SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (SOCIAL CARE AND HEALTH)

 

MINUTES of a meeting held on 1st July 2008.

 

Present: Councillor Miss. S.J.C. Williams (Chairman); Councillor Mrs. V.L. Ellis (Vice-Chairman); Councillors Mrs. S.M. Bagstaff, R.J. Bertin, Mrs. M.E.J. Birch, J. Clifford, S.C. Egan, Mrs. M. Kelly Owen, Mrs. A.J. Preston, Mrs. M. Randall and J.W. Thomas.

 

Also present: Councillor Mrs. D.M. Turner (Cabinet Member), Councillor Mrs. V.M. Hartrey and G. John.

 

 

105     MINUTES -

 

RECOMMENDED - T H A T the minutes of the meeting held on 16th June 2008 be approved as a correct record.

 

 

106     DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS -

 

No declarations were received.

 

 

107     REVENUE AND CAPITAL MONITORING FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL 2008 TO 31ST MAY 2008 (DSS) -

 

The report provided the Committee with details of the current position in respect of revenue and capital expenditure for the period 1st April to 31st May 2008.  The forecast for services within the Committee’s remit was for a balanced budget.  However the outcome would be dependant on achieving the proposed budget savings and successfully managing demand for services.  In respect of Children’s Services, the report advised that there was a favourable variance of £137k. on the expenditure to date, which was mainly due to current staff vacancies, a lower than anticipated spend on foster payments and reduced commitments on the placement budget.  However Committee was advised that it was early stages and the budget would be closely monitored. 

 

For Community Care and Health the favourable variance on expenditure compared to the profiled budget of £96k. was attributed to staff vacancies and the resultant savings on running expenses.  Members were again advised that the budget would be closely monitored and any variances reported to future meetings of the Committee.  The Service Strategy Budget was projected to outturn on target.  Appendix 2 to the report detailed the financial progress on the Capital Programme as at 31st May 2008, it being noted that the Welsh Assembly Government had approved a capital grant of £138,000 for the Flying Start Project to ensure that Flying Start accommodation was suitable to deliver effective joint working from one central office.  Cabinet would be requested on 9th July to approve that the 2008/09 Capital Programme be increased by £138,000 as a result of the grant in order that works could commence.  Appendix 3 to the report provided non-financial information on capital schemes.  Members were aware that an arbitration case was pending and the Director of Social Services advised that the Council had currently requested that further information be presented on its behalf to aid the case and the decision of the arbitrator was awaited.   

 

Discussion then took place in respect of a potential review of day services and Committee was advised that this would take place in the near future to assess whether the service was meeting clients’ needs and it would take into account service users’ views.  The Committee was advised that the accommodation at Gardenhurst would not be closed until a suitable alternative could be provided.  In relation to the new telecare provisions, Members were advised that an awareness raising programme had been initiated and there had been a marked increase in telecare requests.  The Welsh Assembly Government had advised that they would wish to see over 200 people provided with such a service and the Council was aiming to achieve this.  Having considered the report, it was

 

RECOMMENDED - T H A T the current position in relation to the Revenue and Capital Monitoring for the period 1st April 2008 to 31st May 2008 be noted.

 

Reason for recommendation

 

To ensure that all Members were aware of the current position.

 

 

108     CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES 2008/09 SERVICE PLAN (DSS) -

 

The Operational Manager for Children and Family Services presented the Children and Young People’s Service Plan to the Committee.  One key issue for the service was in relation to the department considering possible options for developing a charging policy within Children’s Services.  Members were informed that any suggestions would be brought before the Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet in due course.  Members referred to the statement detailed in a number of the actions, “from within existing resources” and whether this would be possible.  The officer advised that in her opinion the Service Plan was quite ambitious but the Department was committed to working with it.  The issue of whether the Corporate Parenting Panel should be revised was also considered and the Director advised that he would seek confirmation that a Children’s Champion at Cabinet level be appointed who would then provide some direction for Corporate Parenting.  Members were pleased to note that expenditure in relation to out of county placements was reducing and the Director advised that, although there would be a need for external providers, clients were being reassessed and more suitable local placements considered.  Members noted the reference to the 9 recommendations on Page 36 of the report and were advised that the 9 recommendations were not in relation to each project, they were for the whole of the service area which had been identified in a recent consultation report.  Having considered the Service Plan, the Scrutiny Committee

 

RECOMMENDED -

 

(1)       T H A T all staff be thanked for the work undertaken and their ongoing commitment to the progress and success of the Service Plan.

