Meeting Summary
Introductions and Overview:
- A new attendee joined the meeting for the first time in their role as Care Home Manager.
- An overview of the group’s purpose and involvement work was provided, including how insights from Age UK Devon’s quarterly report feed into broader reports. Escalation of issues is handled by the Involvement Team.
Discussion Highlights:
- Care Direct Plus (CDP): Concerns were raised about the effectiveness of the CDP system, with feedback indicating that people are not receiving adequate support. A Mystery Shopping exercise is ongoing to assess the user experience.
- Pinpoint Platform: A recent update to the Pinpoint platform was mentioned, including a refreshed landing page with improved links. However, Age UK Devon noted they were not informed of these changes, highlighting a communication gap. A new contact person for Pinpoint was identified.
- Care Homes Fees and Choice Policy: Work is underway on a new policy to support individuals choosing Care Homes. Age UK Devon expressed interest in contributing to this initiative.
- Engagement with Service Users: There was discussion about the types of individuals Age UK Devon engages with, noting a mix of digitally excluded individuals and more capable groups. Broader engagement is needed to understand what people want from Care Homes.
- Diverse Backgrounds and Insights: It was suggested that insights from the Carers Statutory Survey be reviewed. There was also a request for regular updates on issues raised by older people, especially those from diverse backgrounds.
Agreed Actions:
- Invite an Operations staff member to the next Steering Group meeting.
- Schedule meetings between Age UK Devon, relevant commissioning officers, and the Involvement Team to discuss Pinpoint and other topics.
- Invite the Care Home Manager to future JEF meetings.
- Age UK Devon to:
- Send regular email updates listing helpline issues.
- Include data on older people from diverse backgrounds in future reports.
- Support development of the new Care Homes choice policy.