Agenda item

(i)        To receive a copy of the Improvement Assessment letter from the Wales Audit Office (copy enclosed).

(ii)       To receive a report by the Principal Manager: Business Support on Local Authority Social Services Inspection Evaluation and Review 2012-13 (copy enclosed).

 

(i)            Annual Improvement Assessment Letter

 

A copy of the Improvement Assessment letter received from the Wales Audit Office (WAO), which provided an opinion on whether the Council had discharged its statutory duties in respect of improvement planning, improvement reporting and had met the requirements of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

 

The Welsh Audit Office representative introduced the report.  He explained that the opinion expressed in the letter by the WAO concluded that the Council had discharged its improvement reporting duties under the Measure as follow:-

 

·                     the Council had published an assessment of its performance during 2012-13 in its Annual Performance Report 2012/13 before the 31^st October, 2013;

·                     the report assesses the Council’s performance in the preceding financial year (2012-13) and sets out how the Council has sought to discharge its duties under the Measure;

·                     the Report evaluates the Council’s success in achieving its improvement objectives and expresses its view clearly;

·                       the Report includes a short section for citizens who want to provide feedback or make comments on the Review;

·                       the Report includes details of performance and comparisons as measured by the national statutory performance indicators; and

·                       the Report includes a short section on the ways in which the Council has sought to collaborate.

 

No proposals for improvement had been suggested in the letter.  It was explained that progress made by the Council in implementing the proposals set out in previous reports and letters would continue to be monitored and reported.

 

It was confirmed that more detailed work would be undertaken on the arrangements which supported the Council’s performance management and reporting.  A summary of all the work undertaken by the WAO, and relevant regulators during 2013-14, would be provided in an Annual Improvement Report to be published in March, 2014.

 

RESOLVED – that the Corporate Governance Committee receives the Wales Audit Office letter and note its contents.

 

 

(ii)            Local Authority Social Services Inspection Evaluation and Review 2012-13

 

A copy of a report by the Principal Manager: Business Support, on the key issues arising from the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) evaluation of Denbighshire Social Services performance for 2012-13, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

 

The Corporate Director: Modernising and Wellbeing (CD:MW) introduced the report which detailed the performance evaluation for Social Services including areas of progress, areas for improvement and of risk.  The evaluation highlighted the ambitious programme of modernisation which would shape services and citizen's experiences, and acknowledged the strong and effective leadership at all tiers with strong evidence of continued progress despite the challenges being faced.

A number of specific areas for improvement had been identified in the CSSIW report and would be discussed during regular engagement meetings between the Senior Management Team and the CSSIW in the coming year.  The areas for follow-up by the CSSIW next year included:-

·                                   Establishing clear measurable outcomes to assist with the evaluation of existing and proposed services.

·                                   Assessment and support to carers.

·                                   Performance in relation to looked after children.

·                                   Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

·                                   Staff sickness levels.

·                                   National thematic inspection of looked after children.

·                                   National thematic inspection of commissioning of social care for older people.

·                                   Partnership working with BCUHB.

 

In reply to questions from Councillor M.L. Holland, the rationale of national thematic inspections, undertaken across Wales by WG, was provided.  It was explained that deprivation of liberty safeguards ensured that appropriate arrangements were in place to protect older people’s liberties.

 

Appendix II provided an overview of the areas identified as demonstrating progress and areas identified for improvement in the performance evaluation.  It also included information on how the Council responded to the areas identified for improvement.

Areas identified as requiring improvement were in line with the Director’s self-assessment and had been embedded within Service Business Plans for 2013-14.  Each service had an annual Service Performance Challenge which examined progress against Service Business Plans.  Significant progress had been made against the areas of improvement highlighted within the 2011-12 performance evaluation report.  However, progress had not been as significant as had been anticipated in the following areas:-

·                                   Levels of sickness absence.  Despite stronger management accountability, and more rigorous reporting and monitoring within both services, staff sickness levels do remain high in comparison with the rest of the authority.  This therefore remains as a high priority for both services.

·                                   Improved consistency in the provision of support to families following de-registration from the child protection register.  However, it should be noted that progress has been made in this area with clear transitional arrangements within services (Integrated Family Support Service; Team Around the Family; Families First) that ensure an appropriate service response to families as their needs improve and/ or deteriorate.

 

A presentation was provided by Mr Peter Graham, CSSIW Regional Director, in respect of Denbighshire County Council’s Annual Council Reporting Framework 2012/2013 which included:-

 

-               key areas of progress for 2012/13 and areas for future improvement.

