Agenda reports pack PDF 347 KB - Meetings, agendas, and minutes

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Agenda 

Health, Social Care and Welfare Reform Scrutiny Board (5) 

Time and Date 

2.30 pm on Wednesday, 1st May, 2013 

Place 

Committee Rooms 2 and 3, Council House, Coventry 

Public Business 

1. Apologies and Substitutions 

2. Declarations of Interest 

3. Minutes (Pages 3 - 8) 

(a) To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 3 rd April, 2013 

(b) Matters Arising 

4. Development of Mental Health Services in Coventry 

Presentation by Representatives of the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust 

5. Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust - Foundation Trust Application 

Presentation by Representatives of the Partnership Trust 

6. Coventry Safeguarding Adults Board (Pages 9 - 14) 

Report back of Councillor Hetherton on her observations of the Board’s work 

7. Report Back on the Work of the Welfare Reform Sub-Group (Pages 15 - 24) 

Briefing Note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinators 

8. Outstanding Issues 

Included in the Work Programme below 

9. Work Programme 2012/13 (Pages 25 - 34) 

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator 

10. Meeting Evaluation 

Discussion on the effectiveness of the meeting 

11. Any Other Items of Public Business 

Page 1

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as matters of 

urgency because of the special circumstances involved. 

Private Business 

Nil 

Bev Messinger, Director of Customer and Workforce Services, Council House Coventry 

Tuesday, 23 April 2013 

Notes:1) 

The person to contact about the agenda and documents for this meeting is Liz Knight, 

Democratic Services, Council House, Coventry, telephone 7683 3073, alternatively e- 

mail: liz.knight@coventry.gov.uk 

2) Council Members who are not able to attend the meeting should notify Liz Knight as soon 

as possible and no later than 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 1 st May, 2013 giving their reasons 

for absence and the name of the Council Member (if any) who will be attending the 

meeting as their substitute. 

3) Scrutiny Board Members who have an interest in any report referred to this meeting, but 

who are not Members of this Scrutiny Board, have been invited to notify the Chair by 12 

noon on the day before the meeting that they wish to speak on a particular item. The 

Member must indicate to the Chair their reason for wishing to speak and the issue(s) they 

wish to raise. 

Membership: Councillors D Welsh (Chair), P Hetherton (Deputy Chair), L Bigham, J Clifford, 

D Galliers, M Hammon, H Noonan, B Singh and S Thomas 

Co-opted Members: Mr D Spurgeon 

By invitation: Councillors G Duggins, C Fletcher and A Lucas 

Please note: a hearing loop is available in the committee rooms 

If you require a British Sign Language interpreter for this meeting 

OR if you would like this information in another format or 

language please contact us. 

Liz Knight, Governance Services - Telephone: 024 76 833073 

e-mail: liz.knight@coventry.gov.uk 

Minicom: (024) 7683 3029 

Fax: (024) 7683 3266 

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Agenda Item 3 

HEALTH, SOCIAL CARE AND WELFARE REFORM SCRUTINY BOARD (5) 

3 rd April, 2013 

Members Present: 

Co-opted Member 

Present: 

Cabinet Member 

Present: 

Other Member 

Present: 

Employees Present: 

In attendance: 

Apologies: 

Councillor Blundell (substitute for Councillor Noonan) 

Councillor Clifford 

Councillor Galliers 

Councillor Hammon 

Councillor Hetherton (Deputy Chair) 

Councillor B. Singh 

Councillor Thomas 

Councillor Walsh (substitute for Councillor Bigham) 

Councillor Welsh (Chair) 

Mr D Spurgeon 

Councillor Lucas 

Councillor Townshend 

S. Brake (Community Services Directorate) 

P. Barnett (Community Services Directorate) 

P. Fahy (Community Services Directorate) 

R. Innes (Community Services Directorate) 

J. Reading (Community Services Directorate) 

L. Knight (Customer and Workforce Services Directorate) 

B. Walsh (Director of Community Services) 

S. Collier (Coventry and Rugby CCG) 

D. Edwards (Anchor Trust) 

P. Greenaway (Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust) 

M. Greer (University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire) 

G. Irvine (Anchor Trust) 

J. Soden (Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust) 

L. Ward, Care Quality Commission 

Councillor Bigham 

Councillor Noonan 

70. Declarations of Interests 

There were no declarations of interest. 

71. Minutes 

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 th March, 2013 were signed as a true 

record. There were no matters arising. 

Page 3

72. Report Back on Serious Case Review – Mrs C 

Further to Minute 28/12, the Scrutiny Board considered a report of the 

Director of Community Services which provided an update on progress against the 

action plan following the Coventry Safeguarding Adult’s Board Serious Case Review 

for Mrs C. The review followed the death in early 2011of a women in her mid-80s 

who was living in a ‘housing with care scheme’ in Coventry. The update report had 

been requested by the Board following their consideration of the original report on 

the outcome of the Serious Case Review at their meeting on 26 th September, 2012. 

A copy of the Action Plan update was set out at an appendix attached to the report. 

Representatives of the Safeguarding Board and Members of the Panel attended the 

meeting for the consideration of this issue. 

The Serious Case Review overview report made recommendations which had 

been formulated into a multi-agency action plan to address specific issues identified 

and to minimise the likelihood of such circumstances re-occurring in the future. 

The Action Plan indicated that all the required recommendations, apart from 

one, had been completed or were on track. Information was provided on the 

evidence sought and the evidence received for each recommendation along with 

appropriate comments. Attention was drawn to the one ‘red’ recommendation that 

was not completed - ‘for commissioners and providers of housing, care, or inpatient 

environments, to design and implement a system of assessment for what type of call 

alarm is required, with a logging process for when they are issued and returned, and 

how they are used by individuals, and ensure that such systems take into account 

time changes’. The Director of Community Services reported that the issue was still 

highlighted as red because there had not been sufficient time to implement and 

evaluate, particularly as British summer time had just began on 31 st March, 2013. 

The Board questioned those present on a number of issues and responses 

were provided. Matters raised included: 

• Clarification from Anchor Trust that their alarms were located in the correct 

places and that they had coped with the recent change to British summer 

time 

• Whether alarm systems changed automatically to take account of time 

changes 

• If the actions had been transferred to other risk registers 

• How call alarm systems were logged and managed 

• How quickly support was provided for a resident if it was required when it 

was outside of their core hours 

• What checks were made to ensure that alarm systems had coped with time 

changes 

• The numbers of emergency calls made each day to Anchor Trust and the 

systems in place to deal with these – both local and national 

• The training for new staff 

• The actions taken to review peoples’ needs to ensure that they were 

receiving the right care 

RESOLVED that: 

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(i) The contents of the final update report be received and noted, with 

further oversight and monitoring being led by the Coventry Safeguarding 

Adult’s Board. 

(ii) An update for the Board on the ‘red’ multi-agency recommendation 

concerning call alarms to be reported back in an appropriate way, either a 

written note from the Director of Community Services in his capacity as Chair 

of the Safeguarding Board within six months or through the Annual 

Safeguarding report. 

73. Care Quality Commission 

The Board received a presentation from Lesley Ward, Compliance Manager, 

Care Quality Commission, on the work of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and in 

particular their work within the City and their link with this Scrutiny Board. The Board 

also considered a briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator which provided an 

introduction to the work of the organisation. The CQC document ‘A guide for overview 

and scrutiny committees for health and social care’ was attached at an appendix to the 

briefing note. Councillor Townshend also attended the meeting for the consideration of 

this matter. 

