Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were received from Jackie Wheeler, Andrew Evans, Makyla Greaves, Giulia Johnson & Adam Willison.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2012 to be agreed as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2012 were agreed as a correct record.

Matters Arising

Swift report for monitored Telecare

Update to be given at the October meeting.

Update about Bucks New University

To be carried forward to the October meeting.

Safeguarding

Gill Manning-Smith to be contacted to confirm briefing note from Rachel Daly, Team Manager, has been circulated to AT Board members and that Rachel has been invited to attend a future meeting of the Board.

Action: Sharon Griffin

Clarification was requested of the role of the representative from the AT Board to be identified to link in with SUCO and Crossroads and the BSVAB.

Action: Sharon Griffin/Gill Manning Smith

BSVAB membership does not currently include representation from voluntary organisations as a gap has not been identified.  Margaret Morgan Owen expressed strong concern that the voluntary sector is not represented.  Gill Manning Smith has advised that this item will be put on the agenda for the BSVAB meeting on the 13 September 2012.

Policy update- outline of an Induction Training day

Work on training and information has been merged with the work being scoped by Paul Greenhalgh and Sue Hyland.  Workshops will commence towards the end of 2012.

Update from Elizabeth Sheppard, Communications & Projects.

Elizabeth Sheppard, Communications & Projects Officer, AFW gave the following update;

Bucks Connect has replaced Bucks Info Net, the community based directory which was terminated at the end of March 2012.  It is a new online directory for Care and Support and Community Services for adults which gives details of a wide range of services/organisations in the public, private, community and voluntary sector. The emphasis is on the individual organisations to update the details of groups, venues and events.  There is no charge to use the website.

There are currently 800 individual entries on the website.  The website is in the public domain and can be accessed via the following link; www.bucksconnect.org.uk

The directory can be accessed 24/7 and includes the following features;

• a search facility by criteria such as locality, events, activities, eligibility, opening hours, CQC Care homes & Personal Assistants & Support Brokers
• the option of creating a favourites list

A promotion campaign is ongoing including leaflets, flyers, posters, events and advertisement on mobile libraries.  Comments on flyers and ideas for further publicity were welcomed.

Action: All

Analytics and the number of visits to the website are part of a wider project which will be available in due course.

During the update the following questions were asked and points raised;

Are there details of domiciliary agencies on the website as well as a list of CQC (Care Quality Commission) care homes?  The website includes details of domiciliary care homes which are also CQC checked.

Carers are under a lot of stress looking after loved ones and sometimes do not have the ability or time to access the internet.  Is it possible for voluntary organisations to decide which pages are useful to individuals and to download them to use as an information tool for new carers.  It is possible select ‘favourite’ pages and to print the information in PDF format.

Are Care Homes responsible for updating details on the website?  One of the objectives is for organisations to update the details they provide on the website. Organisations can log on and update their details at any time to ensure these are kept up to date.

Are there guidelines in place to ensure that any organisations using Bucks Connect meet Government standards i.e. Care Quality Commission (CQC) checks?  Organisations register online to add their information to the website.  The request is then submitted for approval and checks are carried out to confirm that the organisation is on the CQC register.

There needs to be a statement on the website explaining how checks are carried out to ensure that Government standards are being met e.g. Care Quality Commission & Criminal Records Bureau etc.  Confirmation that a statement explaining CQC checks is on the website is to be obtained.

Action: Elizabeth Sheppard

What happens if an organisation loses their CQC registration?  Adult & Family services should be notified if an organisation loses their CQC registration but this will be confirmed.

Action: Elizabeth Sheppard

Update from Angie Sarchet, Community Cohesion & Equalities Manager.

Angie Sarchet, Cohesion & Equalities Manager took Members through a Powerpoint presentation on Hate Crime during which the following key points were highlighted;

The definition of Hate Crime agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is as follows;

‘Any criminal offence which is committed against a person or property that is motivated by hostility towards someone based on their disability, race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation.’

Hate crime can be experienced by an individual or a whole community. Examples of behaviour include;

• Physical attacks on a person or a place such as physical assault and damage to a home/vehicle
• Threat of attack e.g. offensive letters, abusive or obscene phone calls, cyber bullying
• Verbal assaults or insults i.e. offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures

In 2006, there were 69,000 prosecutions for Hate Crime in the UK of which 83% resulted in a conviction.

The survey was conducted in light of the following;

• Complaint from residents/victim 2011
• The ‘Hidden from Plain Sight’ report (the Equality & Human Rights Commission - EHRC 2011)
• Cross-governmental action plan published in March 2012
• ‘Improving Support for Victims in Thames Valley’ report (Victims’ Commissioner, May 2012)

For the period of 1 April 2011 to 30 April 2012, there were 231 reports of Hate Crime to the police in Buckinghamshire.  A breakdown of the type of Hate Crime and a comparison to national figures is;

The survey was a snapshot audit which ran from 14 November 2011 to 6 January 2012.  Seven strands were reported against; race, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender and gender reassignment.  Of the 257 respondents, 41 people said they had experienced Hate Crime, 78% were white, 61% female and 75% heterosexual.  In some instances not all the questions in the survey were answered. 

