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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 29 November, 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED- That the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Plan (FWP), together with the combined FWP be approved.
RESOLVED: (a) That the progress made by the Social Care and Education Service Development Programme be noted. (b) That a further progress report be presented to the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee in early 2025.
RESOLVED: (a) That the activities of the Joint Conwy and Denbighshire Adoption Panel and the financial impact of referrals to the Adoption Register for Wales and subsequent adoptive placements made outside of NWAS be noted. (b) That the National Adoption Service (NAS) Annual Report for 2022/2023 and the NWAS Service Update Report be noted.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Austin Roberts, Hannah Fleet (Chair of Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee) and Gwennol Ellis (Vice-Chair of Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee).
None.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 29 November, 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the previous meeting of the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 29 November, 2023 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 29 November, 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Plan (FWP), together with the combined FWP be approved.
The Scrutiny and Committee Services Officer presented the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Plan (FWP), together with the combined FWP. Members were advised of the following: • Representatives from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) would provide a further update on the orthopaedic programme on 6 March, 2024. • As discussed in a previous meeting, a request for a report on Voice of the Child (looked after children) to be added to the FWP would require a scrutiny topic selection form, which could then be considered against the prioritisation criteria at the informal meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chair and Vice-Chairs. RESOLVED- That the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Plan (FWP), together with the combined FWP be approved.
None.
The Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult and Community Services introduced the report and the Section Manager – Performance and Finance provided the detail in respect of a strategic review responding to key challenges resulting from the Welsh Government decision to test the market for an alternative solution for an information management system to record all information and interventions pertaining to individuals in receipt of care and support. A range of options, to include the benefits, disadvantages and associated risks were highlighted within the report. In scrutinising the report and options, Members made reference to the following: • What would be the consequences of delaying a decision for further corporate overview and/or external evaluation? In response, the Head of Service - Integrated Adult and Community Services advised that timescales were restrictive (less than 2 years to transition), however, regional discussions and workshops had taken place and there was strong project support corporately from Conwy’s Information Technology and Digital Transformation Service. It was further acknowledged that the platform upon which WCCIS was accessed by social care practitioners and support teams would cease to be supported from January 2026 and as a result, would be at risk of cyber-security risk. • Concern was expressed regarding financial resilience and the need to secure a workable, effective solution for the future, within the current budgetary allocation. • The benefits of a shared approach/system both regionally and nationally was highlighted. RECOMMENDATION TO CABINET: That Cabinet agree the indicative preferred option 1: That the Digital Health Care Wales (DHCW) recommendation to work with the national team to procure a new system be agreed and discussed further with Digital Health Care Wales and endorsed by the North Wales Health and Care Organisations Leadership Group.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: (a) That the progress made by the Social Care and Education Service Development Programme be noted. (b) That a further progress report be presented to the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee in early 2025.
The Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult and Community Services, together with the Cabinet Member for Education introduced the report and the Programme Manager, together with colleagues provided Members with a comprehensive update on the progress made by the Social Care and Education Service Development Programme. In scrutinising the report Members made reference to the following: • A Member of the Committee expressed concern regarding childcare costs and the difficulties families faced in finding affordable child care. In response, Members were informed that Conwy was proactive and helped parents navigate access to information of what was available within their communities. In addition, reference was made to the Flying Start provision and the work of the school clusters and wrap around care element. In addition, concern was also expressed regarding school non-attendance, particularly for those with additional learning needs (ALN) and the importance of joint working with the Youth Service, Social Care and Youth Justice Service to help address such issues. Members were advised that a report reviewing the ALN provision was due to be presented to the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee in April, 2024. • Challenges faced in terms of grant funding coming to an end was highlighted. • Reference was made to the limited day centre provision, block contracts for domiciliary care taking away choice and the practicalities surrounding the Welsh Government approach to residential placements being not for profit from 2027. Members were assured that there was an element of choice, with several providers, however, only one day care provider had currently been commissioned within Colwyn Bay. In respect of the WG approach regarding not for profit, Members were assured Conwy was very aware of the risks associated with the proposed approach and as a consequence, in-house provision was being driven forward, together with engagement with independent providers. • Special Guardianships and the expectations, support and circumstances for birth parents. In response, Members were advised that the Special Guardianship provision was focused on improving outcomes for children and young people by gaining security/permanence. RESOLVED: (a) That the progress made by the Social Care and Education Service Development Programme be noted. (b) That a further progress report be presented to the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee in early 2025.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: (a) That the activities of the Joint Conwy and Denbighshire Adoption Panel and the financial impact of referrals to the Adoption Register for Wales and subsequent adoptive placements made outside of NWAS be noted. (b) That the National Adoption Service (NAS) Annual Report for 2022/2023 and the NWAS Service Update Report be noted.
The Cabinet Member for Social Care and Safeguarding introduced the report and the Service Manager - Looked After Service provided the detail. In scrutinising the report Members made reference to the following: • The challenges and financial impact of referrals to the Adoption Register for Wales and subsequent placements made outside of the North Wales Adaption Service (NWAS). • A Member of the Committee expressed concern that a cap, in order to reduce costs, would be placed on the number of placements made outside of NWAS. In response, the Looked After Service Manager reassured Members that there was no intention to cap such costs as it remained a corporate parent responsibility and priority to provide continued support and focused on the needs of the child at all times to find the best match. • The importance of investing in adoption support to prevent breakdowns was acknowledged, together with the importance of learning from trends and keeping democracy informed accordingly. • Concern was expressed regarding the Welsh Government Adoption Register for Wales and the financial and resource pressures it places on Local Authorities when placing children. Thanks was extended to the staff and Councillor Cheryl Carlisle (representative on the Joint Conwy and Denbighshire Adoption Panel) for their hard work and dedication towards children and young people. RESOLVED: (a) That the activities of the Joint Conwy and Denbighshire Adoption Panel and the financial impact of referrals to the Adoption Register for Wales and subsequent adoptive placements made outside of NWAS be noted. (b) That the National Adoption Service (NAS) Annual Report for 2022/2023 and the NWAS Service Update Report be noted.
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