To
select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision
Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports included for Scrutiny Members)
Decision:
Healthy
Relationships for Stronger Communities Strategy (Pages 11 - 88)
Following
scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.
Commissioning
of Care And Support Services For Three Supported Living Schemes (Pages 89 -
118)
Following
scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.
Delegation
under Local Government Legislation to Briton Ferry Town Council regarding the
provision of a day service (Pages 119 - 132)
The
recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.
Children
& Young People, Adult Services and Housing & Community Safety - 1st
Quarter (April 2023- June 2023) Performance Report (Pages 133 - 196)
Following
scrutiny, the report was noted.
Minutes:
Healthy Relationships for Stronger Communities
Strategy (Pages 11 - 88)
The Head of Housing and Communities gave an
overview of the report attached to the Cabinet Agenda papers.
Members queried the 100 % favourable responses
mentioned on page 50 of the report and enquired how many consultation responses
were received. Officers confirmed that survivors from local services were
consulted and invited to give feedback; 6 local survivors provided a response.
Following the approval of the draft strategy, a two week period of public
consultation was held in early May resulting in a further 18 responses from
members of the public. Members requested that in future, this type of data be
included in the committee report.
Members questioned whether the Neath Port
Talbot and Welsh Government strategies were the same and if not what were the
differences between the documents? Officers confirmed that the joint local
strategy was prepared by the local authority and the health board and whilst it
references the Welsh Government national strategy the objectives were similar
but not identical. The joint strategy included a seventh objective on criminal
justice, this was in recognition of information from local survivors that
partners felt would be remiss not to include.
Members asked what further partnership work
could be undertaken to identify changes needed to support victims during the
evidence gathering process. It was noted that this type of cultural change
takes time to implement. Officers recognised that there is much work needed
around this objective. Some issues are broader than what can be carried out
locally as they relate to national issues. Officers advised members that within
the Community Safety Team there are 4 Independent Domestic Violence Advisors,
co-located within the police station, who work closely with police colleagues
at all levels. Local specialist providers, Thrive Women’s Aid, have received
funding for a 5 year project called Rapid, more information will be shared in
due course. Officers from Thrive will be based in the police station and they
will accompany police colleagues to any domestic abuse related call, staff will
act as an initial support mechanism, helping statements to be taken in the
correct way. The local authority training programme includes training on
responding to disclosures of domestic abuse and has been rolled out to all
local authority staff; health and police colleagues are subject to the same
training to promote a consistent approach. Due to the good will of the training
officer this training has also been opened up to local magistrates with, to
date, 29 local magistrates receiving domestic abuse training. It is believed
that Neath Port Talbot is the only local authority to provide training to
Magistrates. Within the area, there is a specialist domestic violence court,
the Community Safety Team are looking at setting up a steering group to ensure
work in this area is progressing effectively. Officers re-iterated, suggestions
were welcomed from councillors and constituents in relation to improving
domestic abuse services.
Members questioned how residents who were
experiencing domestic abuse could contact the council for help, if they were
not engaged with any particular service. Officers confirmed there were varied
ways to access services but acknowledged there is a significant long standing
issue with under reporting. The Communications and Engagement group has been
set up specifically around VAWDASV (Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and
Sexual Violence) and assists people to recognise when they are experiencing any
form of domestic abuse and signposts to support services. Officers promote a
number of different contact methods as it is recognised, residents may not wish
to contact the police but may prefer to speak to friends/family members/Local
Area Co-ordinators or health professionals. There are a wealth of services and
disclosure options available to people with three local specialist providers
funded by the Supporting People Grants. Thrive Women’s Aid primarily covers
Port Talbot, Calon DVS covers Neath and Pontardawe and Stori (Previously Hafan
Cymru) covers the whole borough. There is an ongoing piece of work to help
people recognise signs of domestic abuse. Officers commented that within the
local authority there are a number of areas where staff may be the first point of
contact and it was important to promote the work of the Community Safety Team,
which strengthened and evidences the need for the strategy.
The Chair commented that organisational name
changes can be confusing when signposting to organisations. The Head of Housing
and Communities offered to devise a resource pack for Councillors which would
list current providers and services offered.
Following scrutiny, the recommendation was
supported to Cabinet Board.
Commissioning of Care And Support Services For
Three Supported Living Schemes (Pages 89 - 118)
The officer gave an overview of the report.
Members questioned how the supported living
schemes locations were selected and commented that although schemes in the Rhos
community work well there is a reliance on public transport and goodwill of
residents. Officers responded that the
property market is limited at present and only one property has been
identified. When shortlisting a property, consideration is given to ease of
access to central locations. If properties are not centrally located then
transport links are assessed. It was noted that green spaces can be therapeutic
for individuals with a mental health diagnosis. Schemes are assessed on a case
by case basis by multiple staff who assess individual needs.
Following scrutiny, the recommendation was
supported to Cabinet Board.
Delegation under Local Government Legislation
to Briton Ferry Town Council regarding the provision of a day service (Pages
119 - 132)
The Head of Legal and Democratic Services gave
an overview of the report.
The recommendation was supported to Cabinet
Board.
Children & Young People, Adult Services and
Housing & Community Safety - 1st Quarter (April 2023- June 2023)
Performance Report (Pages 133 - 196)
The Director of Social Services, Health and
Housing outlined the report and advised members that the information was
presented in a new corporate format. Whilst the format could not be changed the
information could be presented in an alternative way to make the information
clearer, if members required.
Members agreed that there was no requirement to
present in an alternative format at present.
Members referred to page 140 of the report and
questioned whether referrals outside of the 42 day timeframe were dealt with in
date order or were they assessed for urgency? Officers confirmed that all
information received through the front door is assessed and a decision is made
within 24 hours of receipt. There are no concerns about any delay in the
process and there is rigour in the system in terms of how arrangements are
regularly reviewed. Cases flagged as Child Protection are looked at immediately
upon receipt. Officers gave examples of potential reasons for assessments
falling out of timescale and assured members these are for valid reasons,
Principal Officers are kept informed and all the steps that fall out of
timeframe are quality assured.
Members referred to item 5 of page 142, and
questioned the decrease, as the same difficulties would have appeared the
previous year. Officers confirmed that the review is carried out similarly to
what has been outlined previously. No review will go out of timescale without
approval from a Principal Officer. The officer outlined the reasons that may
cause a review to be delayed, reviews are not held if a child wants to attend
and is unable to or where attendance would interfere with employment or
education opportunities. Similarly, if a parent/carer cannot attend or a
professional has not provided a report for that review, the review would be rescheduled.
Officers confirmed that any reviews out of timescales are regularly reviewed
for patterns/trends & themes in order to address any issues.
The Director of Social Services, Health &
Housing confirmed there were many reasons why statutory reviews are not carried
out within timeframe, and suggested this issue should be looked at in more
detail and a report will be brought to committee on this matter. There can
become a culture of accepting reasons why reviews are not held.
Members referred to page 183 of the report and
questioned if there was a link between discharged looked after children and any
of the children admitted on the Child Protection Register? Is there any trend
in term of the timescale towards school holidays? Officers confirmed at this
time there are no discharged looked after children being referred onto the
Child Protection Register. The Head of
Childrens Services advised members that much work been done on re-referrals to
the Child Protection Register.
The Chair queried whether the mention of 47
non-fatal overdoses was through a person trying to take their life or
accidental. Officers confirmed that the figures in the report related to
non-fatal accidental overdoses that the Area Planning Board is required to
monitor under guidance from Welsh Government. The Area Planning Board works
across the Western Bay, the figure of 47 relates to Swansea and Neath Port
Talbot. There were 12 instances in Neath Port Talbot and 35 in Swansea.
Following scrutiny, the report was noted.