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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 draft version attached at Appendix 1 be agreed with the following changes:- · That the items set in the draft for the 13th November be exchanged for the items set for 12th March · That an item be included at or around the January Committee on Team Around the Family – a topic selection form would be completed and submitted in preparation. (ii) The committee requested that HMP Berwyn representatives be invited to a future meeting to discuss joint financial & working processes.
AGREED – (i) That the Committee thank officers for the report noting particularly the work undertaken on growing our own staff and the reduction in the use of agency staff, whilst recognising that there is still much to do. (ii) That the Committee will request that management at HMP Berwyn are invited to a future meeting to discuss / resolve joint working / funding processes. (iii) The Committee recognised that work is progressing on eliminating profit from care but had concerns about the reality of doing so and that they agree to lobby for more realistic funding in relation to dual costs.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Krista Childs, Annette Davies and Rondo Roberts
AGREED - That the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 July, 2024 be signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
AGREED: (i) That the Work Programme draft version attached at Appendix 1 be agreed with the following changes:- · That the items set in the draft for the 13th November be exchanged for the items set for 12th March · That an item be included at or around the January Committee on Team Around the Family – a topic selection form would be completed and submitted in preparation. (ii) The committee requested that HMP Berwyn representatives be invited to a future meeting to discuss joint financial & working processes.
The Chief Officer for Governance and Customer submitted a report (COGC/71/24) asking Members to consider the draft work programme of the Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee. The draft programme 2024-2025, attached at Appendix 1, was discussed at a meeting on 22 July 2024. The Scrutiny Facilitator presented the work programme and highlighted the following: · That the items set in the draft for the 13th November be exchanged for the items set for 12th March · That an item be included at or around the January Committee on Team Around the Family – a topic selection form to be completed and submitted in preparation. A request was made that a TAC (Team Around Change) report could be added to the agenda for the January meeting. It was confirmed that whilst it would be added to the SCWSC Work Programme, it was considered more appropriate to do so when the 12 month pilot had run its course. The pilot started in April 2024 and results could be collated and brought to Committee. AGREED: (i) That the Work Programme draft version attached at Appendix 1 be agreed with the following changes:- · That the items set in the draft for the 13th November be exchanged for the items set for 12th March · That an item be included at or around the January Committee on Team Around the Family – a topic selection form would be completed and submitted in preparation. (ii) The committee requested that HMP Berwyn representatives be invited to a future meeting to discuss joint financial & working processes.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That the Committee thank officers for the report noting particularly the work undertaken on growing our own staff and the reduction in the use of agency staff, whilst recognising that there is still much to do. (ii) That the Committee will request that management at HMP Berwyn are invited to a future meeting to discuss / resolve joint working / funding processes. (iii) The Committee recognised that work is progressing on eliminating profit from care but had concerns about the reality of doing so and that they agree to lobby for more realistic funding in relation to dual costs.
The Lead Member for Children’s Services and the Lead Member for Adult Services submitted a joint report (COSC/20/24) which provided Scrutiny Committee with an update with regards the Year end position for 2023/24. The report, which was an update from last year’s report, was to provide scrutiny with an in-year budget report in relation to Social Care Predicted Budget position for 2024/25 and give an understanding of Current Progress of 2024/25 savings plan. The Lead Member for Adult Services, Cllr John Pritchard introduced the item by highlighting the importance of Social Care in maintaining the financial stability of the Council. The report outlined the financial position at the end of 2024, progress to month 2 of 2024-25 and current progress on savings. As at month 2 a forecast financial pressure of £2.87M is predicted to the year end. The Lead Member, thanked the officers for their focus on managing spends particularly in the key areas that have contributed to financial pressures. The Lead Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Rob Walsh, acknowledged the high level of financial pressure emanating from Children’s Services particularly in relation to residential and educational placements, he also highlighted some success both in providing new residential placements in Wrexham and the reduction in the use of agency staff. The Chief Officer Social Care acknowledged that the Social Care Budget is very complex and actions had been and would continue to be taken, to reduce costs and this will take time to work through. He also made the following points: · The Departments Budget for 2024/25 was £101million. With £63.7 million invested in Adult Services and £37.3 million in Children’s Services · Based on the Month 2 position for 2024/25 Social Care is currently showing a pressure of £2.87 million. Notable Pressure areas leading to this are Direct Payments, Older People’s Home Care Supported Living Placements and most significantly children’s placements. · Underlying the month 2 position is work to achieve £5.4 million of savings across the following:- · Supported Living · High Cost Placements Repatriations · Demand Management · Eliminate Profit from Care/ Local Care options · Continued stabilisation of Children’s Staff structures · Holding back expenditure Continued focus on maximising grant savings was also required to an equivalent level to 2023/24 of £1.1 million. In Adult Services the main challenge relates to the volume of people supported: · The demography · Domiciliary care volumes · Access visa our Single point of access In Children’s Services, the focus is on the families and young children who are supported and doing so in the safest and most appropriate way. · The average cost of a residential placement for a child is approaching £8,000 a week · Projects were underway to increase the number of foster carers. On a positive note the progress made to reduce the use of agency staff had gone well with a reduction in numbers to 40 in just under two years, and with the aim of lowering the figure further Recognition that experienced social workers were being replaced with newly qualified social workers and that a Task & Finish Group had been held to look at ways of increasing experienced social worker numbers The train your own social workers scheme had been successful in supplying two new social workers this year with the potential for a further six next year A discussion ensued and members made the following points: · Clarification was sought on why it was so difficult to lower the number of agency staff · Currently agency staff costs can vary, officers are aiming to standardise the rate and bring agency staff in at one rate · Confirmation given that it was generally a supply and demand situation and that there were not enough social workers who wanted to work in Children’s Services. · Pleasing news that the recruitment campaign had been a success and that it had had a positive impact · Clarification was sought on the overspend last year. · The Chief Officer informed committee members that based on the year end position last year and additional monies invested in social care the department needed to achieve £5.4 million of savings to achieve a balance position at year end. As noted earlier there is a scheme of work to achieve this · Recognition that there had been an increase in placement costs alongside an increase in the number of children requiring support · Encouraging that there had been a significant saving on agency spend over the year · Clarification sought on whether or not there had been a level of Scrutiny involving HMP Berwyn. Suggestion that representatives be invited to a future committee. · Confirmation of the three schemes available to young adults who had left care: o Supported Lodgings o When I’m ready – a post foster care scheme o Kickstart – a house environment for people stepping down from residential care · Clarification sought on the proposed target of £1million savings referred to in the report under the Elimination of Profit from Care /Local Care Options. · Officer confirmation that there were no plans in the legislation and some of the private sector were raising their costs in advance · Officer confirmed that the level of funding to achieve the goal of eradicating profit from care at present was not enough AGREED – (i) That the Committee thank officers for the report noting particularly the work undertaken on growing our own staff and the reduction in the use of agency staff, whilst recognising that there is still much to do. (ii) That the Committee will request that management at HMP Berwyn are invited to a future meeting to discuss / resolve joint working / funding processes. (iii) The Committee recognised that work is progressing on eliminating profit from care but had concerns about the reality of doing so and that they agree to lobby for more realistic funding in relation to dual costs.
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