Agenda, decisions and minutes

None received.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

Councillor Trefor Ll Hughes MBE declared that he is a Member of the Community Health Council.

To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the following meetings:-

·      Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March, 2021;

·      Minutes of the meeting held on 14 April, 2021;

·      Minutes of the meeting held on 18 May, 2021.

The minutes of the following meetings were confirmed as correct:-

·      Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March, 2021;

·      Minutes of the meeting held on14 April, 2021;

·      Minutes of the meeting held on 18 May, 2021.

To receive a presentation by the Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Chair welcomed Ms Jo Whitehead, the Chief Executive of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to give a presentation to the Committee.

Ms Whitehead thanked the Committee for inviting her to the Committee.  She gave a brief summary of the background regarding Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board being put in special measures by Welsh Government in 2015 until November 2020; following an independent review by the regulators the Health Board was moved into targeted intervention thereafter.  She noted that four broad themes were identified for the Health Board to improve over a period of time as follows:-

·      Mental Health service provision (adults and children services)

·      Strategic direction (planning and performance)

·      Leadership (ability to make service change and the culture of the Board)

·      Engagement (engaging with the people of North Wales, patients, staff and partner organisations)

As Welsh Government is experienced in targeted intervention in Health Boards a ‘maturity matrix’ is to be incorporated within improving indicators and self-evaluation.  Quality assurance is a theme across the ‘maturity matrix’ which apply to the four broad themes as noted above.  The ‘maturity matrix’ requires the Health Board to gauge as to where they consider their performance levels from 0 -5 in respect of i.e. patient experience, able to respond to the covid pandemic (test and trace, vaccination, patients care and support for patients with long covid), patients waiting times for treatment, unplanned care (urgent appointments), mental health services and sustainability of services provided into the future.  It is important to be able to sustain the 3 main sites at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Glan Clwyd and Wrexham Maelor as there are recruitment difficulties and retention of staff.   A ‘Stronger Together’ approach is to be undertaken which entails engaging with staff of the Health Board to ascertain the challenges faced by staff on a day-to-day basis.   Ms Joe Whitehead further referred to the ‘maturity matrix’ and as to how the Health Board has scored its performance level from 0-5.  She noted that an improvement range of 1 was scored by the Board as it considered that it is performing ‘good in part’ but more work is needed improve the services offered as was for all the 4 broad aim of the Health Board.  The Chief Executive of the Betsi Cadwaladr further said that independent partner organisations were of a view that more work was needed in terms of stability of the Health Boards Senior Leadership Team and to enable staff to raise concerns in a transparent way and that the Board is clinically lead.

She further referred to the mental health care for Child Mental Health Services and the transition from paediatric to Adult Mental Health Services and Older Age Mental Health together with prevention services within the Mental Health area.  The Health Board has identified that substantial work is required to improve the performance of these services.  Working in partnership with organisation is paramount i.e. local authorities Social Services, Education and the third sector. 

The Committee were afforded the opportunity to ask questions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit the Annual Report on the Welsh Language Standards 2020/21.

 Submitted – the Annual Report on the Welsh Language Standards 2020/21 which is a statutory requirement which deals with the way in which the Council has complied with the Welsh Language Standards, introduced under the Welsh Language Measure (Wales) 2011. 

The Leader of the Council in the absence of the Portfolio Holder for responsibility for the Welsh Language reported that a ‘secret shopper’ exercise was undertaken by the office of the Welsh Language Commissioner, on the Welsh language standards of the Authority which resulted in a positive outcome with no matters arising that needs to be addressed.   She wished to thank the staff and the Welsh Language Forum of the Council and the Independent Chair of the Forum for their commitment in developing the Welsh language within the Authority. The Leader further referred to the ARFer programme which is specifically targeted to increase the use of the Welsh language in the workplace, businesses and within the community.  She further said that the pandemic has been a challenge and the Council in the ways of working and the Authority has had to alter the opportunities given for staff to learn the Welsh language.

The Head of Democratic Services reported that there are 154 Welsh language standards. The Council had already being complying with a significant number of the Standards placed upon it through the implementation of its Language Scheme and this scheme went further than the Language Standards in many areas.  Section 4 of the Welsh Language Standards refers to self-regulation and the interactive steps in place within the Council which ensures that the Welsh language is given adequate place in the Authority.  He noted that whilst the report is positive, the Authority will face challenges in the future as there is more emphasis on the use of technology and training and develop staff will need to be developed further and especially as there has been limited face to face contact due to the pandemic.    He further said that the Language Officer has been supporting three services within the Council in promoting the use of the Welsh language and further emphasis will be given in supporting other front line services.  There will also be additional requirements on the Council in respect of ‘live-streaming’ meetings which will result in pressure on translation service in servicing virtual meetings. 

The Committee considered the report and made the following main points:-

·      Questions were raised if there are any additional data that would add value to the Annual Report. 

The Chief Executive said that the Authority has set a target as regards to the number of Welsh speakers on the Island and it will be interesting to gauge  the result of the census for 2021 when it come available in a few months to view.  The results of the census will need to be viewed also in respect of different communities as regards to the number of Welsh speakers in each area.  She further said that the Authority has adopted a levels of skills formula in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To submit the Forward Work Programme.

Submitted – a report by the Scrutiny Officer.

It was RESOLVED:-

·           To agree the current version of the forward work programme for 2021/22;

·           To note progress thus far in implementing the forward work programme.