Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families, and Safeguarding Social Care presented Members with the Corporate Safeguarding Annual Report 2023/2024 and the Service Manager Safeguarding provided the detail. In scrutinising the report, the following was noted • A Member of the Committee stated that perhaps the Council’s leadership and culture was discriminatory in failing to adopt good practices with regards to people with protected characteristics, as the report failed to include such information. In response, the Service Manager Safeguarding advised that the Authority practiced anti discriminatory practice and the Safeguarding Unit Annual report, which would be presented to democracy, contained more detail. • The importance of listening to children, adults and older people, to include their behaviour, was highlighted. In response, Members were assured that the voices of children, adults and their lived experiences formed an integral part of Conwy’s approach. A presentation in relation to this was scheduled for the Member Development and Information Forum shortly. • Reference was made to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard assessments (DoLS), reviews and waiting times. In response, Members were informed that the North Wales Safeguarding Board received reports on such matters and the team continually reviewed the DoLS waiting lists. Currently, there were no children waiting for assessment as the process was dealt with through the justice system. In relation to adults and older people, whilst there was a waiting list, it was hoped the list would reduce once additional staff had been recruited. In addition, it was noted that urgent referrals were always prioritised. • In relation to financial pressures and service cuts, Members were informed that it was a priority and statutory responsibility for Conwy County Borough Council to safeguard vulnerable people within the County. However, this did impact on other services having to find further savings/cuts. • Having something close to hand e.g. a flow chart/worksheet that Members and those staff, who did not have access to technology, could readily refer to in respect of safeguarding procedure was considered a useful tool. In response, Members were informed that a briefing on the work of the Safeguarding Team had been scheduled for the Member Development and Information Forum in October 2024. This would provide an opportunity for the Safeguarding Team to refresh Elected Members on the safeguarding referral process. In addition, Members were informed that the Wales Safeguarding procedures were readily available to view and that Conwy had its own dedicated safeguarding page on the website. • It was acknowledged that Services across the Authority were often the ‘ears and eyes’ in respect of safeguarding. In response, Members were informed that the Head of Environment, Roads and Facilities (ERF) sat on the Corporate Safeguarding Board and briefings, during safeguarding week, had successfully taken place with ERF staff, who did not have access to a computer, in relation to exploitation and exploitation within communities. Thanks was extended to the Service Manager and her team for their invaluable work and commitment to safeguarding. RESOLVED:- That the work undertaken in respect of the Corporate Safeguarding during the reporting period 2023/2024 be noted.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families, and Safeguarding presented Members with the Corporate Parenting Annual Report 2023/2024 and the Service Manager – Children Looked After provided the detail, and included further information, data and achievements relating to Education Services, which had been omitted from the report. In scrutinising the report, the following was noted • The benefits of collaboration. • Asylum seekers needs and associated costs/funding. • The importance of education attainment and the value of Personal Education Plans. • The importance of North Wales Adolescent Service (NWAS) data being fed through to the Adoption Panel was highlighted. • Reference was made to the Corporate Parenting Board membership and the importance of having Elected Members and/or Carers Champion on the Board. • The need for a stronger focus on equality and diversity within reports. In response, the Strategic Director – Social Care and Education fully acknowledged the importance of equality and diversity and that perhaps this could be emphasised more in Committee reports. RESOLVED:- That the Annual Corporate Parenting Report 2023/2024 and areas of success achieved by the Corporate Parenting Team during the reporting period and the key priorities going forward be noted.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families, and Safeguarding presented Members with a report on the role and profile of Social Work, including sustainability of the workforce and the Strategic Director – Social Care and Education provided the detail. In scrutinising the report, the following was noted: • It was acknowledged that the wellbeing of the workforce was a corporate responsibility. • The increasing challenges faced in meeting a range of statutory duties to protect the most vulnerable. • The importance of support, training and on-going development. • Recognition of the passion, commitment and dedication of the workforce. • Future resilience, retention, recruitment barriers and the need to be inclusive. • The importance of a strategic and corporate approach was highlighted. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: (a) That the exploration of wider partnering arrangements with other Further Education (FE) / Higher Education (HE) be approved. (b) That the development of sufficient data to inform a 5-year plan be approved. (c) That the evaluation of the success of the ‘grow our own’ programme to understand the impact on retention and skills be approved. (d) That the option to explore the additional resources required to recruit above establishment to ensure resilience be approved and should any identified options, which require resources not identified within budget, that the usual business planning format be adhered to.

None.