Agenda item
PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY
- Meeting of Social Care Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, Thursday, 17th October, 2019 2.00 pm (Item 3.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 3.
Minutes:
The committee chose to scrutinise the following cabinet board items:
Western Bay Carers Annual Report
The committee received an update on the progress of the implementation
of the Western Bay Carers Partnership Board Action Plan for 2018-19, as
detailed in the circulated report.
Members were pleased that the Annual Report contained case studies which
were very informative. In addition, Members were pleased that information had
been produced in community languages but that consideration should be given to
providing plain English and easy read versions.
The following queries were raised by Members:
·
Has there been any increase in the numbers of
carers’ identifying themselves as carers?
Social Workers continue to try to identify
carers as part of their day to day work and additional awareness raising
campaigns have taken place within Adult Services. Children’s Services developed a training
programme with schools to try to identify and support young carers. 1,600 young people took part in the 1 hour
session and 200 young carers came forward asking for support. In addition, 2 young carers are members of
the Youth Council and are very proactive in bringing issues forward.
·
Were there any plans to engage with the Youth
Clubs?
Transport was a major issue for young carers
to access Youth Clubs. Also, when asked
young carers enjoy being with other carers so they can share their experiences.
These meetings take place on a weekly basis and transport is provided to
facilitate this. Links were also made
with other agencies to ensure that young carers received all the support
needed.
·
Why could the carers’ assessment not be undertaken
at the same time as the service users assessment? This had been identified by some carers as a
preferred option.
Officers explained that feedback received
gave a different view and that the Carers’ Service undertook these on behalf of
the Council. If any carer preferred to have both assessments at the same time
that would be arranged.
·
Why was the funding for the Western Bay Carers
Partnership Action Plan not equally shared between partners.
Officers explained that the criteria for
splitting the funding had been agreed historically when it had been
established. With the new West Glamorgan
Carers Partnership between Neath Port Talbot and Swansea the funding would be
split between the two authorities.
Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.
Western Bay Safeguarding Boards Annual Report 2018/19
Information was received in relation to the Western Bay Safeguarding
Boards Annual Report 2018/19 as detailed in the circulated report.
Members were pleased with the establishment of the Junior Safeguarding Board
in Neath Port Talbot. Similar arrangements were being made in Swansea.
An explanation was received that the number of care settings across the
region would be available in the next West Glamorgan Safeguarding Annual
Report.
Members were concerned that only now a protocol for Children’s Care
Homes and their duties in relation to missing children was being
developed. An explanation was given that
this was a new protocol and was being developed with South Wales Police as a
result of the increasing number of private residential care homes for children
opening in the county borough. No regulations exist to limit the numbers of
these homes which were predominately being used for children from other
authorities. Pressures had been
identified by the Police at the number of call outs being received from these
homes when a child in their care goes missing even though the majority of cases
the homes know where the child has been staying. Work was ongoing looking at the definition of
a child that goes missing to assist the Police.
Confirmation was received that South Wales Police was responsible for
the Police costs incurred when searching for a missing child.
In answer to Members queries, confirmation was received that the Council
had monitoring arrangements in place for children being looked after who go
missing. Barnardos
interview all children after an episode to try to find out the cause for that
child going missing. Only the Police
have data on all the children reported as missing. Out of County children placed in private
residential care homes were still the responsibility of the placing authority.
Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.
Assisted Transport Policy
The committee received information on the outcome of the public
consultation on the Adult Services Assisted Transport Policy as detailed in the
circulated report.
Members asked for legal clarification on the mobility elements of both
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance
(DLA). It was explained that the
regulations require the Council to disregard the mobility elements of both PIP
and DLA when calculating a person’s obligations to contribute towards the cost
of their care and support. They have no
applications when considering what practical transport/mobility resources a
person may already have or be able to access when assessing whether there may
be a need to provide transport to a day service.
Members were reassured that service users would not be expected to find
their own transport if the carer was unable to take them to day centres due to
personal commitments. Transport would
still be provided.
In response to Members queries it was explained that there would be no
impact on valley communities. The assessment was based on an individuals need.
