Agenda item

To submit a report by the Interim Director of Social Services.

Submitted – a report by the Interim Director of Social Services in relation to the above. 

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Social Services said that it is a requirement within Part 9 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 that each Regional Partnership Board prepares, publishes and submits its annual report to Welsh Government (a copy of the report was attached as Appendix 1 of the report).  She noted that the purpose of Part 9 of the Act is to improve outcomes and well-being of people, as well as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.  The key aims of the Board are to encourage co-operation, partnership and integration which is noted within the report.  She further said that during 2018/19 the Health Board reviewed and strengthened its representation on the North Wales Regional Partnership Board with seven representatives on the Board.  The Act also requires that local authorities make arrangements to promote co-operation with their relevant partners and others, in relation to adults with needs for care and support, carers and children.  It places a duty on relevant partners to co-operate with, and provide information to, the local authorities for the purposes of their social services functions.  The Portfolio Holder said that the most important matter that the Regional Partnership Board has taken advantage of this year is the Healthier Wales funding afforded by Welsh Government to transform the way health and social care is delivered.  She noted that the North Wales Regional Partnership Board has submitted four bids to Welsh Government which have all been successful in securing funding.

The Leader of the Council further said that the Regional Partnership Board has approved a North Wales Learning Disability Strategy together with regional strategy for Carers in partnership with carers, carers’ organisations and partners. 

The Committee considered the report and raised the following main matters:-

·           Clarification was sought as to whether it would have been more appropriate for two Partnership Boards to have been established across North Wales as it seemed that the membership of these Boards is extensive.  The Interim Director of Social Services responded that the Partnership Boards have been established on the footprint of the Health Boards in accordance with current regulations;

·           Reference was made as to how the Regional Partnership Board contributes to local partnership working.  The Interim Director of Social Services responded that the Regional Partnership Board has a strategic role and aims to steer progress.  The transformation grant funding, i.e. ICF funding from Welsh Government is filtered through the Regional Partnership Board with Anglesey receiving £1.2m revenue funding which funds amongst other things the Nightowls scheme; Cartrefi Clud Môn; Minor Injury Units; Palliative Care Unit at Penrhos Stanley Hospital, Holyhead; Llawr y Dref, Llangefni project; Individuals with Learning Difficulties.  He further said that £13m will be afforded through the Parliamentary Review funding and it is imperative that Anglesey County Council ensures the best benefit of these resources to local residents;

·           Questions raised as to what plans are in place to develop pooled local authority budgets.  The Interim Director of Social Services responded that this year a process for pooling budgets has been agreed which is essentially an information collecting exercise with Denbighshire County Council leading on the exercise;

·           Reference was made to a statement within the Annual Report i.e. ‘whole system change and reinvestment of resources to a preventative model that promotes good health and well-being and draws effectively on evidence of what works best’.  Questions were raised whether there was funding available to support such a model.  The Interim Director of Social Services responded that the Regional Partnership Board’s aim is to guide investment of grant funding in order to support transformation and enable people to be able to source services within their local communities wherever possible and reduce escalation in individuals needs for services.  

It was RESOLVED to note the work and progress in 2018/19 of the North Wales Regional Partnership Board.

ACTION : As noted above.