Health and Social Security - Approved Panel Minutes - 15 January 2015

Present

Deputy R. Renouf , Chairman

Deputy G. Southern , Vice-Chairman

Deputy T. McDonald

Deputy J. Hilton [Co-opted Member item 3 only]

Apologies

Absent

In attendance

Miss K. Boydens , Scrutiny Officer Miss S. McKee , Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Record of Meetings

The Panel noted and approved the records of its meetings held on 12th, 16th and 18th December 2014. There was a minor change to the record of the meeting held on 12th December 2014. The Chairman signed them accordingly.

517/1(1)

2.  Co-opted Member

The Panel welcomed Deputy J. Hilton as a co-opted Member for its review of respite care for adults.

18/12/14 Item 2

517/30

3.  Respite Care for Adults

The Panel received a copy of its draft terms of reference for the review. After discussing the matter and making minor amendments, the terms of reference were approved by the Panel. The Panel requested that a letter was drafted to the Minister for Health and Social Services to inform him of the Panel's review and its terms of reference. The Panel also agreed that the letter would include an invitation for the Minister to attend a Public Hearing during the first two weeks of February. It was the Panel's intention to meet with the Minister at the beginning of the review, and again at the end.

The Panel discussed its next steps for the review and agreed that an advert should be placed in the Jersey Evening Post (JEP), as it would be important to hear the views of service providers and service users. The officers advised that an advert would be drafted, and once the review was made public, would be placed in the JEP. The officers also advised that, in order to generate public interest and media attention on the review, a press release would be drafted once the Minister had received the terms of reference.

The Panel requested the officers to arrange site visits to services that were providing respite for adults aged between 18 and 65. The officers agreed that the department would be contacted so that a list could be

KB/SM

KB/SM

KB/SM

obtained detailing where respite services for adults were currently being provided.

Item 4 18/12/14

517/1/1(6)

4.  Quarterly Hearings

The Panel noted that it was due to hold its first Quarterly Hearing with the Minister for Health and Social Services on 2nd February 2015. The Panel received a copy of Hansard, a verbatim of the States Assembly questions without notice held on 9th December 2014, to assist it with formulating questions. After a discussion into the matter, the Panel identified a range of areas for questioning and was advised by the officers that a question plan would be circulated for approval in due course.

KB/SM

Item 5 18/12/14

517/1/1(5)

5.  Health Treatment Travel Policy: Topic Proposal

Following on from its meeting held on 18th December 2014, the Panel recalled that a topic proposal had been received by Deputy Tadier in regards to travel arrangements for health treatment in the UK. The Panel received a copy of the Health Department's policy in relation to this issue.

After  discussing  the  matter,  the  Panel  requested  that  it  receive  a briefing  from  the  Health  Department  on  the  policy.  Furthermore,  it requested  that   Deputy   Tadier  was  notified  of  the  briefing,  once confirmed, so that he could attend if desired.

SM/KB

18/12/14 Item 6

510/1(3)

6.  Visit to Westminster

The Panel reviewed the trip to Westminster and the London Assembly which had taken place on 13th and 14th January 2015. The Panel agreed that it had been very worthwhile, and felt that the Westminster visit had been slightly more useful in terms of identifying good working practices.

The Panel agreed that it had learnt that focused reviews with specific, measurable,  achievable,  relevant  and  time  bound  (SMART) recommendations were most beneficial.

7.  Future Meetings

The Panel noted that its next Panel meeting would be held on Thursday 29th January 2015 in the Le Capelain room, States Building.