To
select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision
Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports included for Scrutiny Members)
Minutes:
Final Letter and Joint Action Plan Following
the Joint Inspection of Child Protection Arrangements (JICPA) Across Neath
& Port Talbot (NPT)
The Chair
welcomed and outlined the number of positives within the report. The positives outlined included the positive and proactive
approach to safeguarding and also the share ethos with the third sector. The
report refers to the good conduit of information flowing between Barnado’s, the police and social services. The staff are
also reporting on good leadership within the service. The Local Authority is
being described as being forward thinking and they are testing new ways of
working.
Contextual
safeguarding is an approach to understand and respond to a young person’s
experiences of harm and risk outside the family home. It expands the objectives
of the current child protection system which has been focused on harm and risk
within the home. Contextual safeguarding recognises that this harm and risk can
also occur outside the home and the approach does look beyond the parents.
The report
highlighted the need to improve co-production of safety plans with young
people, members asked this to be explained. A comprehensive action plan has
been developed and there is a specific action plan to look at how to engage
young people and parents as early as possible.
Page 26 of
the report criticises the police for their use of ‘no apparent immediate risk
(NAIRA)’ and it also refers to lack of communication. Members queried who is
responsible for ensuring that the criticism of the police is addressed and will
progress on this be reported back to the committee. Detective Chief Inspector Llewelyn responded
to the item. NAIRA is a category of missing to try and break demand and look at
more effective ways of safe guarding young people. The pilot scheme in South
Wales Police was a great success, but there are criticisms and areas for
development. The NAIRA process and overarching response to missing is currently
being considered. South Wales Police are assessing it, and also academic
partners who are also experts in the field are looking at how this can be
effectively developed and improved.
Members
asked what was meant by coordinated police disruption tactics. It was confirmed
these can be used to protect young people who the police consider may be at
risk of exploitation and harm. It was confirmed that the police have been
extremely proactive in identifying the adults who may cause the harm or
exploitation and disrupting it by arresting them and enabling them to be
removed from the community. This essentially assists in causing the disruption
required. It is important that the young person has the opportunity to remain
within the community where they can be supported.
Members
queried how officers will address the concerns raised about the lack of
evidence of the shared implementation and review of safety plans. Officers gave
assurance to Members that all children’s plans are working live documents that
involve children, families and partners that are being coproduced by them also.
However officers confirmed that they will address the concerns raised as a
priority.
Members
asked if there are any plans to undertake the same type of review with adult
services, in particular those who lack capacity or who have drug and/or alcohol
dependency. Officers advised that the inspection was a pilot scheme undertaken
in child protection. At this time officers are not aware of any plans to expand
this to adult services at this time.
Members and officers commended the joint approach to working
between the various organisations and agencies involved in childcare.
Members noted the training that staff have received across the various departments and organisations to assist with identifying vulnerable persons. Members queried specifically if call centre staff had received any training on this item. Officers confirmed that the Community Safety Partnership had met and discussed contextual safeguarding. The next step is now to roll out the training across the various departments in the local authority.
Officers confirmed that there is a good working relationship with the fire authority to provide assistance and the sharing of information as required.
The Committee and officers were thanked for their continued
work and efforts within Children’s Services.
Officers noted that whilst the report presented was straight forward and easy to understand, the work that went into the report and the inspection was at the height of a pandemic. Five different inspectorates were welcomed into Children’s Services to undertake the inspection. This was a pilot inspection and had not been undertaken by the collaboratively by the five different inspectorates.
Officers from Education stressed the importance of training in relation to safeguarding. Also, how well Social Services and Education work together as a team with the children or the family being at the centre of the decision that is going to be made.
Following scrutiny the report was noted.
Children & Young People and Adult Services – 2nd
Quarter (April 2021 – September 2021) Performance Report
The Chair highlighted a number of
positives within the report. The number of chid assessments completed on time
was higher than the national average, no complaints have been upheld and there
has been an increase in the number of compliments in relation to children’s
services, there has also been an increase in the participation and engagement
activities with young people. It was also noted that NPT have the first outcome
focused framework in Wales and that this is going to be rolled out nationally.
Members noted that the report identified
that 101 people awaiting a care assessment. Members queried the communication that
is maintained with the client awaiting the assessment as this would have a
knock on affect with the third sector. Officers confirmed that there are a
number of aspects in relation to this. Currently NPT are piloting a system
through an external consultancy group. It’s a text message response system to
keep individuals up to date on their referral. It start from the point contact
officers receive the initial phone call. The pilot is currently in its second
phase. The general feedback to date has been positive. Members queried how
communication is undertaken with those who don’t have mobile phones. It was
confirmed where there’s no communication, visits and telephone calls are made
as appropriate.
Members were informed that a Principal
Officer has now been appointed for Early Intervention Community Development so
will pull together all the prevention services in adult services. A structure
is currently being developed to pull this together. Regular updates will be
provided to the committee. It is part of the phase 2 of the remodelling of
adult services.
Members queried with regards to the
social work vacancies. Currently there is 25% deficit in social workers across
all teams in adult services and one agency worker currently employed.
Officers provide an update with regards
to the position with children’s services.
Following scrutiny, the report was
noted.
Implementation of a Quality Assurance
Framework for the Provision of Learning Disability and Mental Health Supported
Living Services in Neath Port Talbot
The Chair went through the positives
outlined within the report.
Members clarified that the red items are
amendments in response to the consultation.
The report noted family comments in
relation to advocacy, whistle blowing and property maintenance. Members sought
assurance that these items are being considered appropriately. Officers
confirmed that they are being considered.
Following scrutiny,
the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by cabinet
board.