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:
Adult
and Children and Young People Services – 3rd Quarter (April –
December 2019) Performance Report
The
committee received an overview of the Adult and Children and Young People
Services – 3rd Quarter (April – December 2019) Performance as
detailed in the circulated report.
Members
raised the following:
·
What progress has the Housing Options, Preventative Officer made with
Registered Social Landlords (RSL’s). The data identifies that 140 cases were not
prevented from becoming homeless.
Officers stated that contacts are made with social landlords and regular
meetings take place with Tai Tarian and Pobl but the issue was that there was a lack in the
provision of 1 bed accommodation.
Members noted that the Preventative Officer funding was only for a
year. Officers explained that it would
be reviewed at the end of that period and additional funding would be sought to
continue the work.
·
It was queried why the way that data was recorded has changed. Officer explained that these are indicators
that Welsh Government request information on.
Neath Port Talbot has its own data that officers monitor.
·
Following on, it was asked whether there was any data available on the
numbers of carers assessments that are requested. Officers to investigate and would update
Members.
Following
scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.
Neath
Port Talbot Carers Strategy
Members
received an overview of the Neath Port Talbot Carers Strategy as detailed in
the circulated report.
The
committee were pleased that an easy read version had been included in the
papers for today’s meeting but asked that in future a simply, plain English
version be produced. There was still
wording contained within the easy read version that needed further explanation.
Clarity
was requested on what
was meant by the statement “ Identify young people who need a transition
assessment but are not receiving children’s services”. Officers explained that when a young person
becomes an adult, a different assessment was needed during the transition
period.
Discussion
took place on what could be done to identify more carers within Neath Port
Talbot, as in the report it states that out of 20,000 only 441 had been
identified. Officers explained that
there was a variety of reasons why this figure was low. A significant number of carers do not want
the involvement of Social Services. Some
are unaware or understand what support is available. Lots of work has taken place to raise
awareness and this would continue as one of the priorities for the service but
Members noted that no funding was available from Welsh Government to support
this.
Officers
also explained that a lot of work was taking place with the Youth Service and
Schools to identify young carers who don’t identify themselves. Members who were school governors were asked
at school governor meetings to focus on this issue and to identify how many child
carers there are within their schools.
Following
scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
cabinet board.
Annual
Update on the Supporting People Local Commissioning Plan
An
overview was received on the Supporting People Local Commissioning Plan 2017/20
as detailed in the circulated report.
Concern
was expressed by Members that although the Housing Support Grant (HSG) had not
reduced, it had been at a standstill for the last 4 years which resulted in
reduction when taking into account inflation.
Welsh Government were currently looking at the criteria around the HSG
which could impact on NPTCBC. Discussion
took place on the need to identify this to the Welsh Government.
Further
discussion took place on what support was available to help service users
access Universal Credit. In addition, the application form was now on-line,
which made it more difficult for some to complete. Officers explained that the Department of
Work and Pensions work with the Local Area Co-ordinators to help provide
support to people who need it.
Members
asked what was in place to support people with mental health issues if no
counselling was available. Head of Adult
Services was currently discussing this with the Health Service.
Following
scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.
Hillside
Separation Policy
The
committee received an overview of the Hillside Separation Policy as detailed in
the circulated report.
Members
congratulated officers on an excellent, well considered policy.
In
addition, Members were pleased with the establishment of the Safeguarding
Board.
Following
scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
cabinet board.