Document Community Services Quarter 3 2023/24 KPI Report

The Committee reviewed the Service Area Plan progress report and key performance indicators up to the end of Quarter 3 2023/24.

Members noted that as with other plans, a RAG system had been applied to easily identify current performance against targets.  Officers reminded the Committee that not all KPIs were set targets at the start of the financial year, and that these KPIs were recorded and reported to show breadth of activity within the business unit.  For example, Community Safety and Safer Runnymede.

The Committee was advised that the following were areas of improvement from Quarter 2 to Quarter 3, where a concern had previously been identified.  Officers highlighted positive moves at Chertsey Museum, Meals at Home and Social Prescribing.

[After the meeting it was confirmed that the lift at Chertsey Museum was fully functional again]

Officers reported that Social Prescribing operated at full capacity, however, the ability to accept referrals was in part impacted by the increasing complexity of cases and therefore the time taken to provide support to residents.  Officers were asked to facilitate a mechanism to include a representative from Social Prescribing in East Berkshire on the Homesafe+ platform to be more inclusive for residents in Englefield Green.  Officers also stated that some well-being activation measures were being looked at for Social Prescribing.

With regard to Homesafe Plus specific referrals regarding RBC were positive and generating an uptake in both free at point of access and paid for services of approximately 60%.  However, it was agreed that changes to arrangements relating to employment of staff involved, the positions of boroughs in delivering services could be a reason for the overall reduction.

With reference to the Home Improvement Agency referrals number, Officers confirmed that the difference against the target was 1 referral, which given the Christmas period alone, could account for this.  However, Members were reassured that there were some positive outcomes being reached through grant applications that would be shared in a future information report to the Committee to include some interesting case studies. 

Officers had agreed to monitor usage of the Eileen Tozer Day Centre and explore further initiatives for further promotional activity.  The number of visitors was also being monitored to assess if there was any unmet need or if lower returning numbers was to be expected.  Officers commented on the tireless efforts of the small team running this service.

In noting the report the museum at Egham were congratulated for a recent Lottery Fund award which would help augment their staffing arrangements with a new part time curator.

Thanks were extended to all staff in the Community Services Business Unit for their continued efforts, commitment and dedication to the services provided.