Agenda item

To consider a report by the Corporate Director: Modernisation and Wellbeing (copy enclosed) outlining the policy and legislative changes proposed by the Welsh Government which will affect the delivery of social services for the foreseeable future.  The report also seeks Members’ views on the changes and on the proposals under development to manage the delivery of services in the future.          

                                                                                                                     9.45 a.m.

A copy of a report by the Corporate Director: Modernising and Wellbeing, which detailed major policy and legislative change proposed by Welsh Government and its affect on the delivery of social services for the foreseeable future, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

 

The Corporate Director: Modernising and Wellbeing introduced the report which outlined the proposed changes set out in “Sustainable Social Services: A Framework for Action” (SSSFFA) and the Social Services (Wales) Bill.  The report sought Members’ guidance on how Denbighshire might wish to express its views on the consultation report on the Bill, and on the proposed Modernising Social Services Board which was to be established to take forward key developments in Denbighshire.  It was explained that delivery through partnership would be a core feature of the proposals.

 

Appendix 1 summarised the content of the major Welsh Government policy document “Sustainable Social Services: a Framework for Action” and proposals in the Social Services (Wales) Bill.  Together they set out a radical agenda for the transformation of Social Services in Wales.  Delivery of the agenda formed the heart of Contract 2 within the Compact for Change.  A consultation document on the Social Services (Wales) Bill had been issued with a closing date of 1^st June, 2012.  Consideration of this report at the current meeting provided members with an opportunity to feed into a Local Government response to the consultation.  The WLGA’s briefing on the proposals had been made available as a Background Document.

 

Many of the proposals in SSSFFA and the Bill assumed that councils would deliver services in partnership through close collaboration with other services within the Council, the NHS, other Councils or with the community, voluntary and independent sectors. Appendix 2 set out current structures for working on an inter-agency, sub-regional and regional basis.

 

Some issues would require a particular Denbighshire focus if a particular impetus was needed or there were particular opportunities.  It was proposed that a Denbighshire Modernising Social Services Board, across Children’s, Adults and Business Services, was established to oversee this work.  There would be considerable common areas of work with those to modernise the Council generally and this had been illustrated in the Chart included in Appendix 2 to the report.

 

The Corporate Director: Modernising and Wellbeing (CDM&W) provided a detailed presentation of Appendix 1, Modernising Social Services – The Package, and the main points included:-

 

·        Challenges

·        Gamechanging Principles

·        Differences

·        Social Services (Wales) Bill

·        Maintaining and Enhancing the Wellbeing of People in Need

·        Implications

·        A stronger Voice and Real Control

·        Strong nation Direction and Local Accountability

·        Safeguarding and Protection

·        Regulation and Inspection

·        Denbighshire Modernising Social Services Board

 

The following issues were raised by Councillor J.A. Davies and responses provided by the CDM&W:-

 

Pages 18 and 21 - Simplicity of obtaining details on acquiring help, and access to information.  It was confirmed that there would be a need to monitor the dissemination of information through various channels such as the website, leaflets and posters.

Page 25 - The CDM&W confirmed that there were no additional resources provided in respect of the implementation of the Local “People in Need” assessments.

Page 27 – It was explained that the maximum £50.00 per week charge had been introduced under the Welsh Government charging policy in respect of social care in the community.  In response to a question from Councillor, M. McCarroll, the Head of Adult and Business Services (HABS) outlined the criteria and procedure adopted for assessing the need for the provision of additional sessions.

Page 31 - Rights of Carers.  The officers confirmed the importance of the provision of help and assistance for carers, particular reference being made to the introduction of the new Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure 2010.  

 

In response to questions from Members, the CDM&W outlined the significant change in assessing the Welsh Language as a care need and highlighted the importance of meeting service users’ needs, particular reference being made to independent sector providers.  She confirmed that procedures would be introduced to monitor the effectiveness of the service and reference was made to the role of the Contract Management Team in monitoring service provision.

 

The concerns expressed by Councillor D. Owens, regarding the need for the provision of additional funding from the Welsh Government to meet the requirements of the important and significant changes being introduced into the service provision, were endorsed by the CDM&W. 

 

In response to questions from Councillor G.M. Kensler the HABS provided an outline of the work undertaken by North East Wales Carers Information Service (NEWCIS); the supply and reclamation of equipment to service users by both Health and Social Care Services, and detailed the service provided by the Family Information Service.

 

In reply to a question from Councillor E.A. Jones regarding forward planning within the service in respect of changes in society, the CDM&W outlined the work undertaken in respect of demographic change, the need for early intervention and the importance of the transformation of the provision of services to adapt to the needs of the public.

 

The CDM&W responded to a question from the Chair regarding recommendation 3.2 of the report and explained that the Membership of the Denbighshire Modernising Social Services Board would include a Lead Member as it would have executive powers.  It was also emphasised that it would be important that scrutiny was kept informed of the Board’s proposals and decisions.

 

The CDM&W responded to a question from Councillor M. McCarroll regarding social enterprise models.  She confirmed it was currently in the preliminary stages and made reference to Cefndy Healthcare although not a social enterprise, it did have a number of the characteristics of a social enterprise.

 

Reference was made by Councillor J.R. Bartley to concerns expressed regarding assessment and early diagnosis with a view to providing early intervention. He explained that currently the service users’ family would be responsible for finding a placement for the service user following their 8 week assessment.  The HABS referred to the re-ablement approach and the role and use of the day centre facilities to assist with rehabilitation and re-ablement.  Members of the Committee were assured by officers that continued support would be provided and that the matter would be monitored closely.

 

Following a brief discussion, it was:-

 

RESOLVED – that the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee:-

 

(a)    receive the report and that members’ comments on the proposed provisions in the Social Services (Wales) Bill be included in the Council’s response to the consultation on the Bill, and

(b)    supports the proposal to establish a Denbighshire Modernising Social Services Board for the purpose of taking forward key developments in Denbighshire.

 

At this juncture in the meeting the fire alarm sounded andthe meeting was adjourned.

 

At the commencement of the meeting the following Members were present:-

Councillors B. Blakeley, E.A. Jones, P.M. Jones, M. McCarroll and T.M. Parry.