The CQC was an independent regulator of healthcare and adult social care 

services in England and was responsible for the inspection and registration of all 

health and social care services operating in or serving the City. They checked whether 

care services met essential standards of quality and safety and protected the interests 

of vulnerable people. Action was taken if standards were not being met. 

The presentation highlighted that Coventry was covered by a team of eight 

inspectors who also covered Solihull and were responsible for three large NHS trusts. 

Regulated locations in Coventry included 160 Social Care Organisations; 7 

Independent Health Care organisations; 45 dentists; 67 GPs; and University Hospital 

Coventry and Warwickshire and St. Cross Hospital, Rugby. Reference was made to 

their work in the current year which included inspecting 133 Social Care Organisations, 

of which 30 had one or more compliance actions, and 7 Independent Health Care 

Organisations, where one location had compliance actions. In addition 15 dentists had 

been inspected and one location had compliance actions and both hospitals had been 

inspected and were compliant in the areas inspected. 

The Board was informed of what the CQC viewed as being the key to 

compliance as follows: 

• Leadership, good managers and well supported, trained and committed staff 

• Providers who really knew what was going on in their service and acted on 

what they knew 

• Focusing on people’s individual care and welfare needs. 

Where the inspectors had serious concerns and/or services did not improve in 

response to a compliance action, then enforcement actions could be used. 

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Proposals for 2013/14 included inspecting all Social Care Organisations and 

most Independent Health Care Organisations; dentists who had not already been 

inspected; pilot inspections of GP practices had started and these would be rolled out 

once methodology had been confirmed; making major changes to the way the NHS 

was inspected including actions arising from the Francis report; taking action where 

services were not good enough; and working with partner agencies. Reference was 

made to the significant organisational change for the CQC over the next 18 months. 

The CQC’s intentions to work with the Board were highlighted, the key being to 

have effective communication links and periodic updates. They would keep the Board 

up to date with their activity and wanted the Board to share any key themes or 

concerns with them. The goal was to share and use information/intelligence for the 

benefit of people who used the services. 

The Board questioned Ms Ward on a number of issues and responses were 

provided. Matters raised included: 

• The prioritisation of services to be inspected 

• The potential for raising concerns elsewhere e.g. the General Medical 

Council 

• The availability of information for Board members from the Warwickshire 

Inspection Team 

• The implications of the £20b savings to be made by NHS hospitals 

• The payment of fees and the scale for these charges 

• The considerations given to the views of patients/residents and staff 

• Links between Healthwatch and the CQC 

• Protection for whistle blowers 

• How the CQC raise issues where an organisation is compliant but the 

inspector still has concerns 

• How evidence is gathered 

• Further information about inspections involving patients/residents with mental 

health and physical needs 

• Joint inspections for cross boundary organisations 

• Further details about inspections at hospitals 

• The availability of information for members of the public. 

Councillor Townshend referred to CQC inspections at University Hospital 

Coventry and Warwickshire. 


(i) The intention to develop stronger links between the Scrutiny Board and 

the CQC be noted. 

(ii) An update report be submitted to a future meeting of the Board in 

approximately six months to include the following: 

a) Any areas of concern for the CQC in Coventry 

b) Further details about the outcomes of the pilot inspections of GPs 

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c) The development of links with Healthwatch and the Health and Wellbeing 

Board 

d) Proposals for the sharing of information on CQC inspections with 

Coventry residents to help them in their decision making regarding elective care 

and hospital care. 

74. Outstanding Issues 

The Board noted that all outstanding issues had been included in the work 

programme for the current year. 

75. Work Programme 2012/13 

The Board considered their work programme for the current municipal year. 


(i) The Development of Mental Health Services in Coventry and a report 

back on the work of the Welfare Reform Sub-Group to be the main items of 

business at the next Board meeting scheduled for 1 st May, 2013. 

(ii) The work on the Francis Report to be the subject of a report to a future 

meeting of the Board early in the new municipal year. 

(iii) The Work Programme to be updated to take account of Minute 73 

above. 

76. Meeting Evaluation 

The Board evaluated the meeting and discussed the attendance of 

representatives for the discussion on the ‘Report Back on the Serious Case Review – 

Mrs C’ (minute 72 above refers). 

77. Any Other Business 

There were no items of additional public business. 

Note: The meeting closed at 4.30 p.m. 

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Briefing note 

To: Health, Social Care and Welfare Reform Scrutiny Board (5) Date: 1 st May 2013. 

Subject: Coventry Safeguarding Adults Board – Report back by Councillor Hetherton 

1 Purpose of the Note 

1.1 The Scrutiny Board appointed me a representative to observe on the work of the Coventry 

Safeguarding Adults Board (CSAB). This briefing note is a report back on my participation 

in the CSAB over the past year. 

2 Recommendations 

2.1 The Scrutiny Board are recommended to note the report. 

3 Information/Background 

3.1 The CSAB is intended to fulfil multi-agency responsibilities in relation to Safeguarding 

Adults from abuse and neglect in line with the requirements made in the national policy 

guidance “No Secrets: Guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policy and 

procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse” (DoH 2000). The Board endorses the 

national policy shift towards “Safeguarding Adults”, reflecting all work which enables an 

adult “who is or may be in need of community care services” to retain independence, 

wellbeing and choice, and to access their human right to live a life free of abuse and 

neglect. 

3.2 The CSAB has a wide-ranging membership reflecting the various services involved in 

protecting vulnerable adults from harm. The Board has a core membership with a series of 

professional advisors. It conducts much of its work through a network of committees. 

3.3 The membership of the CSAB and the various committees is included for information as 

Appendix A. 

3.4 Over the past year I have been most impressed with the work of the CSAB and in particular 

have noted the thoroughness with which issues are discussed and multi-agency 

approaches are agreed. The meetings I have attended have been very interesting although 

I have been maintaining a role as an observer – which as Members will understand has 

been quite frustrating! I have, however been most grateful to the Chair who on occasion 

has allowed me the opportunity to make brief comment, and has taken the time after 

meetings to discuss with me any issues which have arisen. 

3.5 Attendance at the meetings has been consistently high and the representatives from 

partner organisations have been senior executives which reflects the significance with 

which the CSAB is held in the City. The breadth of organisations taking part is also reassuring 

with not only health but also uniform services being committed and taking a full 

role. 

3.6 During the year the Board has received the Executive Summary of the Serious Case 

Review into the death of Mrs C. This case was clearly a traumatic one as evidenced by the 

two Scrutiny Board meetings. I was impressed by the work of the CSAB in carefully 

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examining the circumstances of Mrs C’s death and ensuring as far as practicable that the 

learning from the serious case review is shared and that practice and multi-agency cooperation 

improves. 

3.7 I was pleased also recently to be asked to attend a national Safeguarding Seminar on 

behalf of the Cabinet Member (Health and Social Care) with the Assistant Director 

Community Services. At this event Robert Francis QC gave a brief overview of the Mid 

Staffs Inquiry and it was good to have the opportunity to hear talk freely about the report 

and answer questions from the audience. This was a very informative seminar. 

