MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE REGISTRATION ADVISORY PANEL HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON THURSDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2002 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM

Present :

Mr R G Mazillius (Chairman), Mr K Dannatt, Mr R Jones, Mr P Joyce, Mrs B Lawson (deputising for Mr R Barry), Mr R Masters, Mr P Scott, Mr C Waddicor

Apologies :

Mr P Barber, Mr R Barry, Mr D Knowles

Also Present (non voting) :

Mrs H Betts, Mr J Bowker, Mrs A Leigh

 6.        MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2001 be confirmed.

7.        MATTERS ARISING

Impact Survey - National Minimum Standards, Homes for Older People

Mr Jones asked Mr Waddicor what contingencies plans had been put in place following the Impact Survey report considered at the Panels meeting on the 21 September 2001. The Panel were advised that three approaches had been adopted. Firstly increased funding had been included in the newly approved Social Services budget, secondly discussions with Providers and Housing Associations had taken place concerning the development of sheltered housing schemes and finally a bid for £100,000 would be taken forward in March 2002 through the European Social Fund and if successful would be used to improve staff training.

RESOLVED :

THAT the position be noted.

8.        JOINT REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION UNIT PERFORMANCE 2001/2002

(Mrs B Lawson declared a non pecuniary interest as a Governor of a Boarding School)

The Manager of the Joint Registration and Inspection Unit (JRIU) presented his final report to the Panel prior to the transfer of the Units function and staff to the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) on 1 April 2002. The report set out the work undertaken by the Unit in the last year and the level and types of service to be transferred to the NCSC.

Members were advised that the most significant number of homes forced to close in the last year was within the residential sector although in percentage terms the loss of nursing homes and nursing beds was far greater. Figures showed that residential care homes had lost 100 beds and nursing homes had lost 20 beds since the 1 April 2001.

The Panel were informed that the Unit operated a voluntary accreditation scheme for Domiciliary Care Agencies and there were currently nine such agencies which had all been inspected twice in the last 11 months. The Agencies had been informed that they were required to register with the Commission by 1 July 2002.

It was believed that the number of beds lost in both Nursing Homes and Residential Homes had greater impact than indicated in the figures. This was reflected in the way that the figures were collated, the JRIU Manager reported that currently the number of registered beds were counted rather than the number of beds actually available for use within the homes and this was an area which needed addressing.

The JRIU staff were congratulated on the hard work they had undertaken in preparation for the transfer of function to the NCSC and it was hoped that the positive work between the JRIU and homes would be continued with the NCSC.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

                                                                                                                     CHAIRMAN