Agenda item

(a)       That the Committee supports the levels of progress and confidence in the achievement of priorities as detailed within the Council Plan 2022/23;

(b)       That the Committee supports overall performance against Council Plan 2022/23 performance indicators/measures; and

(c)       That the Committee is assured by explanations given for those areas of underperformance.

The Chief Officer (Social Services) introduced the report which summarised the performance of areas relevant to Social & Health for 2022-23 at year end Quarter 4.  Although some of the areas in the report were outside Social Services, there was an 80% match so he felt it was important to look at the overall sub-priority of the Council Plan most relevant to this portfolio.  He was pleased to report an overall good level of progress made in activities across the areas as outlined in 1.04 of the report and that he had spoken to Vicky Clarke in Community & Housing prior to this meeting concerning the red activity as shown in 1.05 of the report, advising Members that she was willing to provide any areas of assurance to them concerning this.  He went on to give an overview of the other areas listed below that were relevant to this Committee:-

·         Independent Living

·         Safeguarding

·         Direct Provision to Support People Closer to Home 2022/23

In relation to a question raised by Councillor McGuill concerning the number of providers of Micro-Carers compared to the number of service users, the Chief Officer (Social Services) advised that the figures in the report were correct as Micro-Carers provide care to more than one person.  In response to a further question, the Senior Manager - Integrated Services and Lead Adults advised that a team of people co?ordinated a rolling program for the recruitment of Micro-Carers and by word of mouth around the care sector to encourage people coming forward.

The Senior Manager - Integrated Services and Lead Adults responded to questions raised by Councillor Mackie and explained that the All Wales Pathway for Dementia was part of a wider pathway that was being developed by Flintshire and the Health Board in relation to hospital discharges.  Part of this enabled people who had been diagnosed with Dementia to have a comparable service wherever they lived in Wales throughout their journey and that support and advice would adapt as their needs changed.  The Chief Officer (Social Services) added that the Health Board had the lead role around the Dementia Strategy and that as suggested, with Member support, they would invite Health Board colleagues to a future meeting.  The Vice-Chair requested that it be put on the Forward Work Programme.

Councillor Gladys Healey stated that it was not appropriate for Mental Health to be under the same umbrella as Dementia and Drug Users as there were different criteria of mental health and patients should not be in the same hospital wards.  The Chief Officer (Social Services) stated that it was a fair point and that there was room for improvement around mental health services and that Flintshire worked very hard to maintain a strong local authority mental health service.  He advised that they still had community based teams in combination with the Health Service which most authorities in North Wales had moved away from.  He assured Members that they made every effort to provide a good mental health service but recognised that there was still a long way to go.

Councillor Gladys Healey also asked about the team that helped with housing for people with mental health issues.  The Senior Manager - Integrated Services and Lead Adults stated that within Social Services there was an Adults at Risk Team who were very experienced and worked with the Homeless Team within Housing who supported people that did not fit anywhere, which unfortunately some people with mental health issues fell under, to prevent them from being homeless.

The recommendations within the report were moved by Councillor Dave Mackie and seconded by Councillor Gladys Healey.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee supports the levels of progress and confidence in the achievement of priorities as detailed within the Council Plan 2022/23;

(b)       That the Committee supports overall performance against Council Plan 2022/23 performance indicators/measures; and

(c)       That the Committee is assured by explanations given for those areas of underperformance.