Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

There were no declarations of interest. 

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January  2018.

That, subject to the above amendment,  the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2018 were received.

Accuracy

Page 8, paragraph 6: Councillor Marion Bateman said she had expressed the view that there should not be a financial benefit for the parents of young people who go to residential college, and asked that the minutes be amended to reflect this.

Matters arising

In response to a question from Councillor Hilary McGuill the Chief Officer advised that he had contacted Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to pass on the Committee’s concerns regarding the impact the local prison service had on local hospitals and would forward the response to the Committee when  received. 

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the above amendment,  the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 

To advise of the content of the Flintshire’s ‘A Place to Call Home? – Impact Analysis’ report; and

To provide details of ongoing actions and initatives underway within Social Services to contiune to enhance the quality of life of residents in Flintshire care homes.

That the Flintshire’s ‘A Place to Call Home? – Impact Analysis’ report be noted and the achievement of the Authority be recognised.

The Chief Officer introduced a report to advise of the content of the Flintshire’s ‘A Place to Call Home? – Impact Analysis’ report and to provide details of ongoing actions and initiatives underway within Social Services to continue to enhance the quality of life of residents in Flintshire care homes.  He invited the Senior Manager Safeguarding and Commissioning to present the report. 

The Senior Manager provided background information and advised that since publication of the report, Flintshire had been developing strategies to improve the experience and quality of life for people living in Flintshire’s care homes and this work was reviewed by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales  who had completed a full impact and analysis of each partner agency in 2017.  The Senior Manager referred to the main considerations, as detailed in the report and commenting on the Older People’s Commissioner’s follow-up  review in 2017 she advised that of the 22 local authorities in Wales, only 4 local authority responses were judged as sufficient across all the requirements for action.  She stated that Flintshire was the only North Wales local authority to achieve this result.

Councillor Christine Jones commented on the inter-generational work and dementia friendly training which was taking place with secondary and primary schools in Flintshire to promote social interaction. 

In response to the suggestion by Councillor Kevin Hughes that a dedicated activities co-ordinator post be created for care homes the Senior Manager Integrated Services Lead Adults/Early Years said that consideration could be given to how a post could be funded. 

Councillor Dave Mackie spoke in support of the report and congratulated the Chief Officer and his Team on their achievements. 

Councillor Gladys Healey expressed the view that the mandatory  training of care assistants needed to be given a higher standard.  She also said that more staff in care homes should be able to speak in the Welsh language. The Senior Manager Safeguarding and Commissioning acknowledged the points made and referred to the training and induction programmes care assistants worked towards.  She advised that in joint partnership with Coleg Cambria, the Authority had set up a  programme to train care staff to learn Welsh in a care setting.  She also referred to the voluntary schemes to learn Welsh provided at the Methodist Chapel, Mold, and the Flintshire Local Voluntary Centre, Mold, and the Social Care Wales e-learning programme for care staff to develop Welsh language skills.

In response to a concern raised by Councillor Hilary McGuill regarding the monitoring of private care homes in Flintshire, the Senior Manager Integrated Services Lead Adults/Early Years advised that there were unannounced visits by CCSIW and commented on the robust monitoring procedures in place by the  contracts monitoring team.

Councillor Andy Dunbobbin said he would like to see more reference to the support of Armed Forces veterans in care homes across the County.

The Chair welcomed the report and referred to the impact of the significant forward planning which had taken place and the contribution it had made to the positive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

(a)       That the Committee supports the approach being undertaken to secure the most effective delivery of positive outcomes for children and better managed demands for placements; and

(b)       That a representative of CAMHS be invited to attend a meeting of the Committee to be held  in June.

The Senior Manager, Children and Workforce explained that Corporate Resources Overview Scrutiny Committee had referred the provision, and costs associated with Out of County placements for children and young people, to the Social and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The Senior Manager, Children and Workforce introduced a report to endorse a fundamental review of residential placements for children and young people.  He advised that the aim of the review was to enable the Authority to more proactively support vulnerable children with complex care and education needs, better manage demand for placements, and develop the market to be more responsive and affordable.

