Health and Social Care Committee

Tuesday, 31 August 2004 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Forbes, Gallacher, Hill, McKenzie, Mitchell, Moran, Nimmo, Robertson and Snoddy.

Chair:    Councillor Nimmo presided.

In attendance:  Mr F Jarvie (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Director of Social Work Services, Head of Financial Services and Mr S MacDonald (for Head of Property Services).

Apologies:  Provost Rebecchi.

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

   521

Authorised Providers List - Quarterly Update

521

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services requesting the Committee to approve an amendment to the Authorised Providers List in terms of Rule 3 of the Procedures for Procurement of Social Care Services.

Decided:  that approval be given to the inclusion of Home Concern (Scotland) Ltd in the Authorised Providers List.

   522

Revised Maintenance Rates

522

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services requesting the Committee to approve maintenance rates which reflect the weekly cost per person for permanent residents in registered residential establishments located within and outwith Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the establishments where persons from Inverclyde reside as detailed in the appendices to the report;  and

(2)      that the recommended rates be approved in order that the Director of Social Work Services may make appropriate payments in the event of residential placements being made.

   523

Children and Family Administration Support

523

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services (1) detailing a number of issues highlighted through the findings of the Child Protection Review in 2002 and the subsequent National Audit and Review of Child Protection and (2) recommending changes to the support services structure within the Children and Families Service.

(Councillor Gallacher entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)        that the Committee approve the additional resources required to improve the administration of the Children and Families Service;  and

(2)        that it be remitted to the Best Value & Corporate Services Committee to consider the establishment of the new posts and the setting of appropriate grades within the structure.±

   524

Redesign of Learning Disability Services - Devol Centre/Boglestone Library

524

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services on progress made in the planned redesign of the Learning Disability Day Services which includes the closure of the Devol Centre and the adaptation of the vacant Boglestone Library for a community based model.  The report advised that the planned closure of the Devol Centre on 30 September 2004 had not been achieved and that the additional revenue costs of this delayed closure would be some £57,000 which the Director of Social Work Services would contain within the Revenue Budget for the current year.

(Councillor McKenzie entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)        that it be noted that the Devol Centre will remain open until the end of the financial year 2004/05 or until the adaptations to the library are complete, whichever is the sooner;

(2)        that it be remitted to the Director of Social Work Services to submit a funding request to the Chief Executive in respect of the Capital Programme Accommodation Works Budget to meet the costs of adapting the Boglestone Library;  and

(3)        that the Director of Social Work Services submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee on his proposals for achieving the compensatory savings of £57,000 within the Social Work Revenue Budget as a result of the delayed closure of the Devol Centre.

   525

Inverclyde Youth Justice Strategy 2004 - 2006

Inverclyde Youth Justice Communication Strategy 2003 - 2004

525

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services on (1) the Inverclyde Youth Justice Strategy 2004 - 2006 and the Inverclyde Youth Justice Communication Strategy 2003 - 2004 which are required in terms of the policy, National Standards for Scotland’s Youth Justice Services and (2) the need to meet national and local targets to reduce youth crime in Inverclyde.

(Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that the Inverclyde Youth Justice Strategy 2004 - 2006 and the Inverclyde Youth Justice Communication Strategy 2003 - 2004 set out in the appendix to the report be approved as a means of reducing youth crime in Inverclyde and building a safer community.

   526

Funding for Young People in Care

526

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services seeking approval for an increase in the rate of allowances paid to foster parents, linked carers and adoptive parents.

Decided:  that approval be given to the new rates of allowances for 2004/05 as detailed in the report.

   527

Residential Accommodation for Young People:  Recreational and Other Allowances

527

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services seeking approval for the application of a cost of living increase to the levels of recreation and other allowances for young people living in the Council’s residential units.

Decided:

(1)        that approval be given to the revised recreational and other allowances as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report; and

(2)        that it be agreed that in future years, determination of the annual increase in such allowances be delegated to the Director of Social Work Services.

   528

Older People’s Services:  Proposals

528

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services advising of progress made in the programme to modernise older people’s services.

Decided:

(1)        that the revised scheme as proposed by the Head of Property Services and detailed in the report be approved;

(2)        that the allocation of the additional funding required of £178,000 to implement the revised scheme be remitted to the Corporate Management Team;  and

(3)        that it be noted that the Director of Social Work Services will submit further reports on progress of the developments within the next four months.

   529

21st Century Social Work Review

529

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services advising that the Minister for Education and Young People had announced in the Scottish Parliament, details of the 21st Century Social Work Review following the report of the inspection of Scottish Borders Council’s Social Work Services, the remit of the review being to define the role of Social Work and Social Workers for the 21st century.

Decided:

(1)        that the report be noted;  and

(2)        that approval be given to the preparation of a submission to the Scottish Executive on the future of Social Work Services in due course.

   530

Social Worker Recruitment and Retention

530

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services advising of progress made in respect of the recruitment and retention of qualified social work staff.

Decided:

(1)        that the Committee note the progress made in respect of Social Worker recruitment and retention;

(2)        that it be remitted to the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee to approve the proposed amendment to the existing Social Worker pay scale and Senior Practitioner Scheme as detailed in the report;  and

(3)        that the issue of the additional costs, estimated at £34,000 as a result of incremental progression in 2005/06, be remitted to the Corporate Management Team for consideration as part of the 2005/06 budget process.

