Agenda item

(a)         That Members note the complexity, breadth and depth of the work that is required to be undertaken by the Regional Partnership Board; and

(b)         That Members note the progress undertaken in 2022/23 on the work areas being taken forward through the North Wales Regional Partnership Board.

The Senior Manager – Safeguarding and Commissioning introduced the report stating that it was a requirement for each Regional Partnership Board to submit their annual report to their Scrutiny Committee for overview and that any feedback she received today would be sent to the Regional Partnership Board on their behalf.  She advised that this was part of the requirement under Part 9 of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014 and that the purpose of the report was to give all partner agencies and Welsh Government an oversight of the work undertaken by the Regional Partnership Board, its activity during the year and priorities for the following year.  She advised that the Regional Partnership Board had its own role to share a clear direction of travel for service development regarding integration of health and social care to insure the wellbeing of others.

She referred to key points in section 3 of the full appendix report:-

·         Autism Code of Practice

·         Capital

·         Children and Young People Programme

·         Commissioning

·         Dementia Care pathway of Standards (Wales)

·         Learning Disability Transformation Programme

·         Market Stability Report

·         Population Needs Assessment

·         Regional Integration Fund (RIF)

·         Research, Innovation and Improvement Coordination Hub

·         Together for Mental Health Transformation Programme

·         Workforce

Councillor Gladys Healey asked how long children had to wait before they saw a consultant concerning mental health issues and she was also concerned if children who received free school meals had a meal if they were sent home e.g. due to flooding.  In response the Senior Manager – Safeguarding and Commissioning advised that she did not have the data to hand concerning the waiting list for child and adolescent mental health services but would make enquiries.  She also explained that the provision of free school meals was part of the work fed into the market stability report and that the population needs assessment took into account numbers of free school meals as well which helped as part of their planning.  She added that each Local Authority and Partner Agency was responsible for its work as well as its collective piece of work and that Flintshire had worked hard to support individuals who relied heavily on the free school meal provision.  She advised that whilst a large number of schools did close recently due to flooding, they were purposely closed after 1pm so that lunch was provided.

The Chief Officer (Social Services) suggested that they pose the question to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) when they next meet concerning the Consultant waiting time for children with mental health issues.  He also referred to 3.12 of the report concerning the mental health transformation programme and praised the community hubs that had been successful in supporting people to enable them to support themselves.  He also wanted to make the Committee aware that Flintshire had taken the lead around social value and that it remained a key part of Flintshire’s approach.   He advised that the Regional Group, that the report referred to, was the only one in Wales that had been happening for the last 3 or 4 years which Flintshire County Council chaired.

Councillor Thew questioned if the cost of the NWRPB was split equally between the 6 County’s and how much Flintshire paid.   The Senior Manager – Safeguarding and Commissioning advised payments were not all equal and that they were based on the funding formula for the Local Authorities so contributions differed but there were also contributions from other key partner agencies and not just the 6 local authorities.  She stated that Flintshire normally pay £123,000 per annum but last year they had a reduction of £50,000 which meant they paid £73,000 in 23/24 and that the expectation was that would possibly go back up to £123,000.  She advised that it was referred to in the budget efficiency papers.

The Chief Officer (Social Services) added it was a statutory requirement of Welsh Government that they have a Regional Partnership Board and that it was also an investment of Officer time and resource as many Officers sat on many meetings.

In response to further questions from Councillor Thew, the Chief Officer (Social Services) apologised if he misled her and explained that every region had had a Regional Partnership Board for the last 4 or 5 years and that what he said was that not everywhere had an Active Social Forum which was different but now everyone in Wales did have to have one and that they were playing catch up with them.  He also suggested that that her comment on how the Barnett formular that penalised Flintshire which in effect increased Council Tax had an effect on Flintshire residents as they had to travel to a main hospital outside of Flintshire which made it difficult for some to attend appointments and visit patients should be another question that they post to BCUHB when they next meet.

The first recommendation was amended at the request of the Chair and this was moved by Councillor Gladys Healey and seconded by Councillor Mel Buckley.  The second recommendation was moved by Councillor Gladys Healey and seconded by Councillor Linda Thomas.

RESOLVED:

(a)         That Members note the complexity, breadth and depth of the work that is required to be undertaken by the Regional Partnership Board; and

(b)         That Members note the progress undertaken in 2022/23 on the work areas being taken forward through the North Wales Regional Partnership Board.