Health and Social Care Committee

Tuesday 17 January 2006 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:    Councillor Snoddy presided.

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

Apologies:  Councillor Nimmo.

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

29

Revenue Budget 2005/06 - Period 8

29

There was submitted a report 22 December 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer (1) on the position of the 2005/06 Revenue Budget as at Period 8 (30 November 2005) which showed a net overspend of £26,000, an increase of £226,000 since the last meeting of the Committee and (2) requesting the Committee to agree a number of virement requests as detailed in the report.

Decided:

(1)   that the current position of the 2005/06 Social Work Services Revenue Budget be noted;  and

(2)   that the virement requests as detailed in appendix 3 to the report be approved.

30

Capital Programme:  Social Work Information System (SWIFT)

30

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.

31

Social Work Capital and CFCR Programme

31

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.

Decided:

(1)   that the current position of the Social Work Capital and CFCR projects be noted;

(2)   that approval be given to additional expenditure of £11,000 in the Hillend project as a result of contract variations;  and

(3)   that approval be given to the carry forward of £376,000 to 2006-2007.

32

Managing Attendance - Absence Statistics 4 July 2005 to 2 October 2005 (Period 3)

32

There was submitted a report dated 12 December 2005 by the Solicitor to the Council on absence statistics for employees within Social Work Services for the period 4 July 2005 to 2 October 2005 (Period 3).

The Head of Personnel Services advised the Committee that as part of the absence management strategy agreed by the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee, Personnel Services will be working closely with Social Work Services from mid February 2006 in relation to the management of attendance.

Noted

33

Joint Carers’ Development Group - Carers’ Information Pack

33

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive (1) advising of progress made on the actions required to provide accessible public information to carers, (2) summarising the work of the Joint Carers’ Development Group in developing the Carers’ Information Pack and (3) setting out plans for its distribution, monitoring and review.

Decided:

(1)   that the report be noted;  and

(2)   that the Committee note the progress made through the Joint Futures arrangements and continue to support the partnership working.

34

Discharge in Inverclyde - A Good Practice Protocol

34

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive (1) on the protocol which has been developed to support people through the process of being discharged from hospital and (2) providing a brief outline on the background to and content of the protocol document.

Decided:  that the document entitled “Discharge in Inverclyde - A Good Practice Protocol” be endorsed and that it be remitted to the Interim Chief Executive, as co-signatory, to sign the document on behalf of the Council.

35

Adoption and Permanency Planning for Children and Young People

35

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive (1) advising of the application for, and agreed registration of, the adoption and fostering services provided by the Council and (2) providing information on the demand for permanent alternative family placements.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the fact that the adoption and fostering services of the Council have secured registration with the Care Commission;

(2)   that the Committee acknowledge the importance of developing alternative and permanent family placements for those children for whom the Council has a “corporate parenting” role as part of the spectrum of care for children;  and

(3)   that the Committee note the changes in legislation which will lead to an increased demand for resources to maintain such placements and that a further report will be submitted to the Committee identifying resource requirements.

36

Older People’s Integrated Resource Service

36

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on progress made relative to the Older  People’s Integrated Resource Service, an innovative development to be located at the former Hillend House, Greenock.

Decided:

(1)   that the report be noted;

(2)   that the Older  People’s Integrated Services Resource Unit be named the Hillend Centre;  and

(3)   that the formal launch of the development, including arrangements for an open day, be approved.

37

“Supporting Safer, Stronger  Communities”:  The Scottish Executive’s Consultation on the Establishment of Community Justice Authorities

37

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive advising of the outcome of the Scottish Executive’s consultation exercise on the establishment of Community Justice Authorities as outlined in the Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Bill passed by Parliament on 3 November 2005.

Decided:

(1)   that the outcome of the Community Justice Authority consultation exercise and the Minister’s response to the consultation as outlined through the Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Bill 2005 be noted; and

(2)   that it be agreed that the Criminal Justice Grouping Advisory Group, whose membership includes the Convener of the Health and Social Care Committee and Head of Social Work Services, undertake a programme of work in preparation for the introduction of the new shadow Community Justice Authority in April 2006 and that this be the subject of a further report to the Committee.

38

Criminal Justice Throughcare Service Phase 2

38

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive (1) on the implementation of Phase 2 of the Criminal Justice Throughcare Service and (2) seeking approval for the recruitment of two qualified Social Workers to deliver services as part of the Phase 2 arrangements.

Decided:

(1)   that approval be given to the establishment of two qualified Social Worker posts within Social Work Services to deliver the full range of services provided under the phased development of Criminal Justice Throughcare Services;  and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of Social Work Services and the Head of Personnel Services to take the necessary action to establish the required posts.

39

Social Work Inspection Agency

39

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on the planned inspection of Social Work Services within Inverclyde to be carried out by the Social Work Inspection Agency over the period January to May 2006.

Decided:  that the planned inspection of Social Work Services by the Social Work Inspection Agency to be carried out during January to  May 2006 be noted.

40

Integrating NHS Argyll & Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow

40

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive (1) on the outcome of the consultation on changes to NHS boundaries following the dissolution of NHS Argyll & Clyde on 30 March 2006 which have resulted in the whole of the Argyll & Bute Council area being incorporated into NHS Highland and Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire Councils amalgamating into NHS Greater Glasgow and (2) advising of the requirement to establish a Community Health Partnership in Inverclyde by 1 April 2006.

Decided:

(1)   that the Interim Chief Executive be requested to arrange a meeting with the Chief Executive of  NHS Greater Glasgow as a matter of urgency to discuss the arrangements for the establishment of a Community Health Partnership within Inverclyde; and

(2)   that a further report be submitted to the Committee on the development of the Inverclyde Community Health Partnership on the basis of the further discussions with NHS Greater Glasgow and following a seminar for all Members of the Council.

41

Inverclyde Joint Care Board - Minutes of Meetings of  29 September and 3 November