Venue: Microsoft Teams / Hybrid Council Chamber
Contact: Alison Thomas Email: a.thomas6@npt.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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Chair's Announcements Minutes: The
Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. The
Chair advised that the committee would be scrutinising items 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15,
16 and 17 from the Cabinet Board papers. |
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: Declarations
were received from: Cllr
H.C.Clarke – Items 8 and 15 (Cabinet Board) – Personal, Non-Prejudicial. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 221 KB ·
15th December 2022 ·
26th January 2023 Additional documents: Minutes: 15th
December 2022 Page
1 Members
noted that Cllr A.Llewelyn was present not Cllr A. Lockyer. Page
5 – Leasing Scheme Wales, Para. 3 To
insert remove ‘lawn’ and insert ‘loan’. Resolved:
To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 15th December 2022
and 26th January 2023 as a true and accurate record with above
amendments. |
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Adults and Children's Single Point of Contact PDF 410 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Officers provided a presentation to the committee on the
single point of contact (SPOC), which is also the first point of contact for
many referrals that are received by Social Services. Officers noted that the presentation would focus on the single
point of contact in relation to adult services. Prior to outlining the detail
of the services, officers outlined how the referral system currently
works. There is one single phone number
and email address which is used for both children and adult services. Following
on from initial contact, there is an integrated referral form which is used
regionally by partners when referring a case to social services. SPOC will
undertake assessments in order to provide information, advice and assistance to
those who make contact. SPCO operate on a multi-disciplinary team structure.
Officers went through the make-up of the adult SPOC team. Staff numbers have
been increased due to the concerns that were raised last summer around response
rates. The new structure was introduced in summer 2022. It was
recognised that the wider pressures in the adults social care team could be
supported if the rate of referrals could be slowed down by responding to the
needs of persons at the earliest opportunities with the outcomes focused model
of practice. Members were advised that the referred rates into adults
SPOC has steadily increased over the last few years, with certain months being
busier than others. Members were
provided with a breakdown of the referrals over a recent six month period, and
information pertaining to how they were actioned. Officers discussed the journey of the referrals at the point
that they are received by SPOC and the impact of proportionate assessments on
the wider service. Proportionate assessments deal with advice and assistance as
per the Social Services and Well-Being Act. Assessments can also assist in
uncovering some more complex needs that may lead to further assessment within
the system. Members were provided with information relating to call
times, and it was recognised that the number of unanswered calls has decreased.
Contact Officers receive an array of phone calls, relating to various aspects
of adult and children’s social care. Officers are constantly assessing how
contact officers can be best supported. Members raised concerns with regards to staff sickness and
how they could be better understood. In addition, how can assistance be
provided with regards to recruiting new staff. Officers confirmed that staff
sickness was not in relation to stress or anxiety at work, but that it was
mainly due to unpreventable illness that normally occurs. Officers confirmed that they would be reporting on staff
welfare and how this is supported in a report to be presented at a later date. Members queried how customer satisfaction with the service was assessed. Officers confirmed that as a first point resolution only compliments seem to be received. However it was recognised that this does not mean that services users are not disgruntled. Officers noted the work that had previously been done with external consultants being engaged ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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Early Intervention and Prevention Support within Children Services PDF 1 MB Additional documents:
Minutes: Officers presented the information as outlined with the
report circulated with the agenda. Officers noted that they currently offer a hybrid service in
terms of the groups that are run. Support that if offered includes parenting
classes, assistance with accessing grants, applying for benefits families are
entitled to and support around housing issues. Support can be provided where
there is parental mental health issues in the home or domestic violence. Two new programmes have been developed – the Friendship
support and the Aspire Group. Officers outlined the support offered by these
groups. Officers advised that they currently work with schools and
do drop-ins. It is about making the engagement with social services to be seen
as a positive, not a negative engagement. Members were informed of the outreach work that was
currently being undertaken in the community, including working with the Welsh
Rugby Union. Christmas hampers were delivered locally. There are also going to
be Easter hampers delivered. Members thanked officers for the report and noted it for
information. |
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Pre-Decision Scrutiny To
select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision
Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports included for Scrutiny Members) Minutes: West Glamorgan Safeguarding Annual Report Officers provided a brief outline to the report. The West
Glamorgan Safeguarding Board is a regional board. It bring organisations
together to look at safeguard and also brings organisations to account. They do
both children and adult practice reviews. The report outlines the first part of
the safeguarding plan. The prime objective of the Board is to protect children
and adults, and the second objective is to prevent harm in relation to children
and adults. The report sets out the structure of the group and each
organisation involved with take on elements of the work. The board ensures a
consistent approach and response across the region. Members noted that the report outlines a high number of male
overdoses and suspected suicides. Members queried if a reason for this could be
identified. Officers advised that it reflects the trends identified in the 2008
financial crisis. All suicides and significant attempts at suicides are
referred to the service. Data is being gathered, working the Public Health
Wales, to identify the services that the individuals and their families access
and see if anything can be done differently to prevent those suicides. Following scrutiny, members noted the report for
information. Housing Support Grant Annual Report 2022 Officers provided a brief overview to the report circulated.
The grant is the main source of funding for homelessness services, including
the Council’s own Housing Options Team and Community Independence Service. It
also funds a full range of commissioned services, for example domestic violence
refuges. Officers noted that the amount
of funding awarded has been the same for the financial year 21-22, 22-23 ad
23-24. Members were asked to note the pressures on the services with increased demand
and costs over those years. The grant is key to delivering the Rapid Rehousing Plan and
preventing homelessness by offering a range of targeted support to people in
their homes and also building based support services. Officers advised that a
key piece of work will be carried out over the next couple of years to optimise
the grant to ensure that it supports the Rapid Rehousing Plan. Members noted the report.
Quarter 3 Performance Indicators Officers suggested that the scrutiny committee may wish to
focus their attention on indicators that they consider key. Officers could
carry out a piece of work to focus the indicators on what the scrutiny
committee requires. Member queried, in terms of the average delay to delivering
disabled grants, what is the average waiting time for the service user?
Officers confirmed that there has been some substantial delays during the
pandemic due to the demands in the private market with construction works. Generally
shower works have been carried out quite quickly, but the extension work was
taking between 6-9 months. However, it is starting to improve as the private
market slows down. Members queried the partially upheld complaint against a social worker that is outlined in the report and the lessons learned from this. Members queried if the lessons learned were ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Forward Work Programme 2022/23 PDF 434 KB Minutes: Members
noted the Forward Work Programme. |
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Urgent Items 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. Minutes: There
were no urgent items. |
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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: Resolved:
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. |
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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: Contractual Arrangements
for a Range of Services Funded Through the Housing Support Grant 2023/24 Members considered the report
as set out within the documents circulated. Following scrutiny, the
committee noted the report. Extension to the provision
of a Welcome Centre in respect of Ukrainians fleeing the conflict Members considered the report
as set out within the documents circulated. Following
scrutiny, the committee were supportive of the recommnedations
to be considered by Cabinet. |