Conclusion 

4.1 My observance of the work of the CSAB has been both interesting and informative. It has 

also given me considerable confidence in the multi-agency agency approach being taken in 

the City to the prevention of neglect and abuse of vulnerable adults. I will be happy to 

answer any questions Members may have at the Scrutiny Board meeting. 

Briefing Note Author: 

Cllr Patricia Hetherton 

Vice Chair Health, Social Care and Welfare Reform Scrutiny Board (5) 

Other contributions: 

Peter Barnett 

Health Development Service Manager 

Community Services Directorate 

Tel: 02476 831145 

22 nd April 2013. 

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Membership of the Board and Committees (2012/13): 

As at 14.01.13 

Safeguarding Adults Board: 

Core Members (Quorum 4 core members including chair/deputy chair) 

Brian Walsh (Chair) Director of Community Services, Coventry City Council 

Jacqueline Barnes (Vice Chair) Executive Nurse, Coventry & Rugby CCG 

DCI Dean Young 

Eastern Adult Investigation & Safeguarding, West Midlands Police 

Tracey Wrench 

Mark Radford 

Deirdre O’Donoghue 

Kelly Starkey 

Andrea Simmonds 

Andy Pepper 

Link Members 

Sandra Williams 

Michelle McGinty 

Lesley Ward 

Lesleyann Edwards 

Professional Advisors 

Jill Ayres 

Penny Greenaway 

Margaret Greer 

Vacant 

Julie Newman 

Simon Brake 

Pete Fahy 

Mark Godfrey 

Susan Harrison 

Mandie Watson 

Jacqui Goode 

Sara Roach 

Observers 

Director of Safety, Quality & Service user Experience, Coventry 

and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust 

Chief Nursing Officer, University Hospitals Coventry and 

Warwickshire NHS Trust (or Carmel McCalmont) 

(Associate Director of Nursing, UHCW) 

Senior Probation Officer, Staffordshire & West Midlands Probation 

Trust 

Safeguarding Lead for Coventry, Warwickshire & Solihull, West 

Midlands Ambulance Service 

Local Area Liaison Officer – Coventry, West Midlands Fire Service 

Assistant Director - Children’s Social Care, Targeted and Early 

Intervention Services 

Older People's Partnership Board & Chair Partnerships and 

Practice sub committee 

Head of Citizen Involvement, Carers and Partnerships, Coventry 

City Council (Learning Disability and Physical and Sensory 

Impairment Partnership Boards) 

Compliance Manager (Central Region), Care Quality Commission 

(CQC) 

Consortium of Social Landlords (CSL) 

Safeguarding Adults Co-ordinator, Community Services, Coventry 

City Council 

Lead Nurse for Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, 

Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust 

Named Nurse for Safeguarding Adults, University Hospital 

Coventry and Warks NHS Trust 

Crown Prosecution Service 

CLYP & Adults Manager, Finance and Legal Services, Coventry 

City Council 

Assistant Director Policy and Performance, Community Services, 

Coventry City Council& Chair Serious Case Review Panel, 

Serious Case Review sub committee, Quality & Audit sub 

committee 

Assistant Director Community Services (Strategic Commissioning 

and Partnerships), Coventry City Council 

Assistant Director for Adult Social Care, Coventry City Council 

Head of Safeguarding Adults, Coventry City Council 

Head of Service, Community Safety Team, Public Safety & 

Housing, Coventry City Council 

Head of Service, Employee Development Unit (Social Care), 

Coventry City Council & Chair Staff Development Sub Committee 

Assistant Director, Public Safety & Housing, Coventry City Council 

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Cllr Patricia Hetherton 

Elected Member, Coventry City Council & Health & Social Care 

Scrutiny Board Vice Chair 

Nigel Hart 

Communications Officer, Coventry City Council 

Nikki Hopkins (Admin) Safeguarding Adults Admin Officer, Community Services, 

Coventry City Council 

Workforce Development Committee 

Jacqui Goode (Chair) 

Jill Ayres 

Matt Hawkins 

VACANT 

Jon Hanley 

VACANT 

Harjeet Matharu 

James Mole 

Lynn Bassett 




City Council 

Learning and Development Advisor Social Care, Employee 

Development Unit, Coventry City Council 

Provider Development Advisor, Employee Development (Adult 

Social Care), Coventry City Council 

Lead Professional for Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable 

Adults, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust 

West Midlands Police 

Voluntary Action Coventry 

Coventry, Staffordshire & West Midlands Probation Trust 

Centre Manager, Employee Development, Coventry City Council 


Named Nurse for Safeguarding Adults, University Hospitals 

Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust 

VACANT (Link Member) 

Commissioning Rep, Coventry City Council (training needs in 

provider services) 

VACANT 

NHS Coventry 

Gerda Dunne 

Provider Rep, Housing with Care, Coventry City Council 

Maria Pountney (Admin) Safeguarding Adults Admin Officer, Community Services, 


Policy and Procedures Committee 

Jill Ayres (Chair) 


Janice White 


Safeguarding Adults Co-ordinator (Policy and Procedures), 

Community Services, Coventry City Council 


Finance and Legal Services, Coventry City Council 


Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 

Penny Greenaway /Jon Hanley Lead Nurse for Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, Coventry 

and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust 

VACANT 

Arden Cluster 


CPS West Midlands Hate Crime, Mental Health, Disability and 

Elder Abuse Lead, Crown Prosecution Service 

Sarah Chand (Link Member) 

Head of Probation Coventry, Staffordshire & West Midlands 

Probation Trust, West Midlands Probation Service 

Hardeep Walker (Link Member) Coventry Safeguarding Children's Board 

Ruth Light (Link Member) 

Coventry Link 

Kelly Starkey 

West Midlands Ambulance Service 


West Midlands Fire Service 

Maria Pountney (Admin) Safeguarding Adults Admin Officer, Community Services, 


Quality & Audit Committee 

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Simon Brake (Chair) 

Sam Collier 

Assistant Director, Policy and Performance, Coventry City 

Council 

Safeguarding Adults Lead Nurse, Coventry & Rugby CCG 


Head of Safeguarding, Community Services, Coventry City 

Council 




Paul Ferris 

Performance Review Manager, Coventry City Council 


Staffordshire & West Midlands Probation Trust 

Jon Hanley 

Named Professional for Safeguarding, Coventry & Warwickshire 

Partnership NHS Trust 


Coventry Safeguarding Children's Board 

VACANT 


Inderjit Lahel 

Provider Escalation Panel Chair, Community Services 



Executive Committee 

Pete Fahy Assistant Director Community Services (Strategic 

Commissioning and Partnerships), Coventry City Council 


Head of Safeguarding Adults, Community Services, Coventry City 

Council 

Jacqueline Barnes 

Executive Nurse, Coventry & Rugby CCG 

Jacqui Goode 


Coventry City Council ( Chair of WFD) 

Sandra Williams 

Older Peoples' Partnership Board (Chair of Part & Practice) 

Simon Brake 

Assistant Director, Policy & Performance, Coventry City Council 

(Chair of Q & A and SCR) 

Jill Ayres 


City Council (Chair of Pol & Procedures) 

Mark Godfrey 


(Chair of DoLS) 



Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW Rep) 

VACANT West Midlands Police ? 