                        The Senior Manager, Children and Workforce provided background information and context and commented on the current challenge in finding appropriate residential placements for children and young people.  He referred to a project across the Social Services and Education portfolios regarding out of county placements to develop further insight into current and future need, the options for support/placements, and associated costs.  He reported on the main considerations as detailed in the report.

                        In response to a comment from Councillor Kevin Hughes on the need to increase foster caring in Flintshire, the Senior Manager, Children and Workforce explained that a range of initiatives were being considered to improve the local position.

                        Councillor Dave Mackie referred to the information in the report on the average cost of placement per year and commented on the negative impact on recruitment of agency foster carers in Flintshire. 

                        In response to the comments and concerns expressed around foster caring the Senior Manager Children and Workforce, advised that there was no difficulty in finding placements in foster care for young children, however, the position was more challenging in terms of placements of large sibling groups and teenagers with complex needs. 

In response to a suggestion by Councillor McGuill on the use of short term external residential activity centres or events to manage  difficult situations the Senior Manager, Children and Workforce explained that care and support could only be provided in a registered setting.

                        The Chair expressed concern that there was no additional provision available from the Welsh Government to assist the Authority should it have to provide for a sibling group with complex needs.

Councillor Hilary McGuill commented on the waiting time for young people to be assessed by Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).  The Senior Manager, Children and Workforce advised that there had been significant national investment in

CAMHS and Looked After Children were a priority and would have a CAMHS assessment within 28 days. During discussion it was agreed that a representative of CAMHS would be invited to attend a meeting of the Committee in June.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee supports the approach being undertaken to secure the most effective delivery of positive outcomes for children and better managed demands for placements; and

(b)       That a representative of CAMHS be invited to attend a meeting of the Committee to be held  in June.

That the Committee notes the Quarter 3 Council Plan 2017/18 Monitoring

Report.

The Chief Officer introduced the Quarter 3 Council Plan 2017/18 Monitoring Report.  He advised that the Report presented the monitoring of progress at the end of Quarter 3 for the Council Plan priority ‘Supportive Council’ relevant to the Committee.

The Chief Officer explained that the Monitoring Report for the 2017/18 Council Plan was a positive report, with 81% of activities being assessed as making good progress, and 69% likely to achieve the desired outcome.  Performance Indicators showed good progress with 84% meeting or near to period target.  Risks were also being successfully managed with the majority being assessed as moderate (67%) or minor (10%). 

            The Chief Officer reported on the performance indicator which showed a red status for current performance against target, and on the major risks for the Committee as detailed in the report.

            Referring to the risk that demand outstrips supply for residential and nursing home care bed availability the Senior Manager Integrated Services Lead Adults/Early Years explained that an options appraisal was being undertaken on the feasibility for land at the Marleyfield House Residential Home  site, Buckley , to be developed to create an additional  32 bedrooms.  

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes the Quarter 3 Council Plan 2017/18 Monitoring

Report.

To receive a verbal report from Members of the Committee.

That the information be noted.

Councillor Marion Bateman said that her visit to Croes Atti had been positive.  She commented that she had seen an empty building in the grounds of Croes Atti and asked why it was not being used.  The Senior Manager Integrated Services Lead Adults explained that the building had been ‘mothballed’, however, if additional funding should become available consideration would be given to its future use.

RESOLVED:

That the information be noted.

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be updated accordingly;

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c)       That a member of the public  be invited to attend a  meeting of the Committee to raise awareness of Asperger’s Syndrome.

In presenting the Forward Work Programme, the Facilitator advised that following approval of the schedule of Committee meetings at the meeting of the County Council on 1 May, she would populate the Programme for the  2018/19 municipal year. 

The Facilitator drew attention to the items on the Forward Work Programme for the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 10 May, and the items to be scheduled in the future. 

Councillor Gladys Healey suggested that Members be given training on awareness of Domestic Violence.

Following a suggestion by Councillor Kevin Hughes it was agreed that a member of the public be invited to attend a future meeting of the Committee to raise awareness of  Asperger’s Syndrome .

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be updated accordingly;

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c)       That a member of the public  be invited to attend a  meeting of the Committee to raise awareness of Asperger’s Syndrome.

There was one member of the press and no members of the public in attendance.