Cyflwynwyd gan:Cyng / Cllr. Dilwyn Morgan
Decision:
To accept and note the information in the report.
Minutes:
The item
was submitted by Cllr Dilwyn Morgan
RESOLVED
To accept
and note the information in the report.
DISCUSSION
The report was presented and it was noted that
the general practice and performance in the Field of Children was robust on the
whole. It was noted that a Full Inspection Report by the Care Inspectorate
Wales confirmed the performance of the department. It was added that the report
noted that the service had substantial strengths and a committed and robust workforce.
It was added that the inspection had identified four fields for development but
that these corresponded with priorities in the Council Plan.
Attention was drawn to the review of the 'End
to End' scheme, noting that the number of residential placements had decreased.
Although numbers were reducing, it was stressed that the inspection had not
taken the increase in placement costs into consideration. It was reiterated
that this was the main reason for the department's overspend and it was added
that a specific report on this was being prepared by the department, on a joint
basis with the Finance Department, to explain the matter in more detail.
The department's priorities were emphasised
noting that they corresponded with the three improvement plans included in the
Council Plan. It was added that the initial work of the Gwynedd Supporting
Families Strategy had commenced and that the department had identified the
demand for support for families and had also mapped what provision was
available. It was expressed that an initial discussion with key partners would
have taken place by the next reporting Cycle about the Strategy.
Attention was drawn to the fact that Tackling
Poverty work had now been transferred to the Children and Supporting Families
Department. As the timetable for introducing Universal Credit in the county had
slipped, it was added that the project would live up to the end of March in
order to support people to cope with the changes.
It was noted that it was encouraging to see the
Care Inspectorate Wales describing the Corporate Parent Panel as ambitious for
the Looked after Children. It was added that further work had taken place to
attempt to identify where there was a need to improve and identify good
practice through the established task groups. Concern was expressed that just
over half of elected members had attended the 'Corporate Parenting' training,
and it was noted that more sessions would be held in order for members to
understand their responsibilities in the field.
Observations arising from the
discussion
- It was noted that the department was
now examining their measures and their purpose as some measures had now been
abolished as you did not measure data that was important to Gwynedd residents.
- The cost of out-of-county placements
was discussed and it was asked whether or not there was anything the department
could do to avoid the costs. It was noted that numbers had reduced as more
support was available at home. It was added that there was an increase in cost
as problems that needed to be dealt with within placements were more complex
which consequently led to providers charging a higher amount. It was added that
this was a national problem and that a regional discussion to look into the
matter was being held.
Attention
was drawn to the fact that overspend within the department was not a new
problem and the question was raised whether or not the budgetary presumption at
the beginning of the financial year was accurate. It was expressed that it was
not possible to anticipate the number of young people who would require
out-of-county placements, nor the increase in costs, and that setting a robust
budget for the department was difficult as a result. It was added that the Head
of Finance Department and the Research and Analytics Service were currently
looking into inflation levels used in budgets and other comparative
information.
Awdur:Morwena Edwards
Supporting documents: