Venue: Multi-Location Meeting - Council Chamber, Port Talbot & Microsoft Teams. View directions
Contact: Pamela Chivers Email: p.chivers@npt.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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Chair's Announcements Decision: The
Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Minutes: The
Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. |
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Declarations of Interest Decision: There
were no Declarations of Interest. Minutes: There
were no Declarations of Interest. |
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To consider items from the Cabinet FWP No
Cabinet Forward Work Programme items to be considered. Decision: There
were no Cabinet Forward Work Programme items for consideration. Minutes: There
were no Cabinet Forward Work Programme items for consideration. |
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To consider items from the Scrutiny Committee Work Programme Minutes: Members
considered items from the Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme. |
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West Glamorgan Regional Partnership Board Decision: Following
scrutiny, the report was noted. Minutes: The
West Glamorgan Regional Transformation Programme Director presented the work of
the West Glamorgan Regional Partnership Board; membership of the board includes
Neath Port Talbot and Swansea Councils, Swansea Bay University Health Board,
and third sector partners. Formed in 2016 under the Social Services and
Well-being Act Part 9 guidance, the Western Bay Regional Partnership Board
initially included Bridgend Council. However, following health board boundary
changes in 2019, the region was renamed West Glamorgan. New
governance arrangements were established in 2019, with Directors and Service
Heads collaborating on future operations. Annually, a five-year area plan is
developed based on the population needs assessment which is conducted every
five years. One year after the assessment, a strategic area plan addressing
regional priorities and population-specific issues is created. The current area
and action plan, approved on January 25, 2023, covers 2023 to 2027. The
Partnership Board reports to the local Cabinet of the health board and local
authorities, any changes to service delivery is
presented to these local cabinets. The board has a diverse membership and
continues to expand as mandated by Welsh Government, with additional co-opted
members as needed. There
are three steering advisory boards, each with distinct programmes: 1.Steering
and Advisory Board 1 • Communities
and Older Persons Programme Board: aims to reduce hospital discharge delays and
prevent escalation into managed care services. • Carers
Partnership: Supports unpaid carers with a collaboratively developed strategy
and priority work plan. • Dementia
Programme: Engages the community, including a listening campaign in Baglan, to
inform a strategy for West Glamorgan. 2.Steering
and Advisory Board 2 • Well-being
and Learning Disability Programme Board: collaborates with individuals with
disabilities to develop a Well-Being Strategy. • Mental
Health and Well-being Board: Focuses on preventing emotional well-being issues
and enabling people to stay well at home. • Regional
Commissioning Programme: Assesses market stability reports and the capacity of
managed care services, including residential placements for older adults. This
new programme is currently defining its terms of reference and priorities. 3.
Steering and Advisory Board 3 • Children
and Young People Programme Board: Supports children with complex needs to
remain at home and avoid escalation into care. • Neurodiverse
Programme: Develops a strategy to support individuals with neurodiversity,
aiming to reduce waiting lists and unnecessary diagnoses, and to help people to
live their best lives in the community. This initiative involves extensive
co-production and communication efforts. Further
details on these strategies will be available once finalised. There
are several supporting programmes underpinned by a large capital programme,
which facilitates other initiatives. Currently, the digital and data
transformation initiative is on hold due to the Welsh Government's new
Connecting Care programme. Additionally, Mosaic has been launched in Neath Port
Talbot and will be adopted across the region, allowing for more effective data
sharing. In
relation to workforce initiatives, significant work is underway under the
Social Care Workforce Development Programme (SCWDP), collaboration is ongoing
with the training department to ensure the SCWDP programme's workforce
connections support the regional projects. |
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Update on Social Services Transformation Programmes Additional documents:
Decision: Following
scrutiny, the report was noted. Minutes: The
Director of Social Services, Health and Housing, advised members that it was
important that they were aware of the current status of the directorate’s
transformation programmes. The programmes are key in transforming services to
be fit for purpose in the future Children
and Young People Services The
Head of Children and Young People Services and officers provided a presentation
of the transformation projects, as contained within the agenda pack. Members
commented that some parents whose children have moved into care or supported
living facilities can suffer with anxiety, but when carers are engaged in
communities there can be positive outcomes for all parties. Members enquired
whether officers had any views on this and whether going forward the local
authority needed any additional provisions in this field? The
Head of Children and Young People Services confirmed that simple changes can
have an impact. Good social work is vital, by retaining lighter touches, issues
can be identified quickly and often prevents further escalation. Officers
advised members that the Participation and Engagement Officer runs groups
locally with young people. There is a focus on engagement with children, young
people and their wider families. The support services offered early offers of
help, through to looking for foster carers who can support local children to
live locally. A piece of work is being undertaken in relation to Corporate
Parenting and a Corporate Parenting Charter has been signed with a focus on
what it means for the authority and for partners. Adult
Services The
Head of Adult Services provided a presentation on the transformation projects,
as contained within the agenda pack. The
Chair thanked officers for their work and commented that it was a large piece
of work which affects many residents in the community. The
Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health thanked staff for their
work and the progress made in the transformation programme. Housing
and Communities Officers
provided a presentation of the Housing and Communities transformation projects,
as contained within the agenda pack. The
Chair thanked staff for their work in often challenging circumstances. Members
asked for more information in relation to flipping tenancies. Officers
confirmed that tenancy flipping is a new piece of work in Wales. In Scotland,
post Covid, local authorities flipped people in temporary accommodation into
permanent contracts. In Neath Port Talbot, a measured approach is being taken
towards tenancy flips, the focus is on balancing the need for appropriate
temporary accommodation, especially for families, without depleting secure
housing stock. A simple 7-stage process guide has been drafted to avoid
overcomplication. The aim is to make this a standard procedure and policy in
collaboration with registered social landlords. The process, if used correctly,
is seen as positive and can take up to six months. Members questioned whether mapping information was available in relation to areas where residents want to live. It was noted that residents may prefer to be rehomed in a different area, but this can cause additional issues if people do not settle. Members also enquired ... view the full minutes text for item 4b |
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Performance Monitoring No
Performance Monitoring items for consideration. Decision: There
were no performance monitoring items for consideration. Minutes: There
were no performance monitoring items for consideration. |
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Selections of items for future scrutiny · Cabinet Forward Work
Programme · Scrutiny Committee Forward
Work Programme Additional documents: Decision: Members
noted the Forward Work Programme. Minutes: Officers
advised members of changes that had been made to the Cabinet and Scrutiny
Forward Work Programmes, and members were given the opportunity to select items
for consideration at scrutiny committee. • Safeguarding
Board Annual Plan has been added to the Cabinet Forward Work Programme for 21st
May 2025. • The
Permission to Tender Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence,
Emergency Accommodation has been removed from the Cabinet Forward Work
Programme for the 30th of April and will now be considered by Cabinet in the
new civic year. • With
the agreement of the Chair, The Youth Justice Plan report has been removed from
the scrutiny committee Forward Work Programme and will be considered in the new
civic year. A
Forward Work Programme planning session will be held early in the new civic
year, members will be advised of the date when arranged. Members
noted the Forward Work Programme. |
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Urgent Items Any
urgent items at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section 100BA(6)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). Decision: There
were no urgent items Minutes: There
were no urgent items |