Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation).

It was resolved to accept and to note the draft Annual Report of the Statutory Director of Social Services for 2015/16.

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation) was presented to the Executive for approval.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation) reported that 2016/17 was a challenging year in terms of the context in which social services were delivered as well as incorporating the requirements of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (Wales) 2014 within the Social Services Department.  Following the CSSIW inspection of Children’s Services in November 2016 priorities within the service for improvement has been undertaken to strengthen preventative facilities and improving a range of services available to families.  The focus consequent upon the CSSIW report has been on developing a workforce strategy centred on recruitment and retention of staff.  A Children’s Scrutiny Panel has been established to monitor the service and will report back to the Corporate Scrutiny Committee on a regular basis.   She further reported that Adults’ Services have seen a period of stability which has enabled the service to focus on the future and to consolidate progress in relation to the development and construction of extra care facilities and making more appropriate use of the Garreglwyd Residential Home.  

As regards to the Social Services Department it was noted that emphasis is on workforce development and training and on preparing for the introduction of a new national IT system (WCCIS) which will enable the service to work more effectively.  Improving the engagement with service users especially in terms of preventative service is paramount within the service, and will be strengthened this year.   

The Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee said that discussion were undertaken at the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 26 June, 2016 as regard to the improvements required within Children’s Services.  He noted that the Committee was satisfied that a Children’s Scrutiny Panel has been established to address in detail the improvements required in response to CSSIW Inspection within the Children’s Services.

The Executive noted the proposals within the report but raised issues as regard to other local authorities having encountered problems with the national IT system (WCCIS).  The Assistant Director (Governance and Business Process Transformation) said that the WCCIS system has now gone live in many local authorities and that problems have occurred during initial rollout of the system.  However, initial problems are being resolved and it is hoped that Ynys Môn and Gwynedd Councils will start using the WCCIS system next month.

It was RESOLVED to accept and to note the draft Annual Report of the Statutory Director of Social Services for 2015/16.