Agenda and minutes

·         30 January 2020

·         12 March 2020

·         21 July 2020

Minutes of the following previous meetings of the Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, were approved:

·        30 January 2020

·        12 March 2020

·        21 July 2020

Members received a presentation from the Director of Social Care, Health and Housing in relation to the Impact Covid-19 has had on Care homes, Domiciliary Care Services, Delayed Transfer of Care, Respite/Day Services and Homelessness.

Members were provided with an update on the impact that Covid-19 has had since the pandemic was announced. It was highlighted that Social Services is ultimate responsibility for supporting venerable individuals within the community. It was noted that Covid-19 has made this very challenging for Social Services, making officers take difficult decisions and balancing resources.

Discussions took place around the pandemic as a whole, having updates from March 2020 and the emergency crisis planning procedures that were put in place for the first surge of the virus. Officers then discussed the decrease in positive cases of the Covid-19 virus as we entered the summer months. As officers were planning to enter a recovery stage, figures started to increase as we entered autumn, when the fire breaker was announced. During that time cases did decrease, however, rapidly increased as we entered the winter months.

It was noted that robust governance arrangements had been put in place, ensuring that cabinet members and the Scrutiny Chair and Vice Chair were continually updated on the process during the pandemic.

It was noted that an overview report based on lessons learned was produced, which is available to the puclic and the committee. Detailing lessons learned on preventing Covid-19 for infecting care homes.

Members were informed that during the second surge of Covid-19 there had been an increase in responsibilities to the Council, such as, delivering testing and vaccination roll out.

Members were highlighted with the pressures on families as they had cared for vulnerable family members during the outbreak and the need for respite, which is currently being utilised as a very last resort service.

Members were made aware that Residential and Nursing care were running at a low capacity rate. As 20 out of 24 homes were currently in lockdown, only allowing 4 homes to be available for new residents.

Discussions around agency staff were highlighted to members, due to the lack of resources.

It was highlighted that the remodelling of Adult Services was still in the process and being pursued.

Domicilary calls were discussed and members were informed that domicilary calls had been RAG rated in readiness for problematic times.

The Committee commended the work of the Social Care Service and the efforts that they had conducted in ensuring the community was provided with the utmost care during these unprecedented times.

Members commended the recent news of the release of the Covid-19 Vaccine and therefore queried the timeline of when the vaccine would be available to Neath Port Talbot specifically to the priority of Care Staff. Officers, highlighted that Care Homes Residents and staff are at the top of the list, however, discussions were taking place on the logistics of administrating these vaccines as they are difficult factors to consider such as, the vaccine being kept at a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

The update for Respite/Day Services is contained within minute number two above.

Members received a verbal update on the effects that Covid-19 has had on homelessness within Neath Port Talbot.

It was noted that Welsh government had instructed that all rough sleepers be provided with accommodation, ensuring that nobody was rough sleeping during these unpresented times. It was also noted Welsh Government had removed ‘priority need’, resulting in an increase in housing applications. There was also additional pressures to the Homeless team as it was highlighted that 2 accommodation centres that are currently being utilised will need to be evacuated by the end of March 2021, resulting in a number of individuals potentially being homeless. Officer’s reassured members that they were considering numerous options to ensure alternative accommodation would be available.

Members asked whether risk assessments are completed for young people who are temporarily homeless due to complications at their residence. Officers reassured members that they would take all necessary protocols to ensure anyone who is temporarily homeless, to either resolve the issue at their usual residence or offered alternative accommodation.

Members discussed the timelines of when the recent change of regulations around homelessness would return back to its original guidelines. Officers confirmed that the new guidelines would continue for a while longer. **

The Scrutiny Committee along with the Cabinet Members commended the work of the Homelessness Team.

The Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Forward Work Programme was noted.

It was mentioned that the Cabinet Forward Work Programme would be a standing item on the agenda, to allow scrutiny to pick areas that fall within the Social Care remit that require scrutiny.

Any urgent items (whether public or exempt) at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Because of the need to deal now with the matters contained in Minute No. 8 below, the Chairperson agreed that these could be raised at today’ s meeting as urgent items pursuant to Statutory Instrument No.2290 (as amended).

Reason for Urgency:

Due to the time element.

Access to Meetings to resolve to exclude the public for the following item(s) pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

Members were provided with an update on the quarterly visits to Hillside Secure Centre by the Responsible Individual to meet the requirements of the regulated services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals)(Wales) regulations 2017, as detailed in the private circulated report.

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

Members were provide with an update on the young people, staff, service planning and development for the period 1st January 2020 – 31st October 2020 (10 months), as detailed within the private circulated report. It was noted that the time period of the report had been extended due to restrictions around the COVID 19 pandemic and reporting to committee.

Following Scrutiny the report was noted.