Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies of absence were received from Councillor Bobby Feeley, Lead member for Well-being and Independence.

Councillor Emrys Wynne and Councillor Joan Butterfield declared personal interests in agenda item 5- Annual report of safeguarding adults in Denbighshire 1st April 2017 – 31^st March 2018.

No urgent matters were raised.

To receive minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 28 June 2018 (copy enclosed).

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.

The minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee meeting held on the 28 June 2018 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Partnership Scrutiny Committee held on the 28 June 2018 be received and approved as a correct record.

To consider a report by the Safeguarding Team Manager (copy enclosed) providing an overview of the impact of local safeguarding arrangements and practice and to review progress in this key area of work over the last twelve months.

10:05 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

In the absence of the Lead Member for Well-being and Independence the Head of Community Support Services introduced the Team Manager:  Safeguarding’s Annual Report on Safeguarding Adults in Denbighshire for the period 1^st April 2017 to 31^st March 2018, copies of which had been published and circulated in advance of the Committee’s meeting. 

During his introduction the Head of Service informed members that the report, the format of which had been amended in line with previous suggestions made by the Committee, outlined the legislative requirements relating to safeguarding, the improvements achieved during the year in relation to the consistency and quality of safeguarding work and the processes in place to address any safeguarding concerns brought to the Council’s attention, along with details of the number of referrals received in the county during 2017-18.  As in previous years, and in line with the national trend, the number of adult protection referrals had increased during 2017-18.  Nevertheless the 8% increase in 2017-18 in comparison to 2016-17 was considerably less than the increase of 48% recorded in 2016-17 compared to 2015-16.  The Head of Service detailed the safeguarding ‘headlines for 2017-18’ listed in the report advising members that in response to concerns raised by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) on the quality of strategy meeting minutes and their potential to provide a sufficient audit trail, significant improvements had been made in relation to this aspect of the work, with minutes now including evidence of formal outcomes and action plans with agreed timescales for completion being produced.

The Head of Service assured the Committee that the Council’s performance against the only national performance indicator (PI) relating to adult safeguarding – the number of enquiries completed within 7 working days – which stood at 67% was not the ‘best’ or ‘worst’ performance in Wales.  He emphasised that this indicator encompassed all aspects of dealing with the enquiry, including the conclusion of all administrative tasks which was to an extent dependent upon partner organisations completing their paperwork and submitting them to the Council on time.  It was important to understand that, whilst the Council’s performance in relation to the PI did not seem that good, the Council’s priority was to ensure the safety of the vulnerable individual.  If there was evidence to suggest that an individual was at risk of any type of harm, action would be taken on the day the evidence came to light.  Prior to responding to members’ questions the Head of Service explained the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) requirements and the potential implications of the reform proposed in the new UK Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill (MCA Bill) on DoLS, which will see them replaced with a scheme which will be known as the Liberty Protection Safeguards.  Denbighshire’s performance in relation to DoLS activity during 2017-18 was in line with other Welsh local authorities.  He also expanded on the Council’s key objectives in relation to adult safeguarding for the current reporting year.

Responding to the Committee’s questions the Head of Service and the Team Manager:  Safeguarding:

·         confirmed that the introduction of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and its associated processes in relation to safeguarding had probably contributed to the increase in the number of safeguarding referrals in recent years.  It was also widely accepted that public knowledge and perception of what constituted a violation of a vulnerable person’s life and their rights had also led to an increase in referrals;

·         advised that the ‘quality’ of an adult safeguarding referral to the Council could also affect the Authority’s ability to meet the 7 working day deadline for concluding an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

At this juncture (10.35 a.m.) there was a 10 minute break

The meeting reconvened at 10.45 a.m.

To consider a report by the Commissioning Officer – Carers Services (copy enclosed) providing information on the provision and availability of respite to Denbighshire citizens who have care and support needs, which in turn provides respite to their family Carers.

