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FAO: Kellie Boydens Scrutiny Office Morier House
St Helier JE1 1DD
13 May 2014 Ref: 517/22 Dear Kellie
I am responding to Deputy Hilton's letter of 17 April last requesting evidence from Jersey Alzheimer's Association concerning the redesign of Health and Social Services.
Unfortunately we are unable to provide evidence regarding the success or otherwise of the new Older Adult Mental Health services because none have yet been implemented.
In the latter half of 2013 myself and Mark Blamey, JAA Manager, were included in HSS meetings run by Linda Glasby, a Consultant brought over by HSS to implement the 3 Mental Health Service Specifications, and we were told that an Implementation Plan would be signed in December. Those attending the meetings were told that the Plan would be distributed for comment prior to it being signed off but this did not happen. In March 2014 we were given a copy of the Implementation Plan dated 28th March 2014 but asked not to distribute it as it had not been signed off. No reason was given for the delay or reasons why it had not been signed off. I am still unaware whether it has been signed off. It is worth reminding the Panel that dementia was noted as a priority in the KPMG White Paper and the first workshop to design a new Dementia Pathway was in October 2011, over 3 years ago.
JAA are very supportive of the aims of the Implementation Plan but are concerned that the timescales are, on the whole, ambitious and given previous delays that have occurred may not be met. The Plan does not contain annual budgets for the increase in expenditure required to set up and run the new services, it merely contains the numbers of extra staff and budgets for non-staff investment. In 2014 17 extra staff will be employed and in 2015 another 9. These range from staff grade doctors to secretarial support. We are very concerned how HSS are going to find and recruit these staff, especially those that demand specialist skills.
As mentioned in previous submissions we are also concerned about the number of senior executives being employed to implement the overall system redesign and delivery. There was an advert in the Jersey Evening Post on 8th May to recruit 3 Interim Contract and Performance Managers on fixed term contracts for 4 – 6 months at an annual salary of £45k - £61k who will be working with the 3 Deputy Directors of System Redesign and Delivery. We are wondering where the budgets for these management positions have been shown, there is nothing in the 3 Mental Health Service Specifications. If these staff have not been budgeted for there is a worry that other areas of planned expenditure will be cut to pay for them.
JAA are currently involved in meetings with HSS staff to develop ways of raising awareness of dementia and the provision and distribution of appropriate literature, which is part of the Implementation Plan. We have also been involved in the Carers Service Specification implementation. To date a new online Carers' directory has been set up (JOD) which will provide all types of information for carers but, as yet, there is very little about dementia on it. We are pleased that HSS are taking the time to involve us and utilise our experience and expertise.
If you require further information please feel free to contact the following personnel: Yours sincerely
JERSEY ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION