Agenda item

To consider a report by the Service Manager – North Locality (copy attached) to provide information regarding Supporting Independence in Denbighshire Strategy and the various initiatives which have been developed.

10.30 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.

The Lead Member for Social Care (Adults and Children’s Services), Councillor Bobby Feeley, introduced the report (previously circulated) detailing the Council’s corporate approach to enabling the county’s residents to maintain their independence and well-being in their own home. 

Copies of the draft strategy and the Well-being Impact Assessment (WIA) on the Strategy were attached to the report for members’ attention.  The Head of Community Support Services explained the reasons why a corporate approach to delivering the strategy and the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 were required.

Responding to members’ questions the Head of Community Support Services and the Service Manager:  Strategic Development:

·       explained the objective of the ‘Talking Points’ project and its potential benefits to  service-users.  The project was very much in its infancy at present, but as it developed and became better established it was anticipated that the voluntary sector would take ownership of the work;

·       advised that the community-based Welsh language outreach service provided at Y Waen, near St. Asaph, had been established some years ago and was held in high regard by those who attended and their carers.  Community Support Services provided a financial contribution towards the running of this project, although it did not directly commission services from the organisation, or directly refer individuals there.  Nevertheless, individual social workers may signpost individuals to the services available there.  The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales had visited the centre last year and concluded that the services provided there fitted in with the new prevention duties placed on local authorities under the Social Services and Well-being Act;

·       confirmed that the Single Point of Access (SPoA) Service did employ members with Welsh language skills.  All vacancies within Community Support Services were recruited in accordance with the Corporate Recruitment Policy, which made provision for posts which were deemed essential or desirable to have Welsh language skills;

·       explained that part of the work involved with the Community Navigator project was to try and find out via established organisations such as community councils what groups or organisations operated within their communities.  This would enable Community Support Services to signpost individuals to those groups for activities to enhance their health and well-being, and reduce the risk of isolation and loneliness;

·       outlined the role and responsibilities of a ‘Social Care Practitioner’ and how a practitioner could help support an individual’s reablement and enhance their self-confidence in their own abilities to undertake day to day tasks once again;

·       emphasised the need to move away from a welfare reliance state to a state that enabled people, by building their confidence, and addressing the issue of loneliness and isolation;

·       confirmed that the Strategy document was an internal officer focussed document, a more succinct easy-read document would be produced for residents’ information in due course;

·       explained the four conditions that had to be met for an individual to be eligible to access managed care and support to meet personal outcomes, and the process for assessing the conditions.  They explained that there was an Appeal Process if an individual disagreed with their assessment and how that process was undertaken by a different assessor; and

·       advised that a service-user’s ability (including financial ability) to achieve their social care outcomes had to be considered when they applied for services.  However, WG had capped the rate that local authorities could charge for managed care and support at £60 per week.  Benefits such as Attendance Allowance (AA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) were included as resources available to the individual to achieve their outcomes as those benefits were paid for the purpose of helping them to enhance their welfare and well-being.

With respect to the draft Strategy and draft ‘How Do I Access Care and Support in North Wales?’ leaflet, members asked that the following amendments be considered:

·       page 27 of the draft strategy (page 65 of the agenda pack) – the term ‘Denbighshire’s Volunteer Kinetic’ should be replaced with a term that better explained the service/organisation;

·       page 31 of the draft strategy (page 69 of the agenda pack) references to Bodelwyddan and St. Asaph should be amended to reflect the entire county, or the initiatives should be rolled-out to the entire county as it was a county-wide strategy.  Officers did advise that this work would be extended to other areas of the county during the forthcoming year;

·       front cover of the leaflet (page 75 of the agenda pack) the sentence at the bottom of the page to read “Information is available in other languages…upon request” rather than “Information can be made available in other languages…upon request”;

At the conclusion of the discussion the Committee:

RESOLVED that:

(i)    subject to the above observations and consideration of the suggested amendments, to support the Strategy; and

(ii)   endorse the corporate approach to meeting the needs of citizens who may require support, thereby preventing the need for statutory intervention in their lives.