Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Scrutiny and Committee Services Officer presented the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme (FWP), together with the combined FWP. • The More than Words Action Plan had been deferred until April, 2025 by which time an annual update would be available, together with an update on a pilot undertaken within Social Care, regarding an individual perspective of how confident people felt speaking Welsh. RESOLVED- That the forward work programme for the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined forward work programme be approved.

On behalf of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Safeguarding, the Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult and Community Services presented Members with the Joint Conwy and Denbighshire Adoption Panel Annual Report 2023/2024, together with an update on the North Wales Adoption Service (NWAS) and National Adoption Service (NAS). The Service Manager - Children Looked After provided the detail and made reference to the activity of the Joint Conwy and Denbighshire Adoption Panel between April 2023 to March 2024, independent adoption agencies and the NWAS review of service and annual performance report. Members welcomed the comprehensive update and in scrutinising the report, made reference to the following: • The Cabinet Member advised Members of a semi-autobiographical TV series, which was inspired by the author’s own experience in the care system. • The benefits of working collaboratively across the region was recognised. • The importance of finding good homes, residential or otherwise was considered fundamental. • The robustness of adoption assessment process was praised, however the length of the assessment process was found by many to be lengthy and gruelling. It was noted, that whilst the assessment process was recognised as being lengthy and often intrusive, every part of the assessment process was considered necessary and helped identify the skills and strengths of potential adopters and ensure a placement for life. • The 30 day limit was a target in place to ensure that young people were not on the NWAS list overly long. The process / timescales for adopters (partner of a parent process). It was noted that that for a partner of a parent the process took approximately 3 months, with a general adoption timescale taking approximately 6 months for first time adopters and 4 months for second time adopters. Whilst there was a waiting list, young people approaching 18 were prioritised. • Thanks was extended to the staff, who worked tirelessly to get the best outcomes for children and young people. RESOLVED:- That the activities of the Joint Conwy and Denbighshire Adoption Panel and the adoptive placements made outside of the North Wales Adoption Service (NWAS) be noted. For information, Members were informed that safeguarding training for School Governors was scheduled for 24 October, 2024 and a joint presentation by Education and Social Care Services was scheduled to be presented to the Member Development and Information Forum in January, 2024.

On behalf of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Safeguarding, the Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult and Community Services presented Members with an update on the Glan yr Afon Remodelling Project. The Project Manager provided detail on the project and a summary of the objectives and progress of the work to date. In scrutinising the report, the following was noted: • Members were assured that the project, which was 100% grant funded was within budget and currently on programme to be completed on schedule. • Councillor Paul Luckock, who was also a representative on the Project Board, provided some background to the work of the Board and assured Members that the Board met regularly and every effort was being made to ensure that the project focused on the needs of the young people. • In relation to the Welsh Government’s (WG) not for profit proposed model of care for children looked after in Wales and the continued placement of children and young people out of County, Members were advised of Conwy’s Transformation Plan to increase in-house provision over the next 10 years. The need for Welsh Government (WG) to increase their financial support and timescales was highlighted in order to meet the demand and requirements of young people, some of whom required specialist settings. The Cabinet Member stated that she, together with the Deputy Leader/Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Service Change continued to lobby the WG in relation to the not for profit model and often met with their counterparts from other Local Authorities, together with WG Cabinet Minister. RESOLVED:- That the progress made on the delivery of the Glan yr Afon Remodelling Project and its objectives be noted.