11:05 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

In the Lead Member’s absence the Head of Community Support Services introduced the Commissioning Officer:  Carers Services report (previously circulated).  The report, provided in response to a request from the Committee, outlined the provision and availability of respite services for Denbighshire citizens who had care and support needs to enable their carers to receive periods of respite.  Both the Head of Community Support Services and the Commissioning Officer:  Carers Services, as part of their introduction:

·         explained the definition of ‘respite’ in the context of adult social care;

·         gave an overview of the respite provision available for adults aged 18 years and over, which included older people and people with complex physical and/or learning needs;

·         highlighted the emphasis placed on carers and carers needs in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (SSWB (Wales) Act) and the responsibilities placed on individuals and local authorities under the Act to meet carers’ needs;

·         outlined Denbighshire’s approach towards meeting the Act’s requirements and adhering to its ethos in relation to carers’ services; and

·         gave an overview of the demographic and commissioning challenges faced by the Council in a bid to comply with the legislative requirements, along with information on the work underway regionally in a bid to meet those needs via sustainable integrated services across North Wales.

Denbighshire was fully committed towards supporting carers in the county to the best of its ability.  This commitment was reinforced by the inclusion in the Corporate Plan, under the Resilient Communities priority, of an ambition to “ensure all carers in Denbighshire are well supported”.  With a view to delivering this goal a Carers Strategy and cross-service action plan had been drawn up to ensure that all services were able to identify carers and support their needs as part of their everyday business. 

Responding to members’ questions officers:

·         advised that it was estimated there was circa 11,600 carers (of all ages) across the county;

·         advised that not every ‘carer’ considered themselves to be a ‘carer’, a significant number considered it to be their ‘duty’ to care for a family member.  Some of these individuals did not wish to have a ‘carer’s assessment’ done, and the Act was clear that no one should be compelled to have a carer’s assessment.  It was the Council’s duty to make provision for such assessments for those who wanted them and to promote their availability, the availability of carers services and the ethos of the Act to residents;

·         acknowledged that not all carers were content with the services available to them, despite this a number were extremely reluctant to inform the Council about the types of services which they would find useful;

·         emphasised that ‘carers assessments’ were no longer complex form filling exercises, they now centred around a ‘What Matters’ conversation with the carer with a view to exploring what outcomes they desired and how best to achieve those outcomes;

·         advised that respite provision was not confined to the ‘cared for’ person having to enter a residential or nursing home for a specified period of time, they could be cared for in a number of different settings including within their own home, extra care provision, sitting services, day services.  Appendix 3 to the report listed the current models of respite care services available across Denbighshire.  The types of provision and services available, including flexible services, changed on a regular basis in order to meet individual choices and demands; 

·         confirmed that a regional group of officers and stakeholders were currently exploring how best to deliver respite services for ‘cared for’ people with complex needs, mainly complex health needs.  The Health Service would generally  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider a report by the Scrutiny Coordinator (copy enclosed) seeking a review of the committee’s forward work programme and updating members on relevant issues.

11:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.

The Scrutiny Co-ordinator introduced the report (previously circulated) seeking Members’ review of the Committee’s work programme and providing an update on relevant issues.

A copy of the “Member’s proposal form” had been included in Appendix 2. The Scrutiny Co-ordinator requested that any proposals be submitted to herself. The Cabinet Forward Work Programme had been included as Appendix 3, the table summarising recent Committee resolutions, advising on progress with their implementation, had been attached as Appendix 4.

The Scrutiny Co-ordinator confirmed a special committee meeting had been scheduled for October 1^st 2018. Members were reminded that representatives Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) would be in attendance to answer questions relating to the recently published reports on the Tawel Fan Ward. Members asked that a link to previous reports be circulated prior to the meeting.

RESOLVED that subject to the above, the Forward Work Programme be approved.

To receive any updates from Committee representatives on various Council Boards and Groups.

12:05 p.m. – 12:10 p.m.

No feedback from committee representatives were raised.

Councillor Emrys Wynne took the opportunity to welcome back Councillor Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones as Chair following her absence.

The Chair thanked all members for their wishes and thanked Councillor Emrys Wynne for overseeing the role of Chair during recent months.

The meeting concluded at 11.45 a.m.