Presentation from Steph Downey, Service Director, Integrated Adults and Social Care.

Steph Downey, Service Director, Integrated Adults and Social Care, provided the OSC with an update on workforce and digital inclusion place - based approaches.

 

Steph advised that the NE&NC ICS has a population of approximately 3 million and a workforce of around 270,000. Within the ICS there are four sub – regional integrated care partnerships (ICPs) and Gateshead is part of the north ICP.

 

Steph explained that local authorities and partners within the ICS system have a number of shared priorities and carrying out work to develop an integrated workforce is one such priority.

 

Steph advised the OSC that currently there are a number of challenges across the NHS and Social care in terms of shortages in the workforces and significant recruitment challenges not just in relation to social care front line workers in care homes but also in relation to recruitment of social workers and doctors and nurses.

 

Steph explained that parts of the system have an ageing workforce who may leave the workforce in the not-too-distant future. This is set alongside increased levels of demand and need.

 

Steph advised that a further challenge is that of in sector recruitment and that social care jobs are currently not viewed as attractive There has also been a large exodus of staff from the care sector during the pandemic which has created a knock on effect.

 

Steph advised that work had commenced pre-pandemic to try and address some of the workforce challenges but this had halted to focus on keeping people safe. This work had recommenced in the last three to four months and was looking at how a career in the health and social care sector. As part of this work there is a particular focus on developing career pathways.

 

Steph advised that there is a big emphasis on apprenticeships in Adult Social Care utilising the apprenticeship levy and similarly for OT’s and the plan is to work with NHS colleagues to build a joint career path.

 

Steph advised that a particular area of challenge was workforce planning and data sets as social care has not had the same level of data analysis as the NHS. However, Steph advised that the LGA and Health Education England had been trialling some tools for such analysis in Gateshead with the aim of rolling this out nationally in the future.

 

Steph advised that work was also taking place in relation to health and social care shared career and job events with the local authority and NHS providing a joint offer.

 

Staff retention was another key area which was being looked at with a view to better integrating the training and wellbeing offer for staff.

 

There was also a focus on training leaders and developing a new course to help everyone think as a system.

 

The OSC queried whether recruitment efforts are being targeted towards people working in other fields who might be thinking of changing careers.

 

Steph stated that this was happening with recruitment events seeking to target different groups. There had been recruitment events taking place at the Metro Centre so this might attract individuals currently in the retail sector who might be thinking a career change. There had also been a focus individuals in the Shared Lives Scheme as they may be able to work from home.

 

The OSC queried the position in relation to Adult Social Care data sets as they had understood that there were national minimum data set requirements.

 

Steph clarified that the issue was not about the data sets themselves but rather a lack of tools / capacity to carry out robust analysis of the data sets. The focus now was around gaining additional capacity to ensure robust data.

 

Steph advised that the impetus for work in relation to digital inclusion had arisen from a review of all the joint work carried out during the pandemic when there had been a huge increase in digital access to health and social care services.

 

Steph stated that it was known that inequalities in Gateshead had worsened as a result of the pandemic and so it had been agreed that the health and social care system would work together to better understand digital exclusion.

 

Steph advised that there isn’t a clear understanding of digital exclusion. Estimates don’t allow a drilling down into local areas to identify pockets of exclusion so there is a need for a greater understanding of the situation as there is a risk of further inequalities amongst marginalised groups.

 

Further key concerns are that the cost of living crisis may lead to some people being unable to renew devices and cancelling broadband connectivity  due to the costs as well as accessibility issues if individuals have language or disability needs and literacy levels, particularly health literacy, as this may prevent individuals from effectively navigating routes into services.

 

Steph stated that whilst an aim was to help the majority of individuals towards digital access to services eventually it was acknowledged that there would always be some individuals who would not be able to access services digitally. However, if the majority of individuals are able to access services digitally it will then release resources to support those who are unable to do so.

 

Steph advised that there is a GP practice in Gateshead which is inviting in patients to the practice to show them how to request a prescription on-line and use the e-consult platform.

 

Steph stated that there is a lot of good work going on within the Gateshead system and a Programme Manager’s post has just been established in the voluntary and community sector through Connected Voice with a view to connecting up all groups working on digital inclusion so that learning and research is shared across the borough and applying for suitable pots of funding to progress work.

 

Steph stated that there will also be wider benefits to this type of work as if individuals are enabled to request prescriptions on line or make referrals on line for adult social care then they will also be able to seek employment on line and request assistance for housing on line etc.

 

The OSC thanked Steph for the information provided and asked how the success of the work being progressed was being measured.

 

Steph advised that a starting point was working with the Academic Health Science Unit to map the work that is taking place so that it can be counted and outcomes where a difference is being made can be identified.

 

Steph advised that in addition the intention was to have a funded research programme which would be able to demonstrate the impact of the work being progressed and a bid had been submitted with a view to achieving this.

 

The OSC stated that it was interesting to see that a GP practice in Gateshead was offering digital training to patients and it was queried whether this was being rolled out to other practices.

 

Steph advised that it was intended to evaluate the impact of the work progressed at the specific GP practice first and where it is demonstrated that this is working well the aim will be to share across all practices.

 

Steph advised that as it was considered that recruiting into the Programme Manager post may be a challenge they had secured mentorship from two SME technical organisations so that the individual would be supported.

 

The OSC queried the timeframe for the post.

 

Steph advised that the Programme Manager job was for 18 months and the advert would be going out in the next few weeks.

 

The OSC queried whether there were any developments in relation to assisted healthcare.

 

Steph stated that this had been one of the levers into the work which was now being progressed. A lot of devices rely on broadband so another workstream was piloting new devices and they had just awarded a NEPO contract in relation to this and the first two lots had gone live and another two were due to go live in the near future. Steph advised that they are working with technical providers with a view to devising solutions to problems.

 

The OSC asked if they could have an update on this work going forwards

 

Steph advised that the OSC was due to receive a briefing in relation to assisted technology in due course and an update on this work would be included in that.

 

The OSC noted that there are social tariffs for broadband and queried whether there were significant advantages and whether the Council was making people aware of this via places such as foodbanks.

 

Steph advised that there are many warm spaces which are promoted by the Council in partnership with others that have digital connectivity and this another reason for people to use those spaces. Steph stated that they are looking at the Council, Trusts and University who are all spending a great deal on devices and connectivity and how they can use social value to influence BT etc to give low or very low cost internet.

 

The OSC noted that during Covid home visits to provide oxygen monitors were linked with mental health first aid to combat loneliness and it was queried whether this could also be progressed via this work as there are some individuals who are attending GP practices due to loneliness rather than medical issues.

 

Steph advised that the Council was working with Edberts House around social prescribing to pick up those individuals who are approaching GP practices for social reasons rather than medical. Steph also advised that they were working with Connected Voice who manage Our Gateshead to provide QR codes which can take individuals to the Our Gateshead website which details a wide range of support.

 

The OSC highlighted the issue of online scams as a potential reason for some individuals failing to use digital resources.

 

Steph acknowledged that this is an issue and that a key area is not just to teach people the skills to use technology but also how to stay safe on line so that they can use technology confidently.

 

 

RESOLVED                      That the views of the OSC be noted.