnership with the Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust would change in terms of the Royal Borough discharging its duties through Optalis. The Deputy Director of Health and Adult Social Care stated her belief there would be no change to the way the partnership delivered services, with several meetings between all parties having taken place to reach agreements. Susanna Yeomans stated that the Trust were satisfied that their concerns had been addressed.

Cllr Jones asked for an explanation relating to the safeguarding procedures of the new partnership. The Deputy Director of Health and Adult Social Care stated that the Strategic Safeguarding Service would remain with Adult Social Care within Optalis, which would then report to the Safeguarding Adults Board. The Safeguarding Adults Board had been established to scrutinise what was taking place. The Deputy Director of Health and Adult Social Care said that operational safeguarding matters would remain the responsibility of the Council.

Cllr Jones asked if the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding remained with the Council. The Deputy Director of Health and Adult Social Care said that it would.

Cllr Airey asked what provision there was for early warning indicators, in the event of the working arrangement failing to satisfy need. The Head of Commissioning – Adults, Children and Health said monthly meetings would take place with the Deputy Director of Adult Social Care and Health to discuss the delivery of the contract and associated performance indicators. There would also be a reliance on ‘soft’ intelligence received in the form of complaints and other comments from Members and residents. The Head of Commissioning – Adults, Children and Health said quarterly meetings would take place to review the partnership with Optalis as a whole. This process would also be applicable to Children’s services. Any early warnings would be reported back to the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

Cllr Airey asked what systems were in place to ensure consistent service delivery from staff that were being transferred. The Head of Commissioning – Adults, Children and Health said a detailed service specification had been provided, and the usual HR procedures were in place within Optalis. The Deputy Director of Adult Social Care and Health said the Service Quality Assurance had been enhanced.

The Chairman asked if reviews to check that the necessary services were being provided would be carried out by Optalis or the Council. The Head of Commissioning – Adults, Children and Health said some reviews would be carried out by the Council, while the results of other reviews would be fed back to the Council by Care Watch through the contract with that organisation. She added the Council would be working closely with Optalis to ensure adequate feedback was provided.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Members approved the Adult Services Business Plan for 2017-2018.