Lillian Ferraro (Admin) Safeguarding Adults Admin Officer, Community Services, 


Serious Case Review Committee 

Simon Brake (Chair) 


Ian Bowering 

Zandrea Stewart 

Jacqueline Barnes 


Assistant Director, Policy and Performance, Coventry City 

Council 


Council 

Head of Older Adults and Physical Impairment, Adult Social Care, 


Head of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, Adult Social 

Care, Coventry City Council 

Executive Nurse, Coventry & Rugby CCG 



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Carmel McCalmont 

Associate Director of Nursing, University Hospitals Coventry and 

Warwickshire NHS Trust 

Julie Newman 

CLYP & Adults Manager, Finance and Legal Services, Coventry 

City Council 

Penny Greenaway 

Lead Nurse for Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, 

Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust 

DCI Dean Young 

Eastern Adult Investigation & Safeguarding, West Midlands Police 


Local Area Liaison Officer – Coventry, West Midlands Fire Service 

VACANT 

Community Safety Partnership 

VACANT 

West Midlands Ambulance Service 

VACANT 




Partnership and Practice Committee 

Sandra Williams (Chair) 

Older People's Partnership Board 

Alison Quigley 

Community Safety Partnership 


WMAS 

Bob Marriott 

Citizen Involvement, Carers and Partnerships 

Catherine Birta 

Voluntary Rep – Coventry Mind 

Christine McNaught 

Voluntary Rep –Foleshill Womens Centre 

Debbie King 

Coventry Carer's Centre 

Donna Smith 

Service User Rep - Vacancy 

Harjeet Matharu 

Voluntary Rep VA Coventry 

Jill Ayres 


City Council 

Jon Hanley 

CWPT 

Kelly Starkey 

WMFS 

Lesleyann Edwards 

Consortium of Social Landlords 

Lillian Ferraro (Admin) Safeguarding Adults Admin Officer, Community Services, 


Liza Walden – Vice Chair 

Adult Social Care - Coventry City Council 


UHCW 

Mia Docker 

Voluntary Rep – Grapevine 

NHS Coventry 

Nigel Hart 

Communications Team Coventry City Council 

Susan Donnelly 

Provider Rep 

Ruth Light 

Coventry LINk 

Vacant 

Social Care and Mental Health, Coventry City Council 

Vacant 


Vacant 


Multi agency MCA/DoLS Steering Group 

Mark Godfrey (Chair) 




Council 

TBC (Admin) 

MH Admin 

Other members TBC 

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Briefing note 

To: Health, Social Care and Welfare Reform Scrutiny Board (5) Date: 01 May 2013 

Subject: Feedback from the Welfare Reform Subgroup 

1 Purpose of the Note 

1.1 To inform the Scrutiny Board of the outcomes of the Welfare Reform Sub-group. 

2 Recommendations 

2.1 That the Welfare Reform Sub-group be continued in 2013/14 in an appropriate 

form, building on the positive partnership activity which is taken place. 

2.2 That the group is used to consider the impact of the programme of welfare reforms 

and how Council policies may, where appropriate, be amended to account for this. 

2.3 That ‘pop-up shops’ and other partnership activities are positively considered as 

opportunities for the communication of welfare reform changes to target audiences. 

2.4 That information on Welfare Reform is highlighted on the front page of the City 

Council’s website. 

3 Information/Background 

3.1 The sub-group have met with, taken evidence from and been supported by a range 

of local partners including: Coventry Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Coventry Law 

Centre, Coventry Food Bank, Coventry’s Women’s Voices, the University of 

Warwick and Whitefriars as well as officers from the City Council. The Sub-group 

expressed their particular thanks to these partners for their support and 

engagement with the group. The Sub-group also hosted a seminar for all Elected 

Members on welfare reform to increase awareness of the changes and impacts. 

3.2 Changes are already being implemented by Government. Under-occupancy criteria, 

or the ‘bedroom tax’ as it is also known, came into effect on 1 st April. There are 

however a large number of changes to policies being introduced on varying 

timescales. Following Government announcements in the Budget it would seem 

likely that plans for welfare reforms will move forward on tight timescales, and that 

there will be more alterations to benefits to come. 

3.3 The role of the sub-group has been substantially one of seeking assurance that the 

necessary or possible steps are being put in place locally to support those affected 

by benefit changes, and to ensure the public are aware of the impact these 

changes will have on them. This is especially important as research demonstrates 

that when the cumulative impact of the recession and welfare reform are 

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considered, it is mainly those most disadvantaged who will be hit hardest. Further 

many of the welfare reforms hit particular individuals or families repeatedly, 

particularly those with disabilities or who are carers. 

3.4 The sub-group have covered a number of topics, and these are summarised below. 

Council Tax Benefit (now Council Tax Support) 

3.5 The City Council is protecting the current level of Council Tax Benefit received by 

residents in the City. Locally, Dudley and Solihull, for example, will be doing the 

same. However, this is not the case in all local authorities, as 75% (including many 

of the Warwickshire District and Borough Councils) will be passing on some 

proportion of the cuts to residents. There will be changes to the back office 

processes for Council staff but constituents will not notice any change. This scheme 

is now in place and implemented for 2013/14. 

‘Bedroom tax’ 

3.6 This only affects working age people in social housing. Pensioners are exempt and 

they will not face any reductions in benefit in relation to the number of bedrooms in 

their properties. 

3.7 Across Coventry as a whole, there are 2556 customers who will lose £12.92 per 

week and 624 people who will lose £22.61 from the benefits. Whitefriars, who have 

taken part in many of the Sub-groups meetings have written to, and visited, all of 

their 2400 tenants who are affected. 

3.8 Following a concerted campaign by groups supporting children in care the 

Government has recently changed policy; 

3.8.1 Approved foster carers will be allowed a maximum of one additional room 

(irrespective of the number of foster children), whether or not a child has been 

placed with them or they are between placements. To qualify for this they must 

have fostered a child, or become an approved foster carer in the last 12 months. 

3.8.2 Adults who are in the armed forces but who continue to live with parents will be 

treated as continuing to live at home, even when deployed on operations. This 

means that the size criteria rules will not be applied to the room normally occupied 

by the member of the armed forces if they intend to return home. 

3.8.3 Where a room is required for a non resident carer an additional room will be used in 

the assessment of Housing Benefit. Details should be provided to the Benefits 

Service in order for this to be considered. 

3.8.4 An additional room will also be allowed for children who are unable to share 

because of their severe disabilities. Medical evidence of the disability will be 

required by the Benefits Service, as will evidence that the nature and frequency of 

care required during the night would be significantly disruptive to the sleep of the 

child who would normally be required to share the bedroom. 

3.9 Only pensioners, shared owners and those in supported (exempt) accommodation 

are exempt. In all other in all other situations will be looked at on a case by case 

basis and, e.g. may have 2 spare bedrooms and have a circumstance that allows 

them to have 1 spare bedroom but not 2. This means that their housing benefit will 

still be reduced by the amount for 1 spare bedroom (14%). 

3.10 There are a number of scenarios in which people will be considered as under– 

occupying. For example, if a couple need to sleep in separate bedrooms for 

medical reasons, perhaps the use of an oxygen machine or to enable the carer 

respite, these circumstances are not accounted for when looking at under 

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2

occupancy criteria. Another scenario is where a property has been adapted for use, 

but there is a spare bedroom(s) – these residents will be considered as underoccupying. 

3.11 Provided that the property is not under-occupied, there is no limit on the number of 

bedrooms that are allowed. This means that larger families are not penalised. 

