Agenda item

To submit a report by the Corporate Director Community.

The Chair welcomed Ms. Vicky Poole, Regional Director (North Wales) CSSIW and Mr. Mark Roberts from CSSIW to the meeting.

Submitted – a report by the Corporate Director (Community) in relation to the above.

The Corporate Director (Community) reported that the Annual Council Reporting Framework is an agreed framework within Wales in order to evaluate, in public and transparent manner, the performance of the Social Services functions within each Local Authority.  The letter acknowledges the progress made by the Authority whilst highlighting the need to maintain commitment and progress with the required changes. CCIW makes reference to the ongoing potential risks identified by the Inspectorate.

Specific reference is made to the issues of capacity and the challenge of a small authority addressing the scale of change required in transforming social care services.  Performance improvements in Children’s Services have been maintained nevertheless risks remain given the comparative inexperience of the workforce and management structure. The letter also notes that there is little reference to the actions required by the Authority in readiness to the implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (April 2016).  In response it is maintained that this forms part of a national implementation programme where the authority is appropriately engaged.  Additionally the work programme adopted by the Service and Council is in accord with the ambitions and principles of the Act. The letter acknowledges the financial pressures and the challenges faced by the Council in meeting its statutory planning and service delivery responsibilities for Social Services.  This requires a continued focus on delivering safe and effective services whilst progressing the required change agenda arising from the transformation programme. The actions and requirements arising from the letter have been incorporated within the business processes and priority programmes within the Council’s Transformation Programme and the individual service business plans.

The Corporate Director stated that she considered that the training in specific Social Services matters to newly appointed Members and current Members was essential to highlight the service priorities and pressures on Social Services.  She considered that the seminar to Elected Members in respect of Residential Homes was highly beneficial.

Mr. Mark Roberts (CSSIW) stated the Performance Evaluation Report 2013/14 is attached to the Corporate Director’s report. He noted that the County Council is in the early stages of implementing an ambitious transformation programme for both adults and children’s services.  These are significant change and development programmes for a small council and the pace of change is hampered by a lack of capacity. At the same time, a new council has been elected, a third of which are newly appointed members. This has also affected the pace of change as it has been important for officers to invest time in ensuring elected members fully understand the transformation programme. Despite these constraints, there is evidence of steady progress underpinned by political support particularly in relation to service for older adults.  Performance has improved in core areas, predominantly in relation to Children’s Services although the relative inexperience of the workforce in Children’s Services means that risks remains and continued vigilance is required. In Adult Services, the focus given to services to older people has resulted in a lack of focus on services for younger adults including people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health needs.  The Council has been open about what they have achieved and recognise where it is behind schedule. There remains much to do; the Heads of Service reports highlight 50 priorities for action for Adults Services and 23 for Children’s Services during 2014/15.

Whilst the Council’s Transformation Programme is in line with intentions of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act, there is little specific reference to it in the Director’s report. Whilst the more detailed Head of Service’s reports do outline development in areas aligned to the requirements of the Act, these links are not explicit.  The Council has a strong platform to build upon in relation to integration of services with the Health Board having developed Model Môn over a number of years.  This has enabled them to establish an Integrated Delivery Board in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and which is being used as a pilot for the region as a whole in the context of North Wales Statement of Intent for Integration for delivering integrated health and social care for older people with complex needs.

The report highlighted the response to last year’s areas of improvement in detail and areas for follow up by CSSIW in the coming year.

Main issues raised by Members :-

•  Concerns raised in respect of the areas of improvement within the CSSIW report i.e. Review of the application of DoLS threholds.  Mr. Mark Roberts CSSIW responded that areas of improvement have been noted and there is need to raise awareness and improve practice in relation to DoLS. There is also a need to the development of quality monitoring framework across adults and children’s services.

•  The Shadow Portfolio Holder considered that there is a priority to include Young Vulnerable Adults with Mental Health problems or learning difficulties on the list of scrutiny in the near future. The Shadow Portfolio Holder further raised that the Social Services and Wellbeing Act is not visible enough for the citizens and she questioned how the Social Services Department will deal with the matter. The Corporate Director (Community) responded that the service will be  focusing on Young Vulnerable Adults. She further referred to the matter raised in respect of the Wellbeing Act and noted that as a Corporate Director she considered that this was not a contentious issue within the CSSIW 2013/14 report.

•  Questions raised in respect of potential cuts in funding to the Voluntary Sector and the effect on services to the local residents. The Corporate Director (Community) responded that correspondence has been sent to the 3rd Sector on the obligations of a 5% cuts in funding and they have been asked to response to the County Council by next week to highlight the impact of the cuts would have on the services they provide.

•  Comments were made in respect of elderly people requesting support from Social Services due to loneliness. The Corporate Director Community responded that AgeWell organise activities for the elderly and she further noted that she and the Head of Adults’ Services will be discussing this matter in the near future.

RESOLVED to accept the report and the comments as noted above.