If the outcome of the assessment was that the service user could use public
transport but there was no public transport, the council would ensure that
transport was provided to enable the service user to access day services.
Discussion took place on whether there would be an impact on the
workforce who provided the transport. It
was explained that Officers did not feel there would be an impact as service
users would continue to need to be provided with transport.
Member’s asked whether there was any opportunity for other agencies to
access the Council’s transport services during any down time. Officers would raise with the relevant
department.
The committee was concerned at the lack of response to the consultation
by service users, despite there being 1,800 users of the service. Officers clarified that every service user
received a letter, a number of awareness raising events were arranged and
social media was used to promote the consultation.
Further discussion took place on the preparationwith
service users to enable them to travel independently and to know what to do in
the event of something happening out of the usual routine. Thisincluded
discussion with the relevant bus drivers so that they were aware of possible
issues. At Members request officers
would investigate what training was provided by Neath Port Talbot County
Borough Council Transport Directorate internally and whether there was any
external training given. Additionally,
carers would be eligible for a free bus pass to escort service users if they
met the Welsh Government criteria.
Following scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be
considered by cabinet board.
Fairness of Service Provision Policy
Members received information on the outcome of the public consultation
on the Adult Services Fairness of Service Provision Policy as detailed in the
circulated report.
The committee was pleased with the changes to the Policy as proposed by
a previous meeting of the Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny
Committee. In addition, the Committee
was happy to have an annual report but asked that if there were any identified
issues a report would be brought back to Committee earlier than annually.
Members asked for clarity in regard to responses received during the
consultation period on when service users were able to access Direct
Payments. Officers explained that under
the Act if a need was assessed the Council would have to offer Direct Payments.
In answer to Members queries, the Council did hold a list of all the
approved contractors that services are commissioned from but this list would
not be shared with service users to use with their Direct Payments. This could be seen as the Council interfering
with the service users’ choice. The
Council does ensure that the monies are spent appropriately. If necessary the Council would put in the
service and withdraw Direct Payments.
Following scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be
considered by the cabinet board.
Review of Community Support Services – Local Area
Co-ordinators
Members received information on the extension of the remit of Local Area
Co-ordinators from their current geographical areas to cover the wider Local
Authority.
An explanation was given on the differences between Local Area
Co-ordinators and Connectors. Local Area
Co-ordinators (LAC) provided early intervention and prevention support to
vulnerable people, across all ages and demographics. Connectors looked for community services that
were an alternative to services that are no longer available. In future, Connectors would work along-side
the LAC to assist them in their role.
Confirmation was given that the current number of Local Area
Co-ordinators had been increased to six as the service has been expanded across
the county borough.
Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.
Neath Port Talbot Youth Justice and Early Intervention Annual Plan 2019
– 2020
The committee received the background and summary of the content of the
Neath Port Talbot Youth Justice Plan 2019 – 2020 as detailed in Appendix 1 to
the circulated report.
Members were pleased that premises had been identified for the
Educational Centre.
Members asked for clarity on the support received from the Child,
Adolescent, Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
It was explained that there were monthly consultation meetings with
CAMHS which enabled quicker access to services.
Discussions were currently taking place with CAMHS to develop a
specialist post within the service.
Also, in future CAMHS would be undertaking audits of past cases to learn
from these. After completion a report of
the outcomes of these audits would be brought to committee.
Members queried whether there was a link made in the data to neuro
diverse conditions as there was nothing included in the data contained within
the report. Officers explained that
previously the data collected had been controlled by the Western Bay Youth
Justice Board. The West Glamorgan Youth
Justice Board would be collecting data on a local level and would include
information in regard to education. In
future, reports being considered by Committee would include local data.
It was highlighted that as a result of working closely with children’s
services and the Police at an earlier stage to prevent behaviour from
escalating into criminal activity, the numbers of young people with escalating
behaviour had dramatically reduced.
Also, with the introduction of regularly meetings with Court
representatives and their presence on the Management Board, positive working
relationships had developed.
Following scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposal to be
considered by the cabinet board.