3.12 If a family member is temporarily absent from home her/his absence can be ignored 

under housing benefit rules for up to 13 weeks if s/he is absent for any reason, or 

for up to 52 weeks if s/he is absent for a prescribed reason, for example, because 

s/he is in hospital or is a student studying away from home. In all cases s/he must 

intend to return home after her/his period of absence. 

3.13 There is a bedroom calculator for social housing tenants on the Adviceguide 

website at www.adviceguide.org.uk. 

Discretionary Housing Payment Fund 

3.14 This fund allows the Council the discretion to help people on a low income with their 

housing costs where Housing Benefit (HB) alone does not meet all of their needs. 

Councils have been given some additional money from the Government to support 

the welfare reform changes. 

3.15 Coventry has a fund of £800,000 for 2013/14. However, we estimate that at least £9 

million has been cut (from Coventry residents) since the first changes took place in 

April 2011. 

3.16 There will not be sufficient funding to help all of those who apply to for a payment. 

Officers will therefore be undertaking assessments of applicants’ income and 

expenditure. They will carefully consider the circumstances of each case before 

deciding whether to make an award. 

3.17 If a customer is not happy with the outcome of their application, then a senior officer 

will look at the application. There are no formal appeal rights. 

3.18 During 2013/14, the group may wish to monitor demand for the fund. 

Homefinder 

3.19 The Transport and Infrastructure Development Scrutiny Board (6) have undertaken 

a task and finish group to look at Homefinder, and allocations of social housing. 

This choice-based lettings scheme has been amended to increase the priority of 

applications or bids of people who wish to downsize, to try and facilitate movement 

in the social housing market and free up properties to help those affected by under 

occupancy. 

3.20 Housing associations have been looking to see what support they can offer those 

who wish to downsize and the Council has experimented with different schemes 

and incentives to support this. 

Benefit Cap 

3.21 The Benefit Cap is being phased-in by DWP from April 2013 – starting with four 

London Boroughs. It will be rolled-out nationally between 15 th July and 30 th 

September. The Cap places a limit on the weekly total amount of benefit a 

3 

Page 17

household can receive - £500 for couples and single parent families and £350 for 

single people. 

3.22 The benefit cap will not apply if anyone in the household (excluding nondependents) 

receives: 

• Working Tax Credit (the government have said this will also apply to those who 

work sufficient hours to qualify for WTC even if they do not receive it) 

• Disability Living Allowance (or the Personal Independence Payment from April 

2013) 

• Attendance Allowance 

• the support component of Employment and Support Allowance 

• War Pensions (including War Widows or War Widower's Pension) 

• Industrial Injuries Benefit. 

3.23 If the benefit goes over the cap, it will be the housing benefit that is cut. DWP are 

writing to those affected. Anecdotal discussions suggest people are saying they will 

take the financial hit. 

3.24 There are about 270 families in Coventry who will be impacted by the benefit cap. 

About 170 cases are in private sector housing and the balance of around 100 

families with Registered Social Landlords. . The weekly loss of benefit ranges from 

under £10 to over £150 per week. The total annual loss is estimated to be over 

£820,000. 

3.25 DWP have been writing to affected people since March and will be double checking 

which individuals/families are impacted between now and July. 

3.26 The Council is working with partners on the best approach to supporting people 

affected by this change. In the majority of cases, the most relevant support is likely 

to be budgeting advice. The DHP fund is also likely to be considered for some 

cases. 

Changes to benefits for the disabled 

3.27 There have been a series of road shows across the city for disabled people to 

highlight the impact of the changes. Retesting on eligibility of disability allowances 

(ESA and DLA) is going on until 2017. 

3.28 With regards to ESA, about a third of people are failing their applications based on 

their medical examination. Appeals are currently at an 85% success rate in 

Coventry, although it can take up to 10 months for the appeal to take place. New 

appeals venues in Leamington and Nuneaton to hear appeals should help to 

reduce the wait. The Law Centre are trying to support people with how to fill in 

forms and score points during their initial application so that they avoid the need to 

go the appeal, and are aiming to train volunteers to do offer this support. 

3.29 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people aged 16 to 64 with a 

long-term health condition or disability. From 8 April 2013, it replaces Disability 

Living Allowance (DLA) for some people making a new claim. From 10 June 2013, 

it replaces DLA for all new claims. There are 18,385 people in Coventry on DLA 

and the Government's aim is to reduce this amount by 20% (500,000 people 

nationally) when people move onto PIP. 

3.30 People already getting DLA, PIP is being introduced gradually over several years 

and will eventually replace DLA. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will 

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4

write to poeple at some point between 7 October 2013 and September 2017 asking 

them to make a new claim for PIP instead of DLA. People don't have to do anything 

until they are contacted. 

3.31 Most people getting DLA won't be affected before October 2015. 

3.32 DLA will be replaced by Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Changes will 

begin from June on a phased basis. 

3.33 It is possible that people will be reassessed for both benefits. 

3.34 The Roadshows run by the Law Centre have so far been attended by 227 people 

and 74% have requested further help. A bid for additional resources to meet the 

needs identified in these events has been submitted to the Reaching Communities 

Lottery fund. 

Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants (now Community Support Grants) 

3.35 Crisis loans and community care grants have been abolished. From April 2013, 

each local authority has been responsible for implementing its own scheme. In 

Coventry, it is the Community Support Grant Scheme. 

3.36 The main aim of the scheme will be to support vulnerable people, experiencing 

financial difficulties. The support will be given for food, goods or services in a crisis 

situation or where there is exceptional financial pressure on an individual or 

families. 

3.37 Each case will be treated strictly on its merits and all customers will receive equal 

and fair treatment within a transparent process taking full account of the Council’s 

responsibilities under all relevant government legislation, for example the Human 

Rights Act and Equality Act 2010. 

3.38 The scheme provides people with pre-paid cards (Tesco’s for food and toiletries, 

Argos for household items), and the use of the ‘paypoint’ system (for gas and 

electricity top-ups) to be given instead of cash. 

3.39 The sub-group may wish to consider monitoring use of the fund during 2013/14. 

Communications 

3.40 When the group first met in November, there was concern that there was 

insufficient communication of the changes taking place. However, there is now an 

officer communication group which involves a number of our partners. The Chair of 

SB5 is consulted on council press releases and quoted as the Lead Member on 

Welfare Reform. 

3.41 There have been articles in Citivision, however, the Sub-group would still like to see 

the changes have a higher profile on the front page Council’s website, for example, 

as Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council have done. 

Coventry Partnership 

3.42 There has been good evidence of partnership working in the City. Council Officers, 

Housing Associations and Advice Agencies are meeting monthly to coordinate their 

work and ensure good communications. These meetings are held at Whitefriars 

with support provided by the City Council. 

5 

Page 19

Social Care 

3.43 The main potential impact of benefit changes on Social Care services relates to 

people with disabilities and the impact of them having significantly reduced 

incomes. This could have a knock on effect on those able to contribute financially to 

the care services they receive which could lead to reduced revenues and potentially 

more service users unable to make a contribution. 

3.44 This is unlikely to have major implications until 2017 as current DLA users will not 

be reviewed until then. The impacts are being considered alongside A Bolder 

Community Services programme. 

