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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED – i. That the work programme as attached at Appendix 1 to the report COGC/01/23 be agreed; and ii. That the two topic selection forms on “Unpaid Carers” and the “Market Stability Report Update” be accepted and be considered at the March and April 2023 Committee meetings. iii. At the Chair’s request, a letter be written to BCUHB requesting an explanation in relation to the difficulties faced by patients accessing the new G.P. Appointment System
RESOLVED - The Chair thanked the Lead Members and Officers for the progress report and looks forward to a further update next year. The Committee note the recommendations provided by Audit Wales and will seek clarification in a future report on Welsh Language and the Future Generations Act. The Committee would also welcome ideas on how recruitment and retention in care homes is to be achieved.
RESOLVED - The Chair thanked Lead Members and Officers for the report and would welcome a future report on updates and outcomes. The Committee would welcome the opportunity for Councillors to have access to workshops or individual training on specific subjects that are relevant.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alison Tynan and Debbie Wallice
The minutes of the meeting held on the 14 December 2022 were submitted. AGREED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 December 2022 be signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – i. That the work programme as attached at Appendix 1 to the report COGC/01/23 be agreed; and ii. That the two topic selection forms on “Unpaid Carers” and the “Market Stability Report Update” be accepted and be considered at the March and April 2023 Committee meetings. iii. At the Chair’s request, a letter be written to BCUHB requesting an explanation in relation to the difficulties faced by patients accessing the new G.P. Appointment System
The Chief Officer Governance and Customer submitted a report COGC/01/23 to allow Members to consider the revised work programme of the Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee The Scrutiny Facilitator introduced the report, referring in particular to the proposed changes which were highlighted in the work programme (as attached at Appendix 1 to the report). • Final approval was given to two topic selection forms which have now been incorporated into the Work Programme and scheduled for the March and April 2023 Committee meetings. The topics are “Unpaid Carers” and the “Market Stability Report Update” • Following discussions at the Chair’s planning meeting it was proposed that Committee to consider a further update on the Market Stability Report at the March Committee meeting and that the item on Day Employment Services be moved to the April meeting. AGREED – i. That the work programme as attached at Appendix 1 to the report COGC/01/23 be agreed; and ii. That the two topic selection forms on “Unpaid Carers” and the “Market Stability Report Update” be accepted and be considered at the March and April 2023 Committee meetings. iii. At the Chair’s request, a letter be written to BCUHB requesting an explanation in relation to the difficulties faced by patients accessing the new G.P. Appointment System
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Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - The Chair thanked the Lead Members and Officers for the progress report and looks forward to a further update next year. The Committee note the recommendations provided by Audit Wales and will seek clarification in a future report on Welsh Language and the Future Generations Act. The Committee would also welcome ideas on how recruitment and retention in care homes is to be achieved.
The Lead Member for People – Adult Social Care submitted a report COSC/40/22 providing members with an update on the current care home commissioning practice and market position in Wrexham within a regional context and provided members with a summary of the regional recommendations made by Audit Wales in relation to Care Home Commissioning. The Report outlined the response to the Audit Wales Review of Commissioning of Older People’s Care Home Placements in North Wales. In introducing the report the Lead Member informed Committee that Wrexham’s Care Home provision is delivered through a commissioned, predominantly private market. The market faces a number of challenges including recruitment and retention of a sustainable and skilled workforce in a post Covid context. The Commissioning and Contracts Team lead quality assurance and contract monitoring activity in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Care Inspectorate Wales and other stakeholders to minimise and manage risk and seek improvement in the delivery of services and outcomes for people. The Chief Officer Social Care informed Committee members of the following points: · We are in communications with partners and the Health Board · Confirmed that this is just an oversight of what is done · Facing challenges in the recruitment and retention of staff in Care Homes · Fee Structure · Responding to the Audit Wales Outcome · Recruitment - is a challenging market due to changing nature of the market The Interim Head of Service for Older People assured Members that: · That all homes can provide respite where they have availability · A Review of Day Service has taken place involving engagement with citizens and unpaid carers. · Efforts are ongoing to recruit Welsh speaking staff in Care Homes · Where Reminiscence devices are available in care homes they can be used in a choice of languages, including Welsh The Audit Wales Review of Commissioning of Older People’s Care Home Placements in North Wales reviewed care home commissioning arrangements across North Wales and made a number of recommendations. The Regional Commissioning Board, of which Wrexham County Borough Council are a member, are leading on delivery of the recommended improvements, including: · The development of an agreed, regional Pre-Placement Agreement · Establishment of a working group to evaluate and improve practice · Review current monitoring and evaluation practice · The development of a Care Home Commissioning Strategy and Delivery Plan. · 2.4 Locally we are: · Planning for a strategic review of commissioning strategies and structures · Working with partners to deliver improvements to commissioning practice and outcomes for citizens. · Commissioning a feasibility study to inform future capital development of the sector · Exploring expansion of care brokerage functions. RESOLVED - The Chair thanked the Lead Members and Officers for the progress report and looks forward to a further update next year. The Committee note the recommendations provided by Audit Wales and will seek clarification in a future report on Welsh Language and the Future Generations Act. The Committee would also welcome ideas on how recruitment and retention in care homes is to be achieved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - The Chair thanked Lead Members and Officers for the report and would welcome a future report on updates and outcomes. The Committee would welcome the opportunity for Councillors to have access to workshops or individual training on specific subjects that are relevant.
The Lead Member Councillor Rob Walsh for Children’s Services submitted a report to form a view regarding the progress made during the year in delivering the Corporate Safeguarding Action Plan. The topic arose from the Work Programme Planning Workshops in summer 2019. It is much wider than children’s and adults safeguarding and links to the following key Council priority areas:- · To improve awareness about and help victims of exploitation, such as those affected by County Lines, Modern Slavery and domestic abuse; · Supporting vulnerable people to prevent them from becoming victims, and repeat victims, of crime; · Identifying new and emerging evidence which may highlight additional areas of concern as a consequence of Covid-19. In introducing the report the Lead member outlined the progress made in re-establishing the Corporate Safeguarding Panel, reviewing and updating the Corporate Safeguarding Policy and Action Plan and reminded Committee that: · Every staff member, councillor, volunteer and service provider has a responsibility in the field of safeguarding. · This means that every Department within the Council has a key role to play and must take full ownership of safeguarding matters. There is a need to ensure that clear arrangements and procedures are in place across the Council to ensure that investigations into allegations / concerns that children and adults may be suffering substantial harm receive due consideration. In addition, every department needs to understand where safeguarding issues are most likely to arise in their particular service and ensure they adhere to the Corporate Safeguarding Policy in managing them safely. The Corporate Safeguarding agenda currently includes: · Modern Day Slavery (MDS); · Human Trafficking; · Exploitation of Children and adults; · Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV); · Female Genital Mutilation and Honour Based Violence (FGM &HBV); · Counter Terrorism and PREVENT; · Hate Crime; · Community Tension Monitoring; · Safe Recruitment; · Forced Marriage; · Children and Adults Safeguarding A discussion ensued and Members suggested that training in relation to Safeguarding could be beneficial. RESOLVED - The Chair thanked Lead Members and Officers for the report and would welcome a future report on updates and outcomes. The Committee would welcome the opportunity for Councillors to have access to workshops or individual training on specific subjects that are relevant.