Minutes:
The
Committee scrutinised the following matters:
Cabinet
Board Proposals
2.1
Redesign of Management Arrangements
Members
considered a report that sought support in principle for the proposed redesign of
management arrangements within the Social Services, Health and Housing
Directorate.
Officers
advised that since the report was published there had been discussions that had
resulted in the need to remove the post of head of Adult Services from the Departmental
Structure if the proposals were accepted.
Members
were advised that this was not a further restructuring but something far more
important and it was hoped would be in place by the end of the calendar year.
Officers further advised that the approach was on an asset based approach and
this would be the subject of an All Member seminar in the future.
Members
asked for assurances that there will be systems in place that ensure the
appointed Head of Service can manage all services under their remit. Officers
stated that this proposal was a two way split with one Head of Service
responsible for the professional side and the other responsible for the support
side.
Officers
continued that this was an opportunity to consolidate the business support
services because it was currently spread too thinly across the directorate.
Members
raised concern in relation to the risk associated with the proposals and
officers confirmed that the proposals will ensure that there will be sufficient
time for officers to carry out all the required work. Officers stated that
there would not be any future reports that would request cutting staff numbers
nor increasing workloads.
Members
asked whether the Council has looked at best practice elsewhere when developing
proposals. Officers confirmed that the Council regularly looks for best
practice and the Local Area Committee model had been taken from an initiative
in Australia.
Members
asked whether the proposals have been fully costed. Officers stated that they
have and there are sufficient funds in place even if there was an unprecedented
increase in demand for services.
Following
scrutiny the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by the
Cabinet Board.
2.2
CSSIW Performance Review of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council Social
Services
Members
considered the report that was the assessment by the Care and Social Services
Inspectorate Wales of the Council’s Social Services Functions.
Members
were advised that the Senior Management Team of the Department met twice yearly
with inspectors to discuss policies, procedures and processes within Social
Services.
Members
asked what inspections the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales had undertaken
in the past year. Officers stated that the inspectorate generally undertook
thematic inspections across Wales. Specific inspections were generally
undertaken within individuals Councils when the need arose.
Members
asked for clarity in relation to the statement contained within the assessment
about Local Assembly Members opposition against some of the proposed changes.
Officers stated that this was generally with regards suggestions of setting up
social enterprises and that this was incorrectly seen as outsourcing.
Following
scrutiny the report was noted.
2.3
Development of a Pilot Transition Team between Children and Adult Services
Members
considered a report that sought Members approval to establish a pilot
transition team for individuals moving from children’s services to adult
services.
Officers
advised that a steering group would be established to monitor the pilot and any
issues will be addressed going forward.
Members
were told that the pilot team would be responsible for establishing protocols
that would become the norm if the pilot was successful and the service is
embedded.
Members
asked what the potential challenges were and it was confirmed that the focus
will be for young people with complex care needs requiring support into
adulthood to include those young people with substance misuse problems,
emerging mental health difficulties and self harm.
Members
requested clarity on why the pilot would run for 5 months and officers stated
that this was due to bureaucracy and anything over this limit becomes a
permanent change, if the pilot is successful or needs to be extended further
update reports and project proposals will be presented to the Committee for consideration.
Further
clarity was requested in relation to staff resources in the pilot and officers
stated that there would be 2 social workers from adult services and children’s
services and this was deemed sufficient for the pilot.
Following
scrutiny the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by the
Cabinet Board.
2.4
Monitoring the performance and progress of the Western Bay Regional Adoption
Service
Members
considered a report that contained information on the performance of the
Regional Adoption Service.
Members
were pleased to note that this initiative has reduced the amount of time before
a looked after child becomes adopted but officers stated that there is need for
further improvements. Officers continued that this was an issue across Wales
and not just a problem for the Western Bay Region.
Members
raised concerns in relation to the way the report was written and that it
included too many acronyms throughout. It was agreed that in the future
Democratic Services Officers would ensure that any acronyms would be contained
within a document that would accompany the relevant report.
Clarity
was sought on how the service reaches out to prospective adoptive parents and
it was confirmed that the advertising was via the use of the website, general
publicity such as poster campaigns and advertising at events but it should also
be noted that advertising for adopters differs from advertising for fostering
as applicant’s motivation is different.
.
Members
asked what were the delays in relation to placing children
for adoption and officers stated that on occasions it was out of the
services control and as a result of medical delays.
Following
scrutiny the report was noted.
2.5
Quarterly Performance Management Data 2016/2017 – Quarter Four Performance Data
Members
considered the end of year performance monitoring report for 2016/2017.
Members
asked why there was no all wales comparative data for performance in relation
to homelessness. Officers stated that this was because the information was not
yet available from Welsh Government.
Members
questioned the unprecedented change in complaints and officers stated that this
was because of the proposed service changes that had been consulted on i.e.
changes to home care service and changes to day opportunities.
Following
scrutiny the report was noted.
2.6
Children and Young People Services – 4th Quarter Performance report.
Members
considered the end of year performance monitoring report for 2016/2017.
Members
asked why only 66% of cases had been consulted through the Section 47 process.
Officers stated that a high number of cases were seen at the initial stage and
that this snapshot figure did not mean that individuals had not been consulted.
Following
scrutiny the report was noted.