Issue - meetings

(a)       That the positive feedback received from CIW following the Assurance Check in April 2021 be noted; and

(b)       That the response to areas of improvement identified by CIW and the Service’s Action plan to address these be noted.

The Chief Officer (Social Services) presented the findings of the report on the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) who were an independent regulator of Social Services Care and Childcare in Wales.  The Assurance Checks took place virtually between 19^th and 23 April 2021.  CIW focused its key lines of enquiry within the four principles of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 which were:

·         People - Voice and Control

·         Prevention

·         Well-being

·         Partnership and Integration

 The Senior Manager - Children and Workforce added that it was a challenge to have eight Inspectors come in during a Pandemic and that he hoped that the Committee could see from the Action Plan that they had listened to what the inspectors had said and acted on their observations to improve, learn and reflect on what needed to be done.  He stated that the actions that had been set were all green with the exception of Workforce Recruitment which was amber due to the insufficient supply of experienced qualified Social Workers within Children’s Services.

In response to a question raised by the Chair concerning a safeguarding issue, the Senior Manager - Children and Workforce stated that this related to one case and reassured the Committee that the children were kept safe during the pandemic.

He added that they had looked at their systems and moved staff capacity so that they could keep on top of the referrals and make live decisions and recording of situations.   In addition, a Welsh Government approved trainer had been in and confirmed that they were compliant in their processes but made suggestions in some areas which have been implemented.  He also clarified that it was now not possible to reschedule a meeting if an agency was unable to attend and that they must send a report.  However, if this was unavoidable and it had to be postponed then it needed to be signed off by a Service Manager.

The Chair and other Members suggested that the Committee should send a letter to all staff congratulating them on their work.  Councillor Marion Bateman mentioned the amazing work that Play Officers and Aura Sports had undertaken along with the Theatr Clwyd and suggested that they should be invited to one of their Committee meetings.  The Chair, with agreement from the Committee, suggested that a letter of thanks also be sent to the Theatr Clwyd.

The Chief Officer (Social Services) thanked the Committee for their comments which he would pass to staff and welcomed the proposal for Theatr Clwyd to attend a future meeting.

Councillor Cunningham asked if Coed Duon was still being used as a step down facility.  The Chief Officer (Social Services) clarified that it was no longer being used as demand had reduced after a year but it was a positive move to use it early in the pandemic.

The Chief Officer (Social Services) thanked the Committee for their support and understanding.  Councillor Cunningham added that the political balance on the Committee was exceptional and wanted to do what  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29