Agenda item

(a)       That the report be received;

(b)       That the Learning and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Facilitator request a breakdown from Human Resources on the Workforce sickness figures;

(c)        That concerns relating to the format of the report be submitted to Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee; and

(d)       That an awareness session on Disabled Facilities Grants be scheduled for Members. 

The Director of Community Services introduced a report for the Committee to consider the 2011/12 Quarter 4/Year End service performance reports, note the draft year end position of the Strategic Assessment of Risks and Challenges (SARC) and note the progress made against the Improvement Targets contained within the performance reports.                 

            Development & Resources

                        The Head of Development and Resources gave a short presentation on the performance within Development & Resources, outlining work which had been undertaken to improve performance and areas where improvement was needed, as outlined within the report. 

                        The Chair referred to paragraph 3.2 on page 95 on the introduction of locality working with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and said that as a member of the Stakeholder Group, she shared the concerns reported. 

                        Councillor P. Curtis requested that a breakdown be provided to give information on short term/long term sickness figures.  Councillor S. Jones said that short term sickness was more of a concern and that this should be considered carefully.  Following a comment from Councillor M. Bateman on whether sickness was being caused by employees being in the wrong job, the Director advised that discussions with the employees concerned took place on a case by case basis.  The Chair suggested that the Facilitator contact Human Resources to clarify whether the information requested by Members was already considered at Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee.  Councillor D.E. Wisinger also requested that the sickness figures breakdown include details of the department. 

            Social Services for Adults

                        The Service Manager gave a short presentation on the performance within Social Services for Adults, outlining work which had been undertaken to improve performance and areas where improvement was needed, as outlined within the report. 

                        In response to a question from Councillor D.I. Mackie on the Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), the Chair indicated that the table on page 106 provided a breakdown of the average time taken for an Occupational Therapy assessment to be carried out and the average time taken in Housing/Care & Repair for the DFGs to be completed.  Councillor Mackie also expressed concern and confusion that the information for DFGs seemed to be repeated on pages 98, 102 and 106 in the report.  The Service Manager explained that DFGs featured as a national figure but also in the Council’s own improvement actions and this was the reason for the duplication; however she indicated that the information could be shown in a clearer manner. 

                        The Director of Community Services said that the template used was a new format which was being used corporately for the production of the quarterly performance reports following a pilot scheme within the Housing Directorate.  The Chair expressed her disappointment at the new format which she felt was difficult to follow.  Councillor M. Lowe suggested that a Member workshop be held on DFGs.  The Learning and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Facilitator advised that the new format had been developed following concerns raised in relation to quarterly performance reporting.  A group consisting of officers and Overview & Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs had been convened and subsequently a small sub group including Member representation had developed the revised format.  She suggested that the comments be passed on to the Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee.  The Chair also asked the Cabinet Member for Social Services to forward the comments of the Committee on the format of the reports to Cabinet. 

                        Councillor P. Curtis said that he was pleased to see the downward trend in the waiting times for an Occupational Therapy assessment.  The Director of Community Services reminded Members that the figure was also better than the Welsh average and that the number of assessments undertaken had increased significantly in quarter 1.  The Chair also asked Members to note that there were very few complaints about the service.      

            Social Services for Children

                        The Director of Community Services gave a short presentation on the performance within Development & Resources, outlining work which had been undertaken to improve performance and areas where improvement was needed, as outlined within the report.         

                        The Chair referred to page 72 and asked whether a completion date for Arosfa had been identified.  On the issue of the ID card A2A, the Cabinet Member for Social Services said that the rollout was scheduled to take place on 9 July 2012.  

Councillor D.I. Mackie referred to indicator SCC/039 on the percentage of health assessments for Looked After Children that had been undertaken and raised concern that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) were unaware of the problems.  The Management Information Officer said that a meeting had been held with BCUHB and referred Members to the table on page 85.  A breakdown of the reasons the assessment had not taken place were identified in the table with the majority being appointments which were offered to families but which had not been kept.  In response to a question from Councillor Bateman, the Management Information Officer said that there was only one Looked After Children Nurse working in Flintshire and that colleagues would provide cover if the Nurse was on holiday or was ill.  She agreed to report back to the Committee regarding who funded the post.        

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the report be received;

(b)       That the Learning and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Facilitator request a breakdown from Human Resources on the Workforce sickness figures;

(c)        That concerns relating to the format of the report be submitted to Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee; and

(d)       That an awareness session on Disabled Facilities Grants be scheduled for Members.