 

(2)       T H A T Cabinet be requested to appoint a Cabinet Member to be the Children’s Champion and that further consideration be made to re-establishing the Corporate Parenting Panel.

 

(3)       T H A T, having noted the comments made the following actions detailed in the report be deleted:

 

·          recruitment of vacant posts within budget limits

·          recruit a vacant social work officer post

·          participate in the development of internal partnering arrangements with RSLs and work with external providers

·          renegotiate the current Domestic Abuse Protocol with South Wales Police on a regional basis

·          review and amalgamate the number of offices from which services are delivered.

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

(1)       To ensure that the scrutiny Committee’s thanks are forwarded to staff and recorded.

 

(2&3)  In order that matters can be progressed.

 

 

109     UPDATED SOCIAL SERVICES CHANGE PLAN 2007/2010 (DSS) -

                       

The report informed Members of the progress that had been made in implementing the Change Plan and sought endorsement for any modifications.  The Change Plan was a comprehensive 3 year plan which was designed to achieve fundamental changes in the way in which the Social Services Directorate operated.  The Director of Social Services advised that the Department was entering Year 2 of the Plan and that the joint review follow-up exercise undertaken by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate and the Wales Audit Office had found that real progress was being made with its implementation.  The achievements to date were reported as

 

·          redesigning home care services to help them focus on reablement

·          introducing new developments in telecare services

·          commencing design work for a new extra care facility

·          improving the provision of day services in the Western Vale

·          setting in motion Flying Start

·          reducing dependence on external provision for children looked after with increased

           recruitment of local foster carers.

 

The Director confirmed that the Change Plan would be regularly reported upon and updated and that it was a good opportunity for the Scrutiny Committee to consider how the services were being delivered.  Although the Plan was challenging the Department had made significant inroads and in the future would have to further consider how to reshape its services and consult with service users in relation to that issue.  The Director also alluded to the forthcoming strike that was imminent and reminded Members that the Department would be considering the needs of all its clients in light of the strike. 

 

Bev Noon, Operational Manager for Corporate Policy and Communications, confirmed that there were some delayed actions in the Change Plan and in her opinion some of the target dates set had been overly ambitious.  Although it was a challenging time the quick wins that could have been achieved had been achieved.  Members were pleased to note the progress that had been made and in relation to the Change Plan document itself, raised a number of items as detailed below:

 

·          SB11B: Review out of hours service arrangements - Members questioned how this

           would be established and were advised that the Department needed to improve

           its emergency duty cover services and that following the integration of VCAS the

           intention was the service would have an integrated 24 hour cover service.  Carys

           Lord confirmed that the Department’s contact and information service had been

           transferred to OneVale.  The Department was currently in open dialogue and one

           of the main benefits of amalgamating with OneVale was that there would be more

           staff to deal with referrals.  Further thought had also been considered to OneVale

           taking over requests for telecare services although there would be a significant

           training element in relation to the services provided and the knowledge which was

           required.

 

·          SP24: Undertake a pilot in the use of mobile technology and remote working in

           the fostering team - the action was to assess whether purchases of new

           technology would provide added value and it was reported that the pilot

           suggested had been delayed due to lack of funding.  The idea of the use of new

           technology had been considered to be an efficient use of resources to save on

           duplication but that the initial costs would be substantial.  Reference was also

           made to the Occupational Therapy team, and Members suggested that due to

           the smaller size staffing complement that it would probably not cost as much for

           that service to be considered for a pilot programme.  The Director advised that a

           bid had recently been made to the Welsh Assembly Government to improve some

           aspects of the OT service.