Children’s Services 

3.45 The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) process already allows Children’s 

Social Care to pick up families who may be running into difficulties associated with 

child poverty. Services do not, however, intervene just because families are poor. 

Managers are aware that there might be an increase in referrals due to the stresses 

reduced finances can place on families. 

3.46 Concerns have been raised about the movement of children and families across the 

City as a result of changing housing need. This could cause a possible disruption to 

schooling, and create additional pressure for places at some schools. The message 

from officers in Children’s Services was clear – where possible, if families have a 

choice, to prioritise moving to a property where children can remain in the same 

school as the outcomes will be better for the young person. School moves, 

particularly mid-year have a detrimental impact on a child’s education and should 

be avoided if possible. This is reflected in the DHP Policy and assessment process. 

3.47 There is also pressure already on school places in some areas of the City, and 

there is no guarantee that those who seek to move will be able to get their children 

into the nearest school to their new homes. Schools admission criteria are fixed and 

subject to nationally set rules; they are not able to be amended in response to the 

current set of reforms. 

3.48 Coventry City Council Benefits and Whitefriars are now sharing data with CLYP to 

give an indication of the likely location of families who will be most affected by the 

changes and compare where there are empty properties and available school 

places. 

3.49 Benefits and CLYP already share data to inform the Troubled Families programme 

and are looking at likely benefit changes to individual families already supported. 

3.50 CAB are running a schools project in 31 of the City’s schools and are expanding 

into Children’s Centres from April. Early results suggest this has been particularly 

effective in getting parents to access support and prevent debt and housing 

problems escalating create significant problems. 

Universal Credit 

3.51 The Government has decided to phase-in the introduction of the Universal Credit 

‘pathfinders’. One Job Centre is due to start taking very straightforward claims from 

29 th April 2013. A further three sites are due to be ‘rolled-out’ as ‘pathfinders’ but 

the actual dates have not been announced. DWP have delayed the announcement 

of the programme of migration of existing claims from the legacy benefits (such as 

housing benefit). Originally, the intention was for a ‘managed transition’ for existing 

claims between April 2014 and October 2017. 

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6

3.52 DWP have recently consulted on a proposed ‘Local Support Services Framework’, 

covering the type of support that DWP would be willing to fund, how current 

partnerships work,and how a partnership approach might work in the future. The 

outcome of this will ultimately determine the extent of the involvement of councils in 

the delivery of Universal Credit. 

‘Pop up shop’ 

3.53 Members visited the ‘pop up shop’ in Cathedral Lanes during their March meeting. 

The shop was open from 18 – 22 March and a range of partners (Law Centre, CAB, 

Midland Heart, Whitefriars) provide advice and guidance to people who dropped in 

to find out more about the changes. This project is currently being evaluated, but 

initial assessments from the participants suggest that there were around 100 

members of the public accessing advice each day. 

3.54 The Sub-group have recommended that ‘pop up shops’ and other innovative 

methods of connecting with key groups in the City are considered at key points over 

the coming period. It was also suggested that alternative locations are considered 

for the shops across the city. 

Advice Services Review 

3.55 The Sub-Group held a meeting on the advice services review and formulated a 

consultation response. This response will be considered as part of the review and 

the outcome of the consultation will be shared with Members. 

Coventry Food bank 

3.56 The Sub-group were keen to consider the wider impacts of both the recession and 

proposed welfare reforms. The Coventry Food Bank attended one of the meetings 

to describe their work and the steady rise in Coventry residents accessing 

emergency support from them. They reported a significant year on year increase in 

the demand for their service. Whilst based in Hillfields, the Food Bank has locations 

across the City and are responding to a growing number of referrals by 

professionals for families to have their immediate food needs met by donations. 

3.57 Coventry CAB have seen a substantial increase in the number of clients requiring 

food bank vouchers as a result of a benefit sanction, they are currently carrying out 

reseach into the main drivers behind food bank demand, this should be available by 

early Summer 2013. 

Equality Impact Assessments and Human Rights 

3.58 Members received a presentation which set out the probable equality impacts of 

welfare reform. This is an on-going piece of work and the impacts of the recession 

and welfare reform will continue to be monitored across directorates and 

partnership organisations. 

a. There is likely to be a £30 million cost to women and a £12 million cost to 

men. 

b. The cost to women to be higher as more likely to be reliant on benefits – 

those most likely to be effected, as they are also being hit by other cuts to 

services as well as benefit changes are 

i. Loan parents 

ii. Single pensioners 

c. Poverty is a cause of ill health and there is already a huge gap in life 

expectancy in the city. 

7 

Page 21

d. Cuts are happening to social care as well which impacts not only on the 

client but on the family who have to fill in the gaps in support. 

e. The voluntary sector in Coventry is struggling to meet the demand for their 

services. 

2) The impact on women due to changes in the way benefits will be paid to one 

individual who will be considered the ‘head of the household’ 

a. It matters who receives the income in the family as money given to women 

is more likely to be spent on children – women are the 'shock absorbers of 

poverty' 

b. There is the opportunity for an increase in financial abuse 

c. Universal credit will disadvantage second earners as incomes will be a lot 

lower then under tax credits. 

d. In Coventry there is already a lower number of women working or looking 

for work then nationally – therefore, there are issues when relationships 

breakdown. 

3.59 The City Council have a wide ranging equality impact assessment process which is 

used during decision making and each approved policy will have an Equality and 

Consultation Analysis. 

3.60 Impacts on Coventry City Council 

3.61 Staff in benefits and housing have been moved into appropriate roles and trained to 

deal with the likely impacts of the changes. Looking to ensure staff have 

appropriate training in dealing with people with mental health issues. 

3.62 Closer working links have been developed by Benefits, Housing and Children’s 

Social Care, to ensure people are only accessing one source of support from the 

Council. This should also remove the situation which has arisen in the past, where 

when someone has been turned away by housing, they have gone to social 

services and demanded to be housed. 

3.63 Welfare Reform is on the corporate risk register and Audit Committee are 

monitoring developments. If Members wish to view the risk register, please contact 

the Internal Audit team. 

3.64 Further possible work for 2013/14 

Credit Unions 

3.65 Credit Unions have a role to play in providing financial facilities for those who do 

not have access to bank accounts. The board may wish to look at how credit unions 

are supporting residents to budget and access their funds and at the pilot 

Whitefriars are operating with New Central Credit Union. This is to provide “jam jar” 

accounts for those who cannot access mainstream bank accounts. 

DWP 

3.65 There has been a substantial rise in the number of sanctions being used for those 

on Job Seekers Allowance. 

3.66 Partners raised concerns about how sanctions are being used and the impact on 

residents. It was raised that these sanctions may disproportionately impact on those 

with mental health issues as they appear ‘fit for work’. 

3.67 Members may wish to consider looking at how the remaining elements of the Social 

Fund are working e.g. Short Term Benefit Advances and Budgeting Advances. 

Clients and Partners are confused about what the Council offers and what the DWP 

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8

offers, particularly around interim funding whilst someone is awaiting the first 

payment of their benefits. 

Community Cohesion 

3.68 Questions have been asked about the possible impacts of welfare reform on 

community cohesion, particularly around those who are forced to move and 

isolation. However, this is not an area that the sub-group were able to explore in the 

time frame in 2012/13 and may be something that they wish to pick up in the next 

municipal year. 

