Issue - meetings

(a)      That the Forward Work Programme be approved;

(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 the Committee notes the progress made in completing the outstanding actions.

The Social Care and Environment Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator presented the current Forward Work Programme and informed Members that a report on Disabled Facilities Grants and Occupational Therapy would be added to the April meeting.  Also, a possible report to the June meeting on How Children Enter our Care System – Varying Degrees of Intervention, Universal Credit and Young Care Leavers.

            Councillor Ellis asked if there could be an update on waiting times for OT Assessments at the April meeting.

            Councillor Owen asked if there was an issue with communication between Social Services and Housing on issues concerning protecting victims and children in their own home due to domestic violence.   In response, the Senior Manager Children and Workforce advised that they were aware that Domestic Violence and Domestic Abuse had an impact on adults and children and as part of their Early Help Hub consisting of 17 agencies, 2 of which were from Housing, worked together on referrals and looked at how they could support children and families at an early point.  There was also a good initiative with the Police called Operation Encompass which enhanced communication between the police and schools where a child was at risk from domestic abuse.   The purpose of the information sharing was to ensure schools had more information to support safeguarding of children and in a better position to understand if an incident had taken place.  He suggested that an item be added to the Forward Work Programme as it had been a number of years since the Early Help Hub had been reported on.  He also explained to Members about the Toxic Trio which covered mental health, domestic violence and substance misuse which the Early Help Hub see a lot of.

            The Senior Manager (Children and Workforce) responded to a question raised by the Chair regarding Climbie visits and advised that there was a recommendation years ago following a death of a child that elected Members should be able to have direct discussions with front line staff so that they had an understanding of issues. Overview & Scrutiny Members previously went to Flint to see the teams to ask questions but this was paused during the pandemic, however as staff were now back in the offices it would be a good idea, especially for new Members to meet the staff.

            The Senior Manager (Children and Workforce) would liaise with the Facilitator to provide all Members with the contact details for the agencies involved in Domestic Violence and Abuse which was requested by Councillor Ellis.

            Councillor Claydon asked if there was any regular reporting about handling domestic abuse in either this Committee or Housing Committee.  The Chair agreed to ask all Committees that reported on the subject to highlight it on their agenda so that they could have access to it.  The Senior Manager (Children and Workforce) added that when the item was brought to Committee, the Officer responsible for Violence to Women and Domestic Abuse would be asked to attend to give an overview of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41