Agenda Item No. 8
THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL
CABINET MEETING: 21 December 2006
REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
SOCIAL SERVICES ISSUES
Purpose of Report
1. To advise
members of progress made following consideration by Cabinet of a
previous report on 29th November 2006.
Background
2.
Cabinet on the 22nd November accepted the
recommendations of the Audit Committee and also instructed the
Chief Executive to undertake the following.
· deliver by Christmas a
revised Plan with clear financial targets linked to a coherent
vision and strategy for delivering sustainable social services in
the Vale having regard to budget requirements.
· conduct a full review
of how services are configured and delivered in the Directorate in
line with the recommendations from Scrutiny Committee (Community
Wellbeing and Safety).
· identify the underlying
reasons for the overspend and recommend appropriate action.
3. Cabinet on the 29th November
received a progress report and requested that a further report be
submitted on 13th December. This has not proved
possible – hence the report to this meeting.
Relevant Issues and Options
4. Cabinet were previously advised that the
review of Social Services would involve the following:
· A
financial analysis of all social care services wherein needs,
demand and staffing implications were taken into account in
forecasting the revenue and capital implications of providing
essential care services.
· An
analysis of the current position and previous trends to measure the
impact of reductions in expenditure against risk and performance of
statutory duties.
·
The unit costs of current services, and predicted delivery costs
would be taken in account in developing new outline commissioning
strategies. They would also be used to forecast budget and service
performance targets for 3 years ahead.
·
The options for changing the delivery of essential services within
existing eligibility criteria and policy were to be examined.
The review would evaluate options in terms of speed of delivery and
lower unit costs and consider alternative models of service
delivery to those currently being used, and the capacity within the
Council to implement any changes considered.
·
All operational, team, commissioning, finance, HR, and other
relevant managers would be involved in a series of focused reviews
of each care group facilitated by the external adviser to ensure
realistic targets were set within a new strategic framework for
social services.
·
Improvements to the measurement of service activity and financial
monitoring were being developed to ensure that all targets were
performance managed and reported in a transparent manner.
·
Applying OneVale Business Process Re-engineering (BPR)
methodologies to review current practices with a view to improving
efficiency and productivity.
5. Work on the draft vision and strategy
for Social Services is nearing completion and will be issued as
supplementary information early next week. The Vision and
Strategy will reflect the following:
·
Promoting client independence and choice as far as possible whilst
ensuring the Council met its basic statutory obligations.
·
Reducing reliance on expensive specialist services and maximising
the opportunities for clients to access less costly mainstream
services.
·
Flexible commissioning of services from whichever providers can
demonstrate value for money, including the Voluntary Sector.
A questionnaire would be sent to all voluntary organisations
delivering social and care services in the Vale. The results
will inform the analysis of commissioning options previously
requested by Cabinet.
· A
focus on productivity and better performance and risk management to
ensure that available resources were being used to best effect.
·
Improved project management based on clear officer accountability
and responsibility to deliver projects to deadline and budget in
accordance with well constructed original business cases.
6. A draft
outline Change Plan will be finalised and issued as
supplementary information early next week.
Resource Implications (Financial and
Employment)
7. The Chief Executive is of the
view that the Cabinet’s instructions are his top priority and
currently is identifying resources from across the Council and
externally to support him. He will be working closely with
the Corporate Management Team. He will also be maintaining
regular dialogue with service managers, staff and trade unions
8. Outline financial targets
for social services will need to be set to produce a balanced
budget. Options to achieve this will be produced early in the
New Year.
Legal Implications (to include Human Rights
Implications)
9. Any actions
proposed must have full regard to the Council’s statutory
obligations towards its clients.
Crime and Disorder Implications
10. None directly arising from
this report although any changes to policies will need to pay full
regard to these issues.
Equal Opportunities Implications (to
include Welsh Language Issues)
12. None directly arising from
this report although any changes to policies will need to pay full
regard to equality issues.
Corporate/Service Objectives
13. Social Services is the
Council’s largest directly managed service and it is essential that
it operates effectively within its allocated resources.
Policy Framework and Budget
14. This report is a matter
of Executive Decision by Cabinet.
Consultation (Including Ward Member
Consultation)
15. None directly
Appropriate Scrutiny Committee
Corporate Resources, Community Wellbeing and
Safety.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Reasons for recommendations
To apprise members.
Background Papers
Cabinet and Scrutiny Committee Reports
Contact Officer –
John Maitland Evans, Chief Executive
01446 709303
Officers Consulted – Corporate Management
Team
John Maitland
Evans
Chief Executive