Issue - meetings

Social Services Wellbeing Act - update and response to Code of Practice

Meeting: 05/03/2015 - Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 62)

62 Social Services Wellbeing Act update and response to Code of Practice pdf icon PDF 104 KB

Decision:

            That the report be noted. 

 

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Social Services) introduced Vicky Allen, Senior Manager Children’s Lead to the Committee. 

 

                        The Chief Officer detailed the background to the report and explained that Welsh Government (WG) had begun consultation for parts 2, 3, 4, 7 and 11 of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act.  The report provided details of the following four areas and the key implications for each of these areas, which the Chief Officer detailed:-

 

·         Understanding need

·         Enhancing Wellbeing

·         Early Intervention and prevention

·         Social Enterprise

 

Councillor Hilary McGuill felt that the report was initially negative but when she continued to read it, she found that the Council was already undertaking many of the issues raised in the implications.  She felt that the Act was a good idea as it put the needs of the service user first and she added that it was important that a plan was put in place before the issue became a crisis.  She welcomed the updates provided in the report and commented on the problems, which were not always the Council’s fault, which arose when working with others; she highlighted the particular challenge of health.  The Chief Officer indicated that many of the issues in the report were positive and confirmed that the Authority was already complying with many of the suggested amendments to the Act. 

 

            Councillor Ian Smith asked about the cost of implementing the changes and the Chief Officer advised that this was difficult to identify.  He explained that there would be some cost demands initially but that the measures being suggested would prevent costs in the future. 

 

            The Chair agreed with the principle of the Act but felt that additional funding should be provided by WG to implement the proposed changes.  Councillor McGuill commented on the upfront costs and spoke of the need to ‘spend to save’ and the implementation of minor adaptations which would prevent spend in the future.  The Chief Officer advised that Welsh Local Government Association had commissioned a piece of research in relation to the resource implications of the Act, which he agreed to circulate.       

 

            RESOLVED:

 

            That the report be noted.