Venue: Committee Rooms A/B - Neath Civic Centre. View directions
Contact: Stacy Curran 01639 763194 Email: s.curran@npt.gov.uk
No. | Item | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Declarations of Interest Minutes: The
following members made a declarations of interest at the start of the meeting:
|
|||||
Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 78 KB Minutes: That
the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 17 October 2019 be approved. |
|||||
Additional documents:
Minutes: The
committee received information on the Adult and Children and Young People
Services High Level Measure Data for the second quarter period. (April 2019 –
September 2019) as detailed in the circulated report. In
answer to Members queries the following explanations were received. The
numbers of vacancies identified in the report included social workers,
assistants and support staff, the figure did not just relate to Social Workers. In future, reports would contain more detail
of each service. Additional
Social Worker and Occupational Therapist vacancies were has a result of
additional temporary funding being received so additional posts were recruited
on a temporary basis. Also, vacancies
within the Occupational Therapy Service could impact on the waiting times for
assessment. The
85%(11/13) of the cases audited the supervisee had attended training during the
last three supervision sessions was as a result of the supervision session targeting
the individual needs of the officer. As
a result of some difficulty accessing staff supervision files within Hillside
Secure Centre new lockers had been purchased to ensure this would not happen
again and the audit of these files would be repeated. Following
scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted. |
|||||
Pre-Decision Scrutiny To
select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision
Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports included for Scrutiny Members) Minutes: The
committee chose to scrutinise the following cabinet board items: Remodelling
and Relocation of Complex Needs Day Services The
committee received an overview of the proposal to remodel and relocate the
current Complex Needs Day Services based at Abbeyview,
Brynamlwg and Trem Y Mor as detailed in the circulated
report. Members
were reassured that the proposal was not a cost cutting exercise as the costs were
neutral. It was to strengthen the
current provision. Concern
was expressed by members on the additional time service users would spend
travelling to the new premises. It was
explained that in liaison with our transport colleagues no additional time
would be spent on buses. If necessary
the pickup routes would be reconfigured to ensure this. Each bus where necessary would have less pick
up routes. A report containing a
breakdown of times and locations would be brought for members consideration to
a future meeting. Consideration
would be given to assisting service users with Autistic Spectrum Disorder to
cope with the changes that this proposal would bring. Friendship between service users, which was
previously raised by parents during the consultation would also form part of
the planning. Officers
confirmed that there would be additional costs incurred due to training staff
as agency staff would have to cover those staff being trained. Discussions were on-going with care
providers. Discussion
took place on the process for supporting family and parents who were unhappy
with the proposal. Officers explained
that meetings had taken place on an individual basis to mitigate any issues and
assist people to understand why the changes had been put in place. It was also recognised that change could be
difficult for many people. Also, when
reflecting on the consultation any lessons learnt from that process would be
used to inform future consultations. Following
scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
cabinet board. Direct
Payments Policy At
this point Councillor C. Galsworthy re-affirmed her interest in this item and left
the meeting. Members
received information on the Direct Payments Policy as detailed in the
circulated report. In
answer to members queries, the Direct Payments Policy
was not subject to external consultation because it was an explanation of the
Direct Payments system, rather than being a policy which sets out and explains
the approach that the Council had chosen to adopt within a legal
framework. An Integrated Impact Assessment
was undertaken as part of the council discharging its legislative duties under
the Equality Act 2010, the Welsh Language Standards (No.1) Regulations 2015 and
the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. In addition, members asked why there was no impact on the valleys. There were a number of cases where service users could not recruit to personal assistant roles. Officers explained that this section of the report referred to the legislative duties under the relevant equality acts. Also, no person would be forced to use direct payments. If there was no availability of personal assistants, then the council would provide the service based ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
|||||
Access to Meetings 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. Minutes:
|
|||||
Update on the Autism Spectrum Disorder / Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ASD/NDD) Strategic Plan Minutes: The
committee received an update on the progress and development of the Autism
Spectrum Disorder/ Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ASD/NDD) Strategic Plan as
detailed in the private circulated report. Discussion
took place on the support provided to people with ASD/NDD. Where necessary the service was brought to
the service users. For instance, job
centre staff visited the client if it was difficult for that client to attend
the job centres. In
answer to Members queries the funding was provided by the Integrated Care Fund
which was led by Swansea Bay Health Board so there was no financial impacts to
the council. Concern
was expressed at the lack of data on waiting lists for diagnoses and how many
people accepted support after diagnoses. Discussion
took place on the importance of Social Services, Health and Housing and
Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Directorates working together to ensure
there was consistency of approach. Further discussion took place on the need to
involve other agencies who were also providing services to support
ASD/NDD. The Head of Children and Young
People Services was asked to identify all agencies responsible for ASD/NDD
services and for the Chairperson of this committee to write letter addressing
the need for all agencies to work together. In
addition members asked that consideration be given to holding joint scrutiny
meetings with Education, Skills and Culture on cross cutting topics such as the
Autism Strategic Plan. The Scrutiny
Officer was asked to alert the committee of any reports relating to ASD/NDD
being considered by Education, Skills and Culture Cabinet Board. Members
asked that their appreciation be cascaded to all staff involved in the ASD/NDD
services for all their hard work and commitment to providing an excellent
service. Following,
scrutiny the report be noted. |
|||||
Pre-Decision Scrutiny of Private Item/s To
select appropriate private items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision
Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members) Minutes: The
committee chose to scrutinise the following private cabinet board items: The
Manager’s Report on Hillside Secure Children’s Home Members
received information on the young people, information on staff, service
planning and development for the period 1 June
– 31 October 2019 (5 months) as detailed in the circulated report. Following
scrutiny, the report be noted. Regulation
and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 RISCA 2016 An
overview was received on the Regulated Service (Service Providers and
Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017 report in regard to Hillside
Secure Centre, as detailed in the private circulated report. Following
scrutiny, the report be noted. |