From an ACORN perspective (a geodemographic information system categorising some United Kingdom postcodes), there was a disproportionate high level of urban professional respondents.

A comparison of the results of the survey and national data suggests an under-reporting issue in Buckinghamshire.

• 16% reported they had been a victim of hate crime in the past year
• The top three issues reported were insults & harassment, threat of violence and unwanted sexual contact
• 75% of incidents occurred between 1-5 times
• 52% in public places
• 26% said they reported the incident to any agency

The reasons for not reporting are;

• 55% didn’t think the police could or would do anything
• 45% thought the crime was too common to report
• 41% didn’t think it would be taken seriously
• 67% didn’t know where they could get any support

Focus groups were held on various dates and at various times (weekends, evenings etc) across the County.  Those who took part in the survey were invited to the Focus Groups.  Unfortunately most  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Report from Adam Willison.

Phil Prior, Project Officer, Assistive Technology circulated the Assistive Technology highlight report for information and emphasised the following key points;

AT retail platform

Work on the implementation plan for the online self assessment function for equipment continues.  Andrew Evans, ICES Poole Budget Manager is involved with this project.  A Retail Provider forum took place in June.  Positive feedback was received from the forum.

Telehealth platform

Speech & Language Therapy and Vital Signs Monitoring groups are underway.  Problems experienced with the Vitals Signs equipment and support has resulted in the project not progressing as well as it should.  Two further projects are being undertaken - medications management and smoking cessation.

Raise AT Awareness with key groups

A procurement process is underway to establish the relationship with Bucks New University for AT evaluation and training purposes.

Work continues on the efficiency report which should be completed in 3-4 weeks.  The report looks at how Telecare works and highlights the benefits of use within client care packages.

AT Economic development opportunities

Bucks County Council are involved in the ‘Meet the Buyer’ event which is taking place at Stoke Mandeville Stadium on 14 September 2012. 

Members were advised of the following Partner updates;

Carers Bucks

David Bone gave the following update;

• The wording on the back page of the BUDDI leaflets is to be amended as the text advising the Bucks County Council is the provider is incorrect.  The completed leaflet will be brought to the next Board meeting
• Assistive Technology awareness talks continue
• 60 people have been seen individually
• David has attended two large events in the County – Picnic in the Park in Iver and Holiday at Home, Flackwell Heath
• Work continues on the website and the production of a DVD to promote the use of AT equipment
• The Sister at the Day Hospital, Stoke Mandeville has invited David to give regular talks on AT
• There is interest in extending the talks to the Wards.  The AT department at BCC are to be contacted to confirm if there is capacity to do so.

The Alzheimer’s Society

Margaret Morgan-Owen reported as follows;

• Vanda Walters, Telecare Project worker, has unfortunately had to leave the Alzheimer’s Society due to ill health
• A Dementia Support Worker has been appointed and is currently going through induction.   She will be based in the south of the county.
• Staff have expressed concern about the difficulty in completing client referrals as not all of the required information is available.  It would be preferable for staff at the Alzheimer’s Society to take the client’s name and for BCC Telecare Staff to complete the referral form. Phil Prior explained that any incomplete referrals would be picked up by a Telecare Worker and that the referral form is in the process of being re-developed. This issue is to be reported back to Adam Willison for discussion with Nicolle Palmer.

Action: Phil Prior

• Staff have also advised that they are having difficulty contacting the Assistive Technology team at BCC by telephone and email. Phil Prior explained that all telephone calls to the Assistive Technology team are routed via the Contact Centre.  This will be looked into.

Action: Phil Prior/Adam Willison

Centre of Excellence, BNU

Further details were requested about the official launch of the Telehealth Centre of Excellence at Bucks New University. 

Phil Prior explained that Bucks County Council are working in partnership with Bucks New University to facilitate a Centre of Excellence for Telehealth and Assisted Living (CETAL).  The Centre will initially run for a period of one year.  Feedback of the launch will be provided at the next AT Partnership Board meeting in October – to be added as an agenda item

Action: Adam Willison/Sharon Griffin

Local Account Panel

Members were advised that the Local Account Panel has asked for representation from the AT Partnership Board.  Expressions of interest were requested.  The outcome is to be advised at the next AT Board meeting.

Action: Devora Wolfson/Adam Willison

Future agenda items

Steven Goldensmith/Diana Fentiman are to be invited to the next meeting to give an update on the Wellbeing & Prevention agenda.

Action: Sharon Griffin

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 18 October 2012, 2.00pm, Mezzanine Room 1, NCO.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 18 October 2012, 2.00pm, Mezzanine Room 1, NCO.