Agenda and draft minutes

Report of the Director of Social Services, Health and Housing

Cllr S.H.Reynolds:       Consultation on Social Services Budget and Draft Savings 2019/20 – Non statutory services as she is a trustee of Canolfan Maerdy, a supplier of welfare rights advice to local residents.

Cllr H.C.Clarke:            Consultation on Social Services Budget and Draft Savings 2019/20 – Non statutory services as she is employed as a benefits adviser at a third sector organisation.

Members received information on the current Social Care, Health and Wellbeing draft budget consultation exercise as contained within the circulated report.

Members asked for information in relation to Children’s Services (SSHH901) and queried the importance of listening to young and elderly people who wanted to return home. Officers explained that the majority of people wished to return to their homes, however, this was not always the case.

In relation to Hillside (SSHH902), Members asked when the two additional independent skills living pods would be available within the secure estate. Officers explained they could not predict when this would be but assured Members that this could not happen until the staffing structure was sufficient.

In relation to providing for assessed need in the most cost effective way across all of Adult Services (SSHH903), Members asked when need was assessed and were peoples’ finances taken into account. Officers confirmed that finances were taken into account.

Members asked for a report outlining the Council’s statutory duties under Section 6 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, with reference to the person’s particular preferences.

Members asked whether there was a strategy in places in relation to people moving away from their community and friends/relatives. Officers explained they were in the process of developing an in house service by working with partners such as POBL and dementia services. 

Members asked for information on maximising the value for money across respite care service (SSHH904) and queried whether both the client and carer were assessed. Officers confirmed that this was the case.

(SSHH906/907) Members received information from Officers in relation to the restructure of Homecare and noted that this would be in the public domain in January 2019. Officers gave assurances that staffing posts would be secure.

Members asked how many services were involved and the interface between them. Officers explained these were specialised services and that they had a very good working relationship with Domiciliary Care Services.

Members noted that in relation to Non-statutory services (SSHH909), a deletion of five posts within the Welfare Rights Service via Early Retirement/Voluntary Redundancy (ER/VR) was proposed. This would leave a team of seven funded by grant monies.

Members asked how the public would access the service going forward and were advised that the public would be diverted to third sector services and then the Council.

Members asked whether the five posts within the Welfare Rights Unit were Council employees, and were advised that they were, and that they would be transferred through the Management of Change Policy.

Members received information in relation to Building Safe and Resilient Communities, (SSHH910), and commented they were happy with the project.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.