Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources which informed the Members of the results of the Adult Social Care Survey for 2011/12.

The Board was advised that In line with Putting People First, the National Adult Social Care Survey had been introduced for 2010/11 with the intention of surveying a cross-section of individuals receiving adult social care services.  This differed from previous surveys prior to 2011/12, which had been targeted at specific cohorts. This was the second year that the statutory survey had been undertaken and it was scheduled to take place annually between January and March each year.

The Board was further advised that there had been changes to the Statutory Procedures for the 2011/12 Survey in relation to capacity checking and the cohort used for sampling.  The Members noted the implications of these changes.  In addition, the Board also noted the sample size and composition of the survey, the response rate and the results.

The following comments arose from the discussion:-

·       Clarity was sought on why the total direct costs of running the survey in terms of printing and postage had been £2k.  It was reported that the national survey had been first introduced in 2011/12 and there had been no additional funding provided by the Government, therefore it was the responsibility of the Local Authority to fund the statutory survey;

·       The Board noted that overall from the information in the  survey, highlighted that people’s needs had increased.  It was reported that there had been a few changes to what had been statutory prescribed in the second year and this had shown that survey users completing this had a higher level of need.  However, response rates were similar to previous years.  In addition, it was reported that paragraph 3.2.1 gave an explanation of the changes to capacity checking;

·       The Board noted the summary of results in 2011/12 and that the results were not available nationally and until they were available comparisons could not be made  The Board was advised that when this information was available a report would be presented to the Board for consideration;

·       The Board noted that there was a higher rate of satisfaction levels and also noted the highlights of the survey set out in paragraph 3.5.2;

·       It was noted that the survey was useful, and that it would be interesting to see how it progressed over time, especially with all the current changes.  In addition, it was highlighted that it was difficult to identify correlation to what was happening as there was only two years of data;

·       Clarity was sought on whether random checks had been undertaken on who had actually completed the forms in care homes.  In response, it was reported that random checks had not been undertaken and it was not possible to know who had helped individuals complete the form.  In addition, it was reported that Question 21 gave an indication of how many people had received help in completing the form;

·       It was noted that it was a statutory survey with prescribed questions and detailed guidance.  The Local Authority could add additional questions, but it was very difficult to delete/omit any questions;

·       Clarity was whether anything could be done to identify the individuals in Q6a where 0.3 % of people had indicated that their home was not at all clean or comfortable.  In response, it was reported that this would be looked into;

·       It was noted that the survey results represented an amalgamation of two surveys with slightly different questions; one for individuals living in their own home and one for people in residential care.  It was reported and agreed that the individual surveys would be circulated to Members of the Board;

RESOLVED: That the report and comments raised be noted.