Summary 

3.69 This has been a positive year for the sub-group. The sub-group has covered a lot of 

ground over a short period of time. However, there is still work to do as further 

changes are introduced and the impact is felt by the City’s residents. 

Peter Barnett/ Victoria Castree 

Scrutiny Team 

204 7683 1172/1122 

9 

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Health, Social Care and Welfare Reform Scrutiny Board (5) 

Work Programme 2012/13 

1 st May, 2013 

For more details on items, please see pages 3 onwards 

11 th June 2012 

Formal Meeting: 

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Quality Account 

Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust Quality Account 

11 th June 2012 

Informal work programme planning meeting 

- role of Scrutiny 

- scope and remit of the Board 

- overview of last year 

Planning for Maternity and Paediatric Services Consultation 

20 th June 2012 

North Warwickshire Maternity and Paediatric Services Review 

Home Meals Service 

25 July 2012 

Coventry Local Involvement Network (LINk) Annual Report 

Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group 

Establish Task and Finish Groups 

8 August 2012 (Additional Meeting) 

Council Tax Support scheme 

26 September 2012 

Serious Case Review Mrs C 

7 November 2012 

Annual Report of the Safeguarding Adults Board 

Coventry Adult Social Care Local Account 

12 December 2012 

Welfare Reform – Social Fund proposals 

Development of the Coventry and Rugby CCG 

Financial position of UHCW 

23 January 2013 

UHCW Financial Position 

UHCW Foundation Trust Application 

Access to GP Services 

Local Healthwatch 

6 March 2013 

Local Healthwatch 

NHS 111 

3 April 2013 

Report back on SCR Mrs C 

Care Quality Commission (CQC) 

1 May 2013 

Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust Foundation Trust process 

Development of Mental Health Services in Coventry 

Report back of the Welfare Reform Sub Group 

1 

Page 25

2012/13 – 

Date to be decided 

UHCW response to complaints 

Tbc - Coventry's Health and Social Care Economy – Chief Executives Q&A 

End of Life care pathways 

tbc- Director of Public Health's Annual Report / JSNA Update 

Visit to UHCW / Building on Experience report back 

Pharmaceutical needs Assessment 

Personalisation – service user experience 

Health and Well-being Board development 

Health and Social Care Commissioning 

Primary care outcomes and public information 

Coventry Community Health Services (CWPT) 

Strategic Direction for the CQC – local conversation 

Health and Social Care Act update / CCG development 

Health Provision for Ex-Servicemen 

Page 26 

2

Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5) Work Programme 2012/13 

Meeting Date Work programme item Lead officer Brief Summary of the issue Source Format 

11 th June 

2012 

Formal Meeting: 

Arden Cluster Finances 

Stephen 

Jones/Gillian 

Entwistle 

The Chief Executive of the Arden Cluster and the 

Director of Finance will give an overview of the financial 

position of the Coventry health economy, including 

information about planned savings and efficiencies to be 

made over the coming year. 

Chairs 

request 

Briefing 

Note / 

Presentation 

11 th June 

2012 

University Hospitals 

Coventry and 

Warwickshire Quality 

Account 

Coventry and 

Warwickshire Partnership 

Trust Quality Account 

Informal work programme 

planning meeting 

- role of Scrutiny 

- scope and remit of the 

Board 

- overview of last year 

Anita Kane / 

Paul Martin 

(both UHCW)/ 

P Barnett 

Paul Masters 

(CWPT) 

P Barnett 

Peter Barnett/ 

Sarah Crawley/ 

Mark Godfrey 

To consider the Trust's Quality Account for 2010/11. 

This document identifies the hospitals key objectives for 

improving clinical quality over the coming year. 

To consider the Trust's Quality Account for 2010/11. 

This document sets out the plans for improvements in 

the clinical quality of mental health, learning disability 

and substance misuse services. 

Introduction to Scrutiny in Coventry 

Brief overview of the City Council services the Board is 

required to scrutinise. 

Overview of the local health economy and current 

developments towards the implementation of the Health 

and Social Care Act 2012. 

Work Programme discussion. 

Report 

Report 

Briefing 

notes and 

presentation 

s 

Planning for Maternity and 

Paediatric Services 

Consultation 

Peter Barnett 

There will be an opportunity in the informal meeting for 

the Board to consider the context of the Maternity and 

Paediatric Services Review and the approach they 

intend to take at the following meeting. 

Statutory 

consultation 

Report and 

presentation 

Page 27 

3


Page 28 

20 th June 

2012 

North Warwickshire 

Maternity and Paediatric 

Services Review 

Arden PCT 

Cluster 

Over the past year there has been a review of maternity 

and paediatric services in Coventry and North 

Warwickshire which has resulted in some proposed 

changes to the services delivered at George Eliot NHS 

Hospital Trust. The Board has been invited to make a 

formal response to the consultation and this meeting will 

the primary source of evidence that will contribute to the 

response. 

Statutory 

consultation 


presentation 

Home Meals Service Mark Godfrey During the last civic year the Board considered plans for 

a new provider to undertake the delivery of home meals 

to adult social care clients. The Board asked for an 

update following a period of operation by the new 

service and officers will report on the performance of the 

new provider so far. 

25 July 2012 Coventry Local 

Involvement Network 

(LINk) Annual Report 

Arden Cluster Finances 

Ruth Light 

(Coventry LINk) 

Stephen 

Jones/Gillian 

Entwistle 

The Board are required to consider the Annual Report of 

its Local Involvement Network (LINk) to ensure that it 

delivers value for money. 

The Chief Executive of the Arden Cluster and the 

Director of Finance will give an overview of the financial 

position of the Coventry health economy, including 

information about planned savings and efficiencies to be 

made over the coming year. 

Scrutiny 

Board 

request 

Statutory 

requirement 

Chairs 

request 

Briefing 

Note 

Annual 

Report 

Briefing 

Note / 

Presentation 

Coventry and Rugby 

Clinical Commissioning 

Group 

Establish Task and Finish 

Groups 

Esther Peapell / 

Juliet Hancox / 

Peter Barnett 

The new Clinical Commissioning Group for Coventry will 

attend the Board's meeting to discuss their draft 

commissioning plans and constitution. 

The Board has expressed a desire to establish a task 

and finish group to take an overview of the proposed 

changes to Welfare Reform in the City. The Board has 

also been asked to participate in some joint Scrutiny 

work with Warwickshire County Council. 

Request of 

the CCG 

Board 

request 

Briefing / 

presentation 

4



8 August 2012 Council Tax Support Chris West The City Council will shortly be consulting on new Chair's Cabinet 

(Additional scheme 

arrangements to replace Council Tax Benefit. Due to the request Report 

Meeting) 

tight timescales imposed by the DWP and the need for 

Cabinet Approval for the scheme in August and 

Additional Board meeting is proposed to enable the 

26 September 

2012 

Serious Case Review Mrs 

C 

Brian Walsh / 

Simon Brake 

Board to scrutinise these proposals. 

For the Board to consider the Executive Summary of the 

Serious Case Review regarding the death of Mrs C. 

Board policy 

and 

practice. 

Cabinet 

Report 

7 November 

2012 Annual Report of the 

Safeguarding Adults 

Board 

Brian Walsh 

The City Council is committed to the effective 

safeguarding of vulnerable adults in the City according to 

the 'No Secrets' guidelines. The Safeguarding Adults 

Board is the strategic partnership body which oversees 

safeguarding work in the City and its Annual Report 

gives details of progress in the various domains of 

activity. The date for this may need to be amended 

possibly by the additional of an extra meeting. 

Annual work 

programme 

item. 

Annual 

Report 

Coventry Adult Social 

Care Local Account 

Brian Walsh 

There is no external assessment of adult social care 

services in the city, therefore there will be another selfassessment 

by the City Council of the performance and 

outcomes of its Adult Social Care services. 

Annual work 

programme 

item 

Annual 

Report 

12 December 

2012 

Page 29 

Welfare Reform – Social 

Fund proposals 

Development of the 

Coventry and Rugby CCG 

Chris West / 

Barrie Strain 

Juliet Hancox 

The City Council will shortly take on responsibility for 

administering emergency support to benefit dependents. 

Officers share their proposals with the Board 

5


Page 30 


Financial position of 

UHCW 

Andy Hardy The Board has requested that the Chief Executive of 

UHCW report to discuss the current financial position of 

the Trust. 

23 January 

2013 

UHCW Financial Position 

UHCW Foundation Trust 

Application 

Andy Hardy 

(UHCW) 

Andy Hardy 

(UHCW) 

Access to GP Services Lesley Murphy 

(NHS 

Commissioning 

Board Area 

Team) 

Local Healthwatch Simon Brake / 

Peter Barnett 

6 March 2013 Local Healthwatch Simon Brake / 

Peter Barnett 

UHCW will shortly be finalising their Foundation Trust 

application. They have requested that the Board receive 

a briefing. 

The Board has requested that local Primary Care 

Commissioners report on the current position regarding 

access to GP services for Coventry patients. The local 

CCG has also requested to attend for discussion of this 

item. 

The City Council is required to commission a new 

organisation to represent patients and service users in 

the City. This body – Healthwatch - will replace Coventry 

LINk. The Council is currently consulting on a number of 

issues around the final shape of local Healthwatch in 

Coventry. 

The City Council is required to commission a new 

organisation to represent patients and service users in 

the City. This body – Healthwatch - will replace Coventry 

LINk. The Council is currently consulting on a number of 

issues around the final shape of local Healthwatch in 

Coventry. 

NHS 111 Wayne Bartlett To give the Board information on the new NHS 111 

service which will replace NHS Direct. 

UHCW 

request 

Scrutiny 

Board 

request 

Council 

consultation 

Council 

consultation 

Report / 

presentation 

Report 

Presentation 

Presentation 

Presentation 

3 April 2013 Report back on SCR Mrs 

C 

B Walsh / S 

Brake 

The Board requested a report back on the SCR into the 

death of Mrs C at their September meeting, officers will 

report back on the progress in delivering the SCR action 

plan. 

Work 

programme 

Report 

6



Care Quality Commission CQC 

The CQC will attend the Board's meeting to discuss local Board Report / 

(CQC) 

inspection and regulation work, including local priorities. request presentation 

1 May 2013 Coventry and 

Warwickshire Partnership 

Trust Foundation Trust 

process 

Development of Mental 

Health Services in 

Coventry 

Report back of the 

Welfare Reform Sub 

Group 

Report back from the 

Board’s representative on 

the Safeguarding Adults 

Board. 

2012/13 – 

Date to be 

decided 

UHCW response to 

complaints 

Andy Hardy / 

Peter Barnett 

The Board would like to understand the process for 

dealing with complaints, particularly those raised by 

elected Members. 

Discuss at next session with UHCW. 

3 rd April 

Page 31 

7


Page 32 


Peter Barnett The Board has traditionally taken an annual opportunity 

to hold a meeting with the Chief Executives of the main 

health bodies operating in the City to discuss topical and 

Annual work 

programme 

item 

strategic issues. The NHS is currently going through the 

Tbc - Coventry's Health 

most significant period of change in its history and the 

Board will be looking to ensure that the current set of 

and Social Care Economy 

reforms are being introduced with the interests of 

– Chief Executives Q&A 

Coventry patients in mind. Additionally the City Council 

will be playing a more significant role in the strategic 

direction of health services and the Board will wish to 

monitor the transfer of public health from the PCT to the 

City Council. 

End of Life care pathways NHS Coventry Comparisons of Coventry with other populations have 

demonstrated that more people die in hospital than 

might be expected, in part as a result of poor 'end of life' 

provision in the City. An 'end of life' care pathway has 

been developed and the Board has expressed an 

interest in both learning more about this and 

understanding any barriers to further progress. 

tbc- Director of Public 

Health's Annual Report / 

JSNA Update 

Visit to UHCW / Building 

on Experience report back 

Pharmaceutical needs 

Assessment 

Jane Moore 

Tbc 

This document sets out the key issues facing the health 

of the Coventry population. The recommendations are 

intended to reduce health inequalities and improve 

health and wellbeing in the City. 

The Board has been invited to make a visit to the 

University Hospitals site in Coventry. 

A further element of the Governments NHS reforms is 

the transfer of various responsibilities from PCTs to local 

authorities, one of these being the requirement to 

undertake a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment. 

Annual work 

programme 

item. 

10 June 

meeting 


presentation 

8



Personalisation – service 

user experience 

Health and Well-being 

Board development 

Health and Social Care 

Commissioning 

Pete Fahy/ 

Peter Barnett 

Pete Fahy 

Personalisation is the agenda in the development of 

adult social care services which puts services users at 

the centre of the care they receive. The Board is aware 

of these plans and established last year that it would like 

to understand more about the service user experience of 

these reforms. 

In June of this year the City Council's shadow Health 

and Wellbeing Board met for the first time. The 

establishment of this Board to oversee the local health 

and social care economy will be a significant 

development for the City which the Scrutiny Board will 

be required to maintain an overview of. Additionally, its 

establishment will require an evaluation of the role of the 

Scrutiny Board to ensure that duplication is avoided. 

A significant amount of work is already done by the City 

Council and NHS Coventry in joint commissioning of key 

services. A Government reform agenda will require 

further improvements of the alignment of health and 

social care pathways and one topic the Board may wish 

to scrutinise is this area of partnership working. 

Scrutiny 

Board 

request 

10/11. 

10 June 11 

meeting 

Work 

programme 

discussion 

Primary care outcomes 

and public information 

Coventry Community 

Health Services (CWPT) 

Strategic Direction for the 

CQC – local conversation 

CCG / PCT 

Josie Spencer 

(CWPT) 

Mark Godfrey / 

Simon Brake 

In conjunction with the HWB investigate how the public 

might benefit from appropriate date being published 

regarding primary care outcomes in Coventry 

During 2011 the Primary Care Trust’s Community 

Services transferred to the Coventry and Warwickshire 

Partnership Trust as part of the national ‘Transforming 

Community Services’ initiative. 

Suggested 

item 

Presentatio 

n / briefing 

note 

Page 33 

9


Page 34 


Health and Social Care 

Act update / CCG 

Simon Brake / 

CCGs 

Over 2012/13 Coventry and Rugby CCG will be seeking 

authorisation and making plans to take over a large 

development 

proportion of the Coventry health spend. It will be 

appropriate for the Board to scrutinise progress and 

Health Provision for Ex- 

Servicemen 

Various tbc 

monitor the development of the CCG. 

During the 2011/12 civic year Members expressed an 

interest in 

Board 

suggested 

item. 

10

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