   531

Registration of Social Work Workforce

531

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services advising of arrangements made for the registration and regulation of the workforce of Social Work Services.  The report advised that the one off cost of meeting the fees in connection with the initial registration and Disclosure Scotland checks would be £6,600 which would be contained within the overall Social Work Revenue Budget 2004/05.

Decided:

(1)        that the arrangements made for the registration and regulation of the Social Work Services workforce be noted; and

(2)        that approval be given to the payment of the initial annual fees as detailed in the report.

   532

Child Protection:  Statement of Assurance

532

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services requesting approval of the joint statement of assurance in respect of Child Protection Services within the Inverclyde Council area which required to be submitted to the Scottish Executive by the end of May 2004.

Decided:

(1)        that the statement of assurance set out in the appendix to the report be approved; and

(2)        that the Committee acknowledge that within Inverclyde, all services of the Council will engage in the process of providing a robust network for the protection of children in Inverclyde.

   533

Draft Improvement Plan - Homeless Service

533

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services seeking approval of the draft Improvement Plan for the Homeless Service which required to be submitted to Communities Scotland by the end of September 2004.

Decided:

(1)        that the Homeless Service Improvement Plan August 2004 set out in the appendix to the report be approved;  and

(2)        that it be noted that progress reports on achievement against the plan will be submitted to the Committee on a twice yearly basis.

   534

Extended Local Partnership Agreement - Draft Annual Evaluation Statement 2003/04

534

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services providing updated information on the annual evaluation of the Extended Local Partnership Agreement which was submitted to the Scottish Executive in April 2004.

Decided:

(1)        that the contents of the draft Annual Evaluation Statement be noted;

(2)        that the Committee acknowledge the challenges facing partnership working within Inverclyde;  and

(3)        that support be given to the Joint Futures Agenda in order that individuals and their carers who require community care services are able to achieve a better quality of life.

   535

Breaking the Cycle:  Intensive Intervention and Supervision to Support Families

535

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services (1) on a funding initiative launched by the Scottish Executive which will assist local authorities in meeting the challenge of dealing with certain anti-social families and preventing homelessness by early intervention and the enforcement of tenancy related conditions and (2) advising that the Council had formed a group to prepare a bid for submission by 31 August 2004 with a view to accessing this funding.

Decided:  that approval be given to the proposed bid as detailed in the report.

   536

Inverclyde Alcohol and Drug Forum - Annual Report 2004

536

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services on (1) the contents of the 2004 Annual Report of the Inverclyde Alcohol and Drug Forum and (2) highlighting the work and progress achieved by the various partners.

Decided:  that the Committee note and approve the work of Inverclyde Alcohol and Drug Forum as detailed in the Annual Report 2004.

   537

People Delayed Inappropriately in Hospital Beds (Delayed Discharge)

537

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services (1) providing an update on progress made in reducing the number of people delayed inappropriately in hospital beds after having been deemed clinically fit for discharge and (2) requesting the Committee to agree the action plan for 2004/05.

Decided:

(1)        that the recommended targets for 2004/05 as outlined in the report be approved;  and

(2)        that support be given to the ongoing work in relation to tackling delayed discharges.

   538

Home Shopping Service

538

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services on the development and availability of the Home Shopping Service which was implemented from November 2002.

Decided:  that the Committee endorse the continuation and further development of the Home Shopping Service as detailed in the report.

   539

Minute of Meeting of Inverclyde Joint Care Board of 19 November 2003

539

There was submitted minute of the meeting of the Inverclyde Joint Care Board of  19 November 2003.

Approved

   540

Social Work Revenue Budget 2004/05 - Period 3

540

There was submitted a report dated 24 August 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services (1) on the position of the Social Work Revenue Budget 2004/05 as at Period 3 (30 June 2004) and (2) advising of a projected overspend of £200,000.

Decided:

(1)        that the current budget monitoring position for 2004/05 as at Period 3 and the efforts being made by officers to contain any projected overspend within the current budget be noted;

(2)        that the Social Work virement request detailed in appendix 2 to the report be agreed;  and

(3)        that it be remitted to the Director of Social Work Services to submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee detailing proposals for utilisation of the projected over-recovery of Supporting People income.

   541

Social Work Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07

541

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services on the progress of the Social Work Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07.

Noted

It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

   542

Merchiston Hospital - Reprovisioning

542

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services (1) on the current position in relation to the closure of Merchiston Long Stay Learning Disability Hospital and (2) providing an update on patients for whom Inverclyde Council is responsible.

Decided:

(1)        that the Committee endorse the planned approach to the discharge of Inverclyde patients from Merchiston Hospital as detailed in the report;  and

(2)        that further reports be submitted to the Committee in due course on progress made in the commissioning of services and the specific proposals for individuals as detailed in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 of the report.

   543

Modernising Community Care Services

543

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services on the recent change from residential units for adults with a learning disability to a service model which provides support in the client’s own home.

Decided:  that the closure of the residential units and the introduction of accommodation which provides support in the client’s own home be noted.