Agenda item

To receive an overview of the response and support provided across the county of Hampshire to vulnerable residents and people supported by adult social care services and the moves toward recovery of our services and usual support services.

The Director of Adults’ Health and Care provided an overview on welfare response and arrangements overseen by the Local Resilience Forum.  

Members heard that the response has been supported by partners with close collaboration between HCC, 4000 volunteers, the Voluntary Care Sector (VCS), NHS, districts, and boroughs sharing best practices, collaboration, learning, coordinating the response.  Being a large County Council with 11 districts and boroughs, this required swift and concerted efforts.  

A significant number of vulnerable people were helped alongside older adults and existing service users.  HCC care services and independent providers used a two-pronged approach to provide support with a comprehensive communication strategy and social media advertising leading to 13 thousand vulnerable residents reaching out.  

Services were provided through local response centres served by district and borough councils, offering additional food boxes due to restrictions or in the early days including residents who were not entitled but still experiencing hardship.  The links between districts and food banks have been key, easing and oiling the collaborative relationships around operations.  

With partial easing of arrangements for the shielded including food boxes is expected to end soon, people will need support to rebuild their independence, access provisions and also manage anxieties.  There is a need to reinstate services for service users that were ceased due to necessary social distancing.  Increase in the emergency provision of mental health concerns and care for the vulnerable will be important to recovery.  

A special focus will remain on those groups hard to reach in Hampshire including supporting domestic abuse victims, rough sleepers, and those with substance abuse issues.   There is a need to flex quickly and ensure business continuity as much as possible, such as moving to virtual work to ensure statutory services continue but also taking steps to restore services for those that are paused.  In line with Outbreak Control Planning, this is an opportunity to develop a recovery plan based on lessons learned and considering significant workforce aspects.  Unparalleled developments of the pandemic led to a continuous improvement plan.  Reflective sessions have been planned to look back over what has happened before looking forwards.

In response to questions, Members heard:

While there were some initial local challenges or lack of coordination, volunteers have made an incredible impact and food banks were generously helped by grocery stores.  

The government shared information about those vulnerable but this came through in parts across several weeks leading to challenges in coordination for response across a challenging geography.  Grassroots parish and district work and Facebook groups were encouraged but there was a need to introduce consistency, safety, and contend with significant data sharing restrictions.  Not all shielded residents were registered or had not consented to sharing information.  It remains a massive testament to the volunteers of whom there were more than there was demand.  

Relationship managers were introduced for all districts and boroughs.  In terms of local response, there was spontaneous volunteering and working with partners but over a few weeks, there was a need to ensure that the formal voluntary sector was able to put safeguards in place to ensure safety across the mobilization.  Both formal and informal partners, the faith community, Good Neighbours, and many other organizations provided critical support.  For those residents without access to online resources, text, radio, media, briefings for councils were used for a full range of support. 

There were difficulties for a large number of people who were not on the list and off the radar.  In the end, volunteers made a difference with a quick response and it is important to not lose those names.  Adding to the list incrementally, from 19,000 to 53,000+, services and response had to be sorted out quickly and increased over time.  Not all clinically vulnerable residents needed support and the list was diligently reviewed to contact those who might need support.  While there was the risk of duplication at the national level, it was necessary to provide that vital safety net.

Members commended the Hants Helpline, the Director and Department on this mammoth task and on the collaboration between district, borough, and parish councils.  

These services ran at a significant cost to the County Council, but equally to district and borough councils, and especially the VCS sector with their loss of income.  The Chancellor is due to make a statement later this week.

Grassroots effort ran almost like military but there were some cases where they simply did not have the experience or ability to help, and the helpline was incredibly valuable.  Voluntary groups will have a challenge in weening people off and releasing the people they are currently supporting.  Triage is provided in the helpline calls and residents are directed to simpler VCS responses or for complex needs, referred through to the Adult Health & Care welfare team for a social work-oriented response.  It has worked well, and slowly the focus will be on moving everyone on in a caring and safe way to the levels of independence they previously had.  There have been anxieties around this, but work will continue with a strength-based approach with the VCS and relationship managers.  

Members thanked all those involved in these efforts to support Hampshire residents. 

RESOLVED -   

That the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee:  

a.    Noted the work that has taken place to date by Adults’ Health and Care, public and voluntary sector organisations, and their partners in Hampshire to support the needs of its most vulnerable citizens and the wider community. 

b.    Was assured by the systems that have been put in place across Hampshire, as set out in this report, to support the county’s most vulnerable residents as well as the wider community during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

c.    Notes actions currently underway to support moves toward recovery of services, system and processes across Adults’ Health and Care.

d.    Further updates to be received at successive HASC meetings while the pandemic is in progress, including the Recovery Plan.