Health and Social Care Committee

Tuesday 25 October 2005 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Forbes, Hill, Hunter, McKenzie, Mitchell, Nimmo, Robertson and Snoddy.

Chair:    Councillor Nimmo presided.

In attendance:  Head of Community Care & Strategic Planning, Head of Social Work Services, Mr F Jarvie (for Solicitor to the Council), Mr M Thomson (for Chief Financial Officer) with Ms T Wall (Finance Services) and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillor Gallacher.

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

812

Revenue Budget 2005/06 - Period 5

812

There was submitted a report dated 29 September 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer on the position of the 2005/06 Revenue Budget as at Period 5 (31 August 2005) which showed a net underspend of £200,000, including the underspend in child care supplementation which is not controlled directly by Social Work Services.

Noted

813

Social Work Capital and CFCR Programme

813

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on the progress of the Social Work Capital and CFCR (Capital Funded From Current Revenue) projects in the current financial year.

Noted

814

Capital Programme:  Social Work Information System (SWIFT)

814

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive (1) on the progress of the Social Work Information System, (2) outlining plans for further implementation, (3) providing financial information on expenditure to date and (4) providing details of the relocation of the project team.

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted;  and

(2)      that a further position statement be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

815

Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

815

There was submitted a report dated 11 October 2005 by the Solicitor to the Council advising of the use of powers delegated to the Chief Executive (1) to accept the lowest tender received for Phase 2 of the alterations and refurbishment at The Inverclyde Centre, Greenock and (2) to accept the lowest tender received for the conversion of Boglestone Library to form a Day Centre.

Noted

816

Revised Maintenance Rates for Quarriers

816

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive seeking approval for the payment of maintenance rates which reflect the weekly cost per person for permanent and respite placements in registered residential establishments managed by Quarriers.

Decided:  that approval be given to the recommended rates in order that the Head of Social Work Services may make appropriate payments from 1 April 2005.

817

Inverclyde Joint Care Board - Minute of Meeting of 13 January 2005

817

There was submitted minute of the meeting of the Inverclyde Joint Care Board held on 13 January 2005.

Noted

818

Joint Performance Information and Assessment Framework:  Draft Annual Evaluation Statement 2004-05

818

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive (1) on the progress made towards achieving the Joint Performance Targets, (2) providing an update on the draft annual evaluation statement and (3) seeking endorsement of the management response to the evaluation.

There was circulated to the Committee, letter dated 10 October 2005 from the Scottish Executive enclosing the JPIAF Annual Evaluation Statement 2004/05 which indicated that the overall performance of Inverclyde Local Partners showed "steady progress".

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

Decided:  that the progress made through the Joint Future arrangements be noted and that the Committee continue to support the partnership working.

819

Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

819

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on action taken in preparation for the implementation in October 2005 of the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted and that the service developments which will assist in meeting the new duties placed on the Council as a result of the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 be approved;

(2)      that the development of the Caddlehill Street site as an operational property by Inverclyde Association for Mental Health in further pursuance of the Council's obligations under the Act be endorsed and that the matter be referred to the Environment & Regeneration Committee for a view on disposal of the site;

(3)      that the substantial training and preparatory work undertaken prior to the implementation of the Act be noted;  and

(4)      that the steps which have been taken in partnership with NHS Argyll & Clyde to identify and prepare suitable premises within Ravenscraig Hospital for use by the new Mental Health Tribunal Service be noted.Ï

820

Professional Fostering Scheme

820

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive seeking approval for the introduction of a professional foster carers scheme which will be an alternative to purchasing placements from residential schools or not for profit making fostering agencies for children and young people who present challenging and/or complex behavioural difficulties.  The report advised that the proposal was to recruit foster carers from local people who have relevant child care experience, knowledge of child and adolescent development and a commitment to ongoing training.

Decided:  that agreement be given to the development of the professional fostering scheme as detailed in the report with the aim of providing six placements in the first phase.

821

Better Outcomes for Older People:  Framework for Joint Services

821

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive (1) advising of the introduction of a national framework to promote the development of joint and integrated services for older people and (2) setting out the requirements for health and local authority partnerships.

Decided:  that agreement be given to the proposals set out in the report to support the development of outcome focused joint services for older people.

822

Update on the Redesign of Learning Disability Day Opportunity Services

822

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on the progress of the redesign of day services for adults with learning disabilities in the light of the phased closure of the Devol Resource Centre.

Decided:

(1)      that the progress of the redesign of day services for adults with learning disabilities be noted;  and

(2)      that the Committee continue to support this significant service modernisation programme.

823

Contract Management Framework for Social Work Services

823

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on the development of a draft contract management framework for Social Work Services.

Decided:  that agreement be given to the proposal to draft a contract management framework for Social Work Services as detailed in the report.

824

Consultation in Relation to Learning Disability

824

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive advising of the consultation activity carried out and planned around the development and delivery of Social Work Services provided for adults with learning disabilities within Inverclyde.

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.

825

Merchiston Hospital Reprovisioning:  Status Report

825

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on (1) 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.

Noted

826

Progress of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder Pilot Service

826

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive providing an  update on the development of services for people with autistic spectrum disorders within Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)      that the progress made in developing the pilot autistic spectrum disorder service be noted;  and

(2)      that a further report be submitted to the Committee in September/October 2006 on the outcomes resulting from the evaluation exercise and the options for future service development.