Agenda item

To receive the report of the Statutory Director of Social Services for 2016/17.

The Annual Report of the Statutory Director of Social Services for 2016/17 was presented for the Committee’s consideration and comment. The report provides a review of how well social services were delivered on Anglesey in 2016/17 including the key achievements in both Adults’ and Children’s Services as well the challenges that need to be addressed in the coming year.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation) and Statutory Director of Social Services reported that 2016/17 was a challenging year in terms of the context in which social services were delivered. The planning and delivery of services were transformed to meet the requirements of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (Wales) 2014 (SSWB). In addition, continued austerity and pressures on budgets as well as an awareness of likely future trends and demands are necessitating a radical re-thinking of how services are provided in order to ensure they are sustainable for the future.

The Officer said in relation to Children’s Services that much of the work was driven by the recommendations contained within the report by CSSIW on its inspection of Children’s Services. These recommendations are being implemented through the Children’s Services Improvement Plan and will be monitored by the Children’s Panel reporting back on progress to the Corporate Scrutiny Committee. The focus consequent upon the CSSIW report has been on developing a workforce strategy centred on recruitment and retention; improving supervision for social workers; improving the quality of practice in relation to child protection; strengthening partnership and collaborative working both within the Council with other services and outside with partner agencies; undertaking a review of residential placements and seeking to reduce the reliance on agency staff.

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 Hafan Cefni; the expansion of the capacity to care for those with dementia on the Island; re-tendering the contract for home care; developing prevention initiatives such as the Môn Enhanced Care Team and the Night Owls Service; increasing take up of Direct Payments and strengthening the Single Point of Access Service. Priorities for the year ahead will include modernising services for those with learning disabilities and developing co-production with providers on the Island.

As regards Social Services as a whole there has been an emphasis on workforce development and training and on preparing for the introduction at the Council over the next few months of a national IT system (WCCIS) which will enable the service to work more effectively. Improving engagement with service users especially in terms of listening to the views of users through having the What Matters conversation at the point of initial assessment, and also in having regard to their experiences in shaping services and provision continues to be a key area. There is an ongoing need across social services to develop the preventative agenda – taking preventative action will improve the lives and wellbeing of individuals and will also help the Authority to manage the increase in demand and to use its resources more efficiently and to better effect. Partnership working will remain a priority as will a renewed focus on carers and their needs. 

The process of preparing the 2016/17 report has differed considerably from that of previous years and has resulted in a change of format and style. This is due to new guidance issued by the Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru which has been used as a basis for the Anglesey report in order to capture the changes made within Social Services following the implementation of the SSWA 2014.

The Portfolio Member for Housing and Social Services emphasised the progress made as well as the challenges ahead and she asked the Committee to consider whether the improvement priorities identified within the report are appropriate to the challenging environment in which Social Services are operating.

The Committee considered the Annual Report and the context in which the self-assessment had been made and it raised the following points –

•           The Committee noted the improvements both planned and implemented as a result of the CSSIW inspection of Children’s Services and as documented in the Annual Report. The Committee noted that CSSIW would be re-visiting the Authority to review progress against the recommendations made and sought assurance that the Authority has sufficient time to implement the programme of improvements before it is re-assessed by CSSIW. The Statutory Director of Social Services said that CSSIW intends to follow up on its inspection within 12 to 18 months subject to the demands of the regulatory programme both nationally and regionally, the resources available and subject also to the regulator being satisfied by the rate of progress at Anglesey. Whilst Social Services are working towards a revisit in March, 2018 the key consideration throughout the programme of improvement is to ensure that improvements made are sustainable in the long-term particularly as budgets continue to reduce.

•           The Committee noted that in a context of limited resources, partnership and collaborative working will take on increasing significance. The Committee therefore sought clarification of the scope for the further development of shared services. The Statutory Director of Social Services said that Social Services already has a number of teams across Adults’ and Children’s services working on a joint basis; whilst these are predominantly with BCUHB, there are examples of joint working with Gwynedd Council (the Integrated Family Support Service Team) and the Gwynedd and Anglesey Youth Justice Service which includes other partner organisations. The Children’s Out of Hours Duty Team is also a joint service. The Authority’s joint working arrangements extend beyond its immediate neighbours particularly with regard to the development of processes and policies which are often on a regional basis.  In entering into joint arrangements the Authority has to be mindful of its statutory responsibilities and it will seek to retain sole responsibility for significant elements particularly within Children’s Services. There is however scope for further effective collaboration e.g. in fostering where the recruitment of foster carers can be a challenge.

It was resolved that the Committee is satisfied with regard to the following –

•           That the Annual Report has captured the Council’s current position with regard to delivering its Social Services.

•           That the Annual Report accurately reflects the improvement priorities for both Adults and Children’s Services for the forthcoming year.

•           That the Annual Report reflects the Council’s accountability and responsibility with regard to its Social Services

NO FURTHER ACTION ENSUING