Agenda item

To submit a report by the Director of Social Services.

Submitted – a report by the Director of Social Services for consideration by the Committee.

The Portfolio Member for Adults’ Services said that the aim of the North Wales Partnership Board is to work collaboratively across health and the six social care services to help support resilient communities and ensure a seamless service for individuals that require care and support.  He noted that this is the Annual Report of the North  Wales Regional Partnership Board for 2022/23 as is required 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.

The Director of Social Services reported that the report is set out in accordance with guidance for the completion of the Annual Report by Welsh Government.  The Annual Report highlights the work that has been achieved regionally and sub-regionally with the Area Plan which notes the Autistic Plan, Carers Plan, Young Carers Plan, Children and Young People Plan and Learning Difficulties strategy.   He noted that focus has also been made to the needs of children and young people in North Wales and on Anglesey.   The capital funding process was highlighted to the Committee.

In considering the report, the Committee discussed the following main matters:-

·     Questions were raised as to the role and purpose of the Regional Partnership Board.  The Director of Social Services responded that the governance process is complex within the Regional Partnership Board.  He noted that the role and purpose of the Regional Partnership Board could be explained within a Briefing Session for Elected Members. 

·     Questions were raised as to the relationship between the Regional Partnership Board’s Annual Report and the Statutory Director of Social Services’ Annual Report.  The Director of Social Services responded that both reports are incorporated within each other as the capital funding to fund many projects within Social Services is regionally funded. 

·     Questions were raised as to the role of the Regional Partnership Board in facilitating the situation of a high number of patients unable to be discharged from Ysbyty Gwynedd to their permanent residence due to the lack of Care provision available.  The Director of Social Services responded following an assessment of a patient that requires a Care package the Local Authority must address the needs of the patients with the Care providers.  He noted that there is a close working relationship between the Health Board and the Social Services Department on Anglesey to provide care provision within Residential Homes before a patient is able to return to their main residence and also to conduct a dialogue with the families of the patients to ascertain whether they could assist to allow the patient to be cared for by the family before a Care package can be put in place.  He expressed that there is a national recruitment issue within the Care sector as the pay provision is not attractive for people to apply for roles within the care sector.  He said that unless Welsh Government addresses this issue continued problems of patients unable to be discharged from hospitals will continue.

·     Questions were raised as to the extent the Regional Partnership Board has achieved its key priorities during 2022/2023 and what are the Board’s key priorities for 2023/2024.  The Head of Regional Collaboration responded that she was confident that the Regional Partnership Board had achieved its key priorities during 2022/2023 and she highlighted the governance processes as regards to the capital funding received towards the projects within the Board to the Committee.  She expressed that she considered that the children’s services have not had the priority by the Board over the previous years as it should have been.  She further said this Authority has undertaken considerable work within the children’s services in raising the profile and the importance of the provisions for children across North Wales.  The Board has afforded over £7 million towards children’s services across North Wales and examples of the work were included within the report.  The Board has also published a Market Stability Report and Regional Area Plan to shape the work across North Wales.  The Vice-Chair questioned whether there has been a weakness within the current process of the Board as to the scrutiny role of the within different Local Authorities.  He noted that this Authority has established a Social Services Scrutiny Panel. The Head of Regional Collaboration responded that the Regional Partnership Board in North Wales is the largest of the Partnership Board in Wales with 6 Local Authorities and the largest Heath Board in Wales’ but she accepted that there is scope for improvements as regards to the Scrutiny role.  The Vice-Chair referred to Adults’ Services and said that this Authority has established a Community Resources Team.  He questioned whether other Local Authorities in North Wales has a similar project within their Authorities.  The Director of Social Services responded that the other Local Authorities has also similar projects within their Authorities and good practises are shared between the 6 Local Authorities in North Wales.  

It was RESOLVED:-

·       That the Committee confirms that it has understood and taken into account the work that is required to be undertaken by the Regional Partnership Board.

·       That the Committee notes the work and progress in 2022/23 on the work areas that are being taken forward through the North Wales Regional Partnership Board.

ACTION : That a Briefing Session for Elected Members be arranged to outline the role and purpose of the Regional Partnership Board.