Issue - meetings

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

It was resolved to accept the draft Annual Director’s Report on the Effectiveness of Social Services in 2019/20 and to recommend the report to Full Council.

The draft Annual Report of the Interim Director of Social Services on the effectiveness of Social Services in 2019/20 was presented for the Executive’s consideration. The purpose of the report the publication of which is a statutory requirement is to promote awareness and accountability for the performance and progress made over the past year in delivering Social Services within Anglesey County Council as well as outlining improvement priorities.

The Chair and Portfolio Member for Social Services thanked Mr Alwyn Jones the former Director of Social Services who was in post for most of the period covered by the Annual Report for leading on the work which the report documents. She also extended her thanks to Mr Fôn Roberts, Interim Director of Social Services for a seamless transition and referred to the breadth of the Social Services portfolio in touching so many people’s lives when they are in need.

The Interim Director of Social Services advised that the report provides extensive and wide ranging evidence of the work and activities undertaken by both Adults’ Services and Children and Families’ Services in 2019/20 in providing services to the people of Anglesey. The Annual Report has been compiled in a format prescribed by reporting requirements set out in statutory guidance which requires that it should be accessible and easy to understand. Also in accordance with requirements,  the report  documents the performance of Social Services for the year under the six quality standards that local authorities are expected to achieve under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 including the actions taken to achieve the quality standards. In terms of local circumstances the Interim Director of Social Serves highlighted a number of new initiatives undertaken by the Social Services in Anglesey in the course of the year including in collaboration with the Save Lives Charity in relation to domestic abuse and with Voices from Care Cymru in relation to establishing a monthly participation group for looked after children and young people. Developing mechanisms to better listen to the voice of service users has been a particular focus during 2019/20.

Councillor Aled Morris Jones, Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee reported that following a productive discussion of the Annual Report at the Committee’s 22 September meeting the Committee had resolved to accept the draft Annual Report having been satisfied that the report captures the Council’s current position with regard to delivering Social Services; accurately reflects the improvement priorities for both Adults and Children’s Services for the forthcoming year and reflects the Council’s accountability and responsibility with regard to Social Services and that it was happy to recommend the report to the Executive.

The Executive collectively thanked the Social Services Management and staff for their efforts during the past year to which the Annual report is testament.

It was resolved to accept the draft Annual Director’s Report on the Effectiveness of Social Services in 2019/20 and to recommend the report to Full Council.