To present the report of the Interim Director of Social Services.

The report of the Interim Director of Social Services was presented as an overview of the proposed Corporate Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy and the timeframe for implementation.

The Leader of the Council said that the strategy is to promote people to be able to have a better quality of life.  The Prevention Action is defined as the adoption of approaches which build on the active participation of service users and communities to ensure improved outcomes and contribute significantly to making the best possible use of money and other assets.  These approaches help to eradicate duplication and waste, whilst critically reduce demand from the system over the longer term.  It is essential to continue to build stronger relationships both within the Council and with partners, communities and residents in order to find new ways of working and delivering services to address local needs.

The Principal Development Officer (Housing Services) reported that the Prevention and Early Intervention has an integral role to play in reducing demand upon statutory, frontline provision, thus reducing costs and ensuring that all citizens including some of the most vulnerable receive timely interventions to meet their diverse needs.  The Strategy will focus on an Authority wide approach, as outlined in the Action Plan, and will be implemented in parallel with the Council’s Corporate Plan in achieving the 3 core corporate aims as outlined in the report.  He further reported that there is a need for a corporate approach and ownership of the Prevention Strategy which includes financial and staff time across all the Council’s Departments if the aims of the Corporate Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy is to be fully achieved.  Financial commitment is to be identified over the forthcoming 18 months to 2 years as needs and priorities become clearer. 

In considering the report, the Committee raised the following issues:-

·           Clarification was sought as to the financial implications of the Corporate Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy.  The Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer responded that additional funding will not be forthcoming from WG but the purpose of the Strategy is to save additional financial burden on public services and an invest to save programme needs to be put in place to start the process which creates saving in the long term and benefits from the Strategy may not materialise for a number of years;

·           Reference was made to the asset based approaches have been established in the Seiriol area and have successfully fostered self-reliance and resilience rather than dependant on other public services. Questions were raised as to whether examples could be reported upon to the Committee.  The Head of Housing Service responded that the Seiriol area has an active group with incorporated within the ‘Good Turn’ scheme to collect prescriptions, shopping and other requirement of vulnerable people in the area;

·           Clarification was sought as to the potential risks associated with the Strategy.  The Leader of the Council responded that the dependent on grants is a risk as regards to this Strategy and there are concerns as to future funding of such a scheme.  However, she noted that external partnership are a source of support and especially through the third sector in such a scheme.  The Interim Director of Social Services said that due to the experience gain over the last six months as regards to the Covid19 pandemic it has shown the resilience in local communities in supporting people that need support.  He considered that there is a need to strengthen the work undertaken corporately with the third sector and thereafter expanding the services provided;

·           Reference was made to I CAN mental health support to improve the health and wellbeing of people across North Wales with mental health issues which is led by people who have living experience of mental health problems.  Questions were raised as to how successful this project is due to increase of people with mental health issues and especially during the pandemic.  The Interim Director of Social Services responded that a review of the project is currently been undertaken and he noted that he can update the Committee at its next meeting,.

It was RESOLVED to recommend to the Executive that the Corporate Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy and Action Plan be approved.

ACTION : As noted above.