 

-               A summary of the ambitious programme of modernisation, continued progress, strong leadership, use of service challenge approach, the Director’s report providing a coherent narrative, the modernisation programme and the Wales Audit Office having indicated that the Council has ambitious but deliverable plans with effective medium term planning.

 

-               Adult Services

 

·                     the Council’s emphasis on early intervention, prevention and reablement provided that fewer people were being supported in residential care.

·                     on-going support provided for service users in their communities, with many benefiting from short term support packages to re-establish their independence.

·                     recognition of the need to improve the provision of support to carers.

·                     issues relating to ensuring timely engagement, decision making and action at a strategic level with the LHB.  The commitment to achieving more effective engagement within BCUHB remained high.

 

-               Children’s Services

 

·                     performance against a significant range of national indicators remained high.

·                     an effective response provided to incoming referrals.  Denbighshire performed well in fulfilling responsibilities regarding child protection and children in need.

·                     the need to improve services to young carers and care leavers had been recognised and action had been taken to achieve this.

·                       the Council had maintained and improved in a number of key indicators relating to looked after children.  A number of key indicators performance had deteriorated, this required further analysis to absorb the reasons underlying the change in performance and the action required to achieve improvement.

 

-               The following potential risks had been identified by CSSIW:-

 

·                     Continuing ability to influence locally focused strategic planning with the BCUHB.

·                     Achieving a smooth transition when the current Director retires next year.

 

Councillor M.L. Holland emphasised the importance of improving the connection with the Health Board and highlighted long term concerns relating to moving care into the community. 

 

Chair emphasised that it would be vital that the Council engage with Health Authority.  He endorsed the view expressed by the Regional Director CSSIW that the local connections were good but the strategic levels required improvement.  The CD;MW referred to the establishment of the Health and Social Care Board.  However, concern was expressed regarding the inconsistency of BCU representation, which they had now agreed to address.  The Chair of BCU had undertaken a partnership review to examine their relationship with LA’s, and a form of area management would be pursued following the appointment of the new Chief Executive, which would assist the LA in lining up their services.  Members were informed that the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee would be receiving a report on a Framework for Integrated Services for Older People

 

Mr P. Whitham questioned whether a summary of the detailed comments pertaining to risks in Appendix 2 would be identified as mitigations in the Corporate Risk Register.  The CD:MW referred to the Individual Service Risk Registers which provided in-depth details and clarification of risks identified.

 

In response to concerns raised by the Chair regarding sickness levels, the CD:MW referred to the Service Challenge Process and the general acceptance that both services, at senior and middle management levels, had appropriate management systems in place in terms of managing sickness and details of the process were summarised.  Confirmation was provided that the implementation of the Attendance Policy would assist in addressing the issue, and this was an objective for the respective Lead Member.  The Regional Director CSSIW expressed the view that the emotive and emotional type of front line work being undertaken reflected in the sickness levels being experienced.  He emphasised the importance of having a clear Attendance Policy and strategy in place to provide support for staff when off sick.  The CD:MW informed the Committee that it had been anticipated the Attendance Policy would be implemented in April, 2014.

 

The CD:MW informed the Committee that an explanation for the deterioration in the percentage of children who had a health care plan in place, and educational assessments, had been provided by the Head of Children and Family Services in Appendix 2 to the report.

 

In reply to concerns expressed regarding the area identified for improvement, which related to the deregistration of children who were on the `at risk register`, the CD:MW made reference the 4.6 of the report which identified the progress made with clear transitional arrangements within services, Integrated Family Support Service; Team Around the Family; Families First, which ensured an appropriate service response to families as their needs improved or deteriorated.

 

During the ensuing discussion the Chair and Members of the Committee wished the CD:MW all the best in her pending retirement, and thanked her for all her assistance and work undertaken with the Committee.

 

The Chair summarised the salient points and issues raised during the discussion, which included:-

 

-              To note the importance of the Council’s engagement with the Health Board, particularly at a strategic level.  The Chair informed Members that he would raise the matter at the Chairs and Vice Chairs Group.

-              To monitor the progress of the Attendance Policy.

-      To monitor and ensure a smooth transition period when the current Corporate Director: Modernising and Wellbeing retires, and to examine the induction process for the new Corporate Director.

 

RESOLVED – that the Corporate Governance Committee:-

 

(a)          receives and notes the contents of the CSSIW evaluation and the associated progress report from social services.

(b)          notes the importance of the Council’s engagement with the Health Board, particularly

(c)          at a strategic level

(d)          monitors the progress of the Attendance Policy, and

(e)          monitors and ensures a smooth transition period when the current Corporate Director: Modernising and Wellbeing retires, and examines the induction process for the new Corporate Director.