Agenda item

Annual Director’s Report on the Effectiveness of Social Services 2020/21

To submit a report by the Director of Social Services.

Minutes:

The Annual Director’s report on the Effectiveness of Social Services in 2020/21 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

 

Councillor Llinos Medi, Chair and Portfolio Member for Social Services reported that there is statutory requirement for the Director of Social Services to report annually to the Council on the delivery and performance of Social Services for that year. The report provides an overview of activity during the year as well as setting out the focus for improvement for the forthcoming year. Although the report is that of the Director’s it is also a document which the Council collectively should take ownership of as a reflection of the hard work and achievement during the year.

 

The Director of Social Services referred to the unprecedented challenges faced by Social Services in 2020/21 as a result of the Covid pandemic and to the efforts of Social Services staff supported by internal colleagues within the Council and partner organisations outside to ensure that the people of Anglesey remained safe during this period. Similarly, the Authority’s foster carers have worked extremely hard to ensure that the children in their care were kept safe and thanks are due to them for their valued commitment. During the Covid 19 pandemic period, Social Services continued to meet its statutory duties and to work closely with Welsh Government and Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW), the Health Board and other partner organisations and was the subject of an assurance inspection of Adults’ and Children and Families’ Services by CIW from which the feedback was positive. CIW also visited the Service’s two small group homes during the year and these visits also resulted in encouraging feedback. Anglesey Social Services continue to play their part in key regional and national discussions ensuring that the citizens of Anglesey have a voice in decisions that affect them. The pandemic brought about a change in working practices as contact and interactions moved online and meetings were conducted remotely; however, Anglesey’s Social Services are always looking at opportunities for doing things differently in order to better respond to people’s changing needs.

 

In highlighting key points in Adults’ and Children and Families’ Services, the Director of Social Services referred to the shift to digital channels citing the setting up of virtual village halls as an example; the purchase of a town centre property in Llangefni to provide Mencap Môn with a hub for  people with a learning disability as one of many instances of partnership working which has been especially important in 2020/21 in responding to the pandemic; working with schools and the Learning Service to identify vulnerable children and arrange appropriate provision, and  successfully approving 9 mainstream fostering households and 14 connected persons (family and friends) households in the year. These represent a few of the many activities that took place across the range of Social Services during 2020/21. Despite the Covid 19 pandemic and the ever increasing financial challenges faced, Social Services have continued to make progress in the year whilst also fulfilling their statutory obligations.

 

The Scrutiny Manager reported from the meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 8 July to which the Annual Director’s Report had been presented. In considering the report the Committee noted that the past year had been one of significant challenges because of Covid 19 but notwithstanding Social Services had maintained all of its statutory work and had undertaken some service development work as well. The Committee heard about the impact of effective partnership working both in responding to Covid 19 and in delivering Social Services; joint working with the Housing Service and the Learning Service in particular was noted. The Committee discussed the increasing levels of demand for Social Services’ support potentially leading to additional budget pressures.  Particular reference was made to uncertainty around Welsh Government grants such as the Integrated Care Fund. The significant contribution of staff across Social Services functions during the pandemic was acknowledged and appreciation for their efforts was expressed. Having considered the report the Corporate Scrutiny Committee was satisfied that it provides a fair reflection of Social Services performance during 20201/21 and its priorities for improvement, and it resolved to recommend the report to the Executive.

 

Members of the Executive echoed the thanks to the staff of Social Services for their work in responding to the challenges of the past very difficult year and in particular in maintaining statutory services throughout. The significant progress made by Social Services over recent years was likewise acknowledged and particular mention was made of the small group homes and the success of the foster carers recruitment drive and the benefits those had brought to children looked after by the Authority. With regard to foster care and adoption a question was asked about the impact of the pandemic on adoption and whether any foster carers had left or had withdrawn from the fostering approval process. The Director of Social Services confirmed that most foster carers remain in fostering and those that do leave do so for specific reasons. Mainstream (general) foster carers who are not connected to the children they foster as family or friends tend to remain in fostering and the Authority has a close relationship with them; while foster carers do leave due to retirement some foster carers choose to continue fostering beyond normal retirement age. With regard to adoption  although some cases  have been delayed the adoption process has continued during the pandemic with court hearings moving online;  positive feedback has been received from the courts regarding the way Social Services have responded and adapted. Social Services are well-supported by the Council’s legal advisors in the court process. A piece of work has been undertaken nationally to garner views on how well these processes have operated during the pandemic.

 

The Chair concluded the discussion by saying that social workers and social care staff deserve public recognition for their work and for their contribution to the pandemic efforts and the Executive appreciates all they have done over the past year.

 

It was resolved to accept the Annual Director’s Report as an accurate reflection of the effectiveness of Social Services during 2020/21.

 

 

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