Agenda, decisions and minutes

To appoint a Chair for the meeting.

That the appointment of Councillor Teresa Carberry as Chair of the Committee be noted.

The Facilitator requested nominations for the Chair for the meeting.  Councillor Teresa Carberry was nominated and seconded for the Chair.

RESOLVED:

That the appointment of Councillor Teresa Carberry as Chair of the Committee

be noted.

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Councillor Fran Lister declared a personal interest (for agenda item 6)

Councillor Fran Lister declared a personal interest (for agenda item 6)

That the committee note the content of the Safeguarding in Education report and provide their feedback to officers on the strategies used by the Portfolio to effectively discharge its duties.

            The Learning Advisor (Health, Wellbeing & Safeguarding) introduced the report which provided Members with an update of the Authority’s statutory safeguarding duties both in schools and within the Education and Youth portfolio. Specific points within the report were highlighted to Members.

In response to questions from Members, the Learning Advisor – Health, Wellbeing & Safeguarding agreed to provide the following :-

•   To provide information on the outstanding places on courses for Professional Development.

•   To provide information on the range of roles included in the new groupings at point 1.06 of the report.

•   In regard to Relationships and Sexuality Education she agreed to provide a report, which would include the outcomes of the objectives, which ensured that schools were being supported to meet the requirements of the statutory RSE Code.

•   In response to points on the number of schools accessing the 360° Safe Cymru Tool, it was agreed to provide this localised information.  Schools would then be reminded that this resource was available, that it was free of charge and if this was not being used how were they ensuring that their online safety provision, policies and procedures were up to date. This was also something that Welsh Government were highlighting.

The resolution within the report was supported.

RESOLVED:

That the committee note the content of the Safeguarding in Education report and provide their feedback to officers on the strategies used by the Portfolio to effectively discharge its duties.

To outline the outcome of the review and impact of FCC Local Policy.

(a)      That the committee support the progress made in delivering phase one of our ‘Care Closer to Home’ strategy.

(b)      That a workshop for Elected Members was arranged in the Autumn 2024 to outline the new legislation, the context of current placement commissioning (often referred to as Out of County Placements) and to explore options for developing our strategic approach for placement commissioning and further development of in-house placement provision.

            In presenting the report the Senior Manager (Children’s Services) commented that the draft had identified the current and projected population of looked after children. It provided an assessment of the support which was required and identified the Authority’s ambition to further develop in-house fostering and in-house residential children’s homes in Flintshire. Welsh Government (WG) were committed to eliminate private profit from the care of looked after children and the  Authority had been clear in discussions with WG that there had to be a timeline with a funded programme which would ensure that it would be possible to deliver this under the requirements set out in legislation.  The next phase was to work with Members to set out our ambition, establish what we want to provide as an Authority and to work with WG to ensure the revenue and resources were provided to support this.

            In response to a question on agency foster carers, the Senior Manager agreed to take this back as an action and circulate the information to Members.

The recommendations within the report were supported.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the committee support the progress made in delivering phase one of our ‘Care Closer to Home’ strategy.

(b)      That a workshop for Elected Members was arranged in the Autumn 2024 to outline the new legislation, the context of current placement commissioning (often referred to as Out of County Placements) and to explore options for developing our strategic approach for placement commissioning and further development of in-house placement provision.

(a)      That the committee recognise the revised duties placed on the Council by ALNET and the actions undertaken to implement the new system.

(b)      That the committee note the potential financial pressures due to the legislative requirements.

(c)       That the Learning Advisor for Autism be invited to attend the committee at some time in the future

Introducing the Report, the Senior Manager (Inclusion and Progression) explained that it summarised the implementation of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (ALNET) and the support provided to children with Autism.  Specific points with the report were highlighted for Members.

The Senior Manager (Children’s Services) referred to the work supporting health colleagues around the volumes of children and young people who were waiting for an ND (neuro development) assessment.  At a recent meeting of the Social & Health Care Overview and Scrutiny committee the question on waiting times was put to Senior Members of the Health Board.  A written response was provided and the Senior Manager agreed to share this with the committee.

The Chair suggested that another recommendation be included “that the Learning Advisor for Autism be invited to attend the committee at some time in the future”.  This was supported by the Committee.

The recommendations within the report were supported.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the committee recognise the revised duties placed on the Council by ALNET and the actions undertaken to implement the new system.

(b)      That the committee note the potential financial pressures due to the legislative requirements.

(c)       That the Learning Advisor for Autism be invited to attend the committee at some time in the future

That the committee received the report on period dignity and was assured that the grant funding has been appropriately spent and had helped to meet the needs of those targeted by this Welsh Government initiative.

The Learning Advisor (Health, Wellbeing and Safeguarding) introduced the report which outlined the current national position regarding period dignity and how grant funding had benefited Flintshire schools and communities over the two financial periods for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, with Welsh Government (WG) providing its “Period Proud Wales Action Plan” in February 2023. 

The recommendation within the report was supported.

RESOLVED:

That the committee received the report on period dignity and was assured that the grant funding has been appropriately spent and had helped to meet the needs of those targeted by this Welsh Government initiative.

None