Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee update
The Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee for Wirral Council met at Wallasey Town Hall on Tuesday 4 March 2025.
The full agenda for this committee meeting is available on the council website - the meeting was also live webcast and can be watched back online via the link on the agenda.
Items on the agenda included:
Update on Domestic Abuse Strategy
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report provided the Adult Social Care and Public Health committee with an update on the 5-year partnership strategy, Domestic Abuse – No Excuse, launched in November 2020.
It covers a current position and next steps on how partners are reviewing progress so far; understanding the current need; and co-producing Wirral’s next partnership strategy.
The partnership is seeking to build upon the work done and experience gained over the last four and half years to launch the next strategy in October 2025.
Members noted the report and agreed to receive a further update in June 2025.
Wirral Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board Update Report
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report will provide an update to the Committee on the work of the Wirral Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board (WSAPB), highlighting the role it has to play in working across multiple agencies to keep people safe from abuse and harm.
In agreement with the Chair, this item has been deferred to June’s committee.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG) and Wirral Drugs Strategy
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report delivered an update on grant funding received by Wirral Council from central government to tackle drug-related harms each year since 2021/22 - as part of the government’s national drugs strategy (2021).
The report discusses how the funding has been used and also the progress that has been made in this area. It also sets out the continued funding due to be received in 2025/26, that has been made available to support the drug and alcohol treatment and recovery agenda through the introduction of a single Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG).
Members noted the report and approved plans for how the continued funding should be used in line with the Wirral Drugs Strategy 2023/2027.
Outcome of Annual Rates and Fees Engagement
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report describes the outcome of the annual engagement exercise with the Local Community Care Market for fee rates to be paid to care providers for 2025/2026. The service areas that the rates and fees cover are Residential and Nursing Care, Supported Living, Extra Care, Care and Support at Home, Direct Payments, Shared Lives and Specialist residential placements.
Members approved the rates set out in the report. They also supported the move to ‘one fee rate’ for the Community Care Market given the high percentage of providers paying the Real Living Wage (RLW) and to pay providers who pay the National Living Wage by exception.
2024/25 Budget Monitoring for Quarter Three
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report sets out the financial monitoring information for the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee as at Quarter 3 (31 December) of 2024/25. The report provides members with an overview of budget performance, including progress on the delivery of the 2024/25 saving programme and a summary of reserves and balances.
At the end of Quarter 3, there is a forecast adverse position of £7.810m on the revenue budget of Children, Families and Education revised net revenue budget of £143.105m. Members noted the contents of the report and discussed the need to continue to identify all available options to address the position.
Adult Social Care and Public Health Performance Report
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report provides a performance report in relation to Adult Social Care and Public Health. Monitoring the performance of Adult Health and Care services and those of partners supports implementation of the Council Plan: Wirral Working Together 2023-27, specifically Theme 3 to promote independence and healthier lives. Members acknowledged the contents of the report.
Council Plan Performance Report Quarter 3 2024-25 Theme: Promoting Independence and Healthier Lives
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report provides a quarterly performance report in relation to the Council Plan: Wirral Working Together 2023-27. This report updates on the theme: promoting independence and healthier lives. The report provides an update on measures that have changed in the Quarter 3 period, October to December 2024. The committee noted the report.
Public Health Annual Report 2024/2025
Full details can be found in the committee report
The Public Health Annual Report (PHAR) is an independent report of the Director of Public Health that highlights key health and wellbeing challenges facing local communities. This year, the Annual Public Health Report focuses on the important public health issue of addiction in Wirral, including substance use (smoking, drugs and alcohol) and gambling. It is entitled: ‘From Darkness to Light, from Harm to Hope - Journeys of Addiction’. This report is a statutory requirement.
Members reviewed and endorsed the report and agreed to support the ongoing work to address addiction support across the borough.
Adult Social Care - Annual Complaints Report 2023/2024
Full details can be found in the committee report
It is a statutory requirement for the Council to produce an Annual Report about complaints made by, or on behalf of, people who receive support or services from Adult Social Care.
The Annual Report also provides a mechanism by which the Council can monitor the quality and effectiveness of services. This report provides an overview and analysis of all complaints received during the reporting period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
Members reviewed and acknowledged the report.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Update Report
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report provides an update following the Care Quality Commission (CQC) three-day onsite assessment of Wirral Council on 16 September 2024. During the visit, CQC conducted interviews with Elected Members, the Senior Leadership Team, frontline staff and teams, alongside statutory partners, key stakeholders, and people who access services and carers.
Following the inspection, the CQC’s report and rating decision was published by the CQC in January 2025, stating that the quality statement scores awarded to Wirral Council were: Requires Improvement.
Members considered the contents of the report and endorsed the ongoing improvement plan, outlined within the report. The committee will continue to support the Director of Adults, Health and Strategic Commissioning to achieve completion of the improvements required, as set out in the report.
Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee Work Programme Update
Full details can be found in the committee report
The Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee, in conjunction with the other Policy and Service Committees, is responsible for proposing and delivering an annual committee work programme.
This work programme should align with the corporate priorities of the Council and the delivery of the key decisions which are within the remit of the committee. This report provides the committee with an opportunity to plan and regularly review its work across the municipal year
Members discussed the proposed Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee work programme for the remainder of the 2025/26 municipal year.
