To consider a progress report in relation to personalisation of care in Torbay.

The Board considered a report outlining the progress achieved on the personalisation of health and social care in Torbay.  The Head of Business Support, Torbay Care Trust, informed the Board that the transformation period of the national programme had concluded officially on 31 March 2011 but would continue in Torbay.  The Board was advised that against the thirty per cent target set for April 2011, 24.4% of clients in Torbay had a personal budget.  The Board was advised that excluding Devon Partnership Trust clients, the figure for Torbay Care Trust was 27.6%. 

The Board was advised there was a government milestone or target of 100% of clients to have a personal budget by 2013.  In reply to questions, the Board was advised that there was a local target for 2011 of forty per cent of clients new to the process to have a personal budget.

The Board was informed of assisted technologies and that service provision would move away from standard domiciliary care.  In response to questions, the Board was advised that it was hoped to take forward the Barton Surgery telehealth pilot to other areas of health such as diabetes.  The Board was advised that this work was led by Malcolm Dicken, Head of New Ways of Working for Torbay and Southern Devon Care Trust.

In response to questions about the reduction in the local government budget and the protection of the social care budget, the Chief Executive Officer, Torbay Care Trust, indicated that protection of the most vulnerable was most important.

Members questioned the safeguarding and financial risks of personal budgets and were advised that audit, quality assurance, and contract monitoring measures were employed.  In response to questions concerning the Adult Social Care Grant, the Board was informed that there were recurrent financial commitments from the transformation element of the personalisation programme which were being absorbed by the Care Trust.

Resolved:  that the Health Scrutiny Board continue to monitor the personalisation of care in Torbay.