Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Panel made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.3.

The Committee noted the apologies of Councillor McEwing. 

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 24^th September 2015 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 24^th September 2015 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services noting the feedback from a visit to a dementia café, supporting an application to being recognised as a dementia friendly community and the appointment of an organisation to oversee the process of making Southampton dementia friendly, attached. 

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services detailing consultation feedback from the first meeting of the Inquiry, noting the following amendment to Appendix 1, gaps in the system, first bullet point to read:

·  Perception of a lack of support for the carers of people with dementia whose partners present with reactions to stress with aggressive behaviour.

RESOLVED:

(i)  To note the feedback received from the visit to Medwall Court on 6^th October and ensure that this information is taken into consideration during discussions with invited guests throughout the inquiry.

(ii)  To support the submission of an application now to be recognised as working towards becoming a dementia friendly community.

(iii)  To support the commencement of a procurement process, overseen by the Integrated Commissioning Unit (ICU), to appoint an organisation to oversee the process of making Southampton dementia friendly.

Report of the Director of Quality and Integration to develop an understanding and identify best practice in challenging stigma, acknowledging potential and engagement in community life, attached. 

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Quality and Integration written to develop an understanding and identify best practice in challenging stigma, acknowledging potential and engagement in community life.

Following discussions with external partners the Panel concluded that:

·  Dementia Friends can make a significant difference to reducing stigma and increasing engagement in community life.  More Dementia Friends are needed in Southampton.

·  Opportunities exist to increase awareness in the Council by making Dementia Friends sessions compulsory for all customer facing employees and including it in Council inductions. 

·  Activity and awareness is growing in Southampton.  Co-operation and co-ordination is essential to maximise opportunities and effectiveness to support people with dementia and their carers.  A Dementia Action Alliance would help this process.

·  Need to improve referral routes into social activities. 

·  Explore funding opportunities from the Arts Council.

RESOLVED that the comments made by Public Health England and South East, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Solent NHS Trust Admiral Nurses, South Hampshire Alzheimer’s Society and the Arts Council be noted and used as evidence in the review.