 

RECOMMENDED -

 

(1)       T H A T the staff be thanked for their continued work on the Change Plan and the Scrutiny Committee acknowledges that a number of the actions had already been completed.

 

(2)       T H A T the updated Change Plan be accepted.

 

(3)       T H A T a further update on delayed actions in the Plan be presented to the Scrutiny Committee in November 2008.

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

(1)       In order that Scrutiny Committee’s thanks can be recorded.

 

(2)       To acknowledge the progress made in relation to the Change Plan.

 

(3)       To provide Members with further information.

 

 

110     SCRUTINY COMMITTEE TRACKING OF RECOMMENDATIONS (DLPPHS) -

 

Members were advised of the progress in relation to uncompleted recommendations made by the Scrutiny Committee during the period April 2007 to April 2008 which was attached at Appendix A to the report.  The report was presented as part of a mechanism for effective scrutiny in order to monitor the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations to ensure that desired actions were carried out and where necessary progress was reported back.  Members agreed that the actions detailed in the report as completed be accepted.  However in relation to the Scrutiny review recommendation R (8): The Feasibility of Developing Task and Finish Groups, Members raised the issue of the membership of such groups.  Discussion took place as to who could attend Task and Finish Group meetings and in view of the fact that any Member could attend if they so wished, it was

 

RECOMMENDED -

 

(1)       T H A T Councillor Mrs. M. Randall be invited to attend meetings of the Occupational Therapists Task and Finish Group.

 

(2)       T H A T the following actions detailed as completed in the report be accepted:

 

“21 May 2007

Min. No. 24

Social Services Change Plan 2007-2010 (IDSS)

Recommended that the committee were regularly updated on progress in the Change Plan and that it include details of savings as well as the costs.

Reported to Scrutiny Committee on 22nd October 2007.

Action completed.

10 Dec 2007 Min. No. 605 - Report of the Wales Audit Office Tackling Delayed Transfers of Care (CX)

Recommended

(1)   That the Interim Director for Social Services update the Change Plan to include the recommendations contained within the WAO report and it be submitted to the Committee in January 2008.

(2)   That the areas in the Change Plan which reflect the recommendations be highlighted for Members’ information.

Both completed February 2008.

Action completed.

10 Dec 2007

Min. No. 606 - Second Quarter performance Monitoring: Children and Family Services (IDSS)

Recommended

(1)   That performance indicators that are collated on an annual basis be only reported annually.

Action completed.

16 Apr 2007

Min. No. 1009: Review of Scrutiny Arrangements (CX)

R (10) -   Explore the feasibility of reducing the size of committee membership.

Smaller Scrutiny Committee membership approved at the Annual Meeting on 21st May 2008. 

Action completed.

11 Feb 2008

Min. No. 765 - Progress Report on the Social Services Change Plan 2007-2010 (DSS)

Recommended

(2)   That the SSIW Inspector be invited to attend a meeting of the Scrutiny Committee before the end of the current municipal year.

Inspector attended on 16th June 2008.

Action completed.

14 Apr 2008

Min. No. 973 - Draft Children and Young People’s Plan (DLD)

Recommended

(2)   That Cabinet be requested to make representations to WAG via the WLGA to ensure that adequate resources are made available in order that the requirements of the Plan can be effectively implemented.

Cabinet had accepted the recommendations at its meeting on 23rd April 2008.

Action completed.

14 Apr 2008

Min. No. 980 - Scrutiny Committee - Draft Annual Report May 2007 - April 2008

Recommended

(1)   That the contents of the draft Annual Report for the period May 2007 - April 2008, subject to any further minor amendments being agreed in consultation with the Chairman, be approved and presented to Full Council.

Annual Report agreed at Full Council on 23rd April 2008.

Action completed.”

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

In order to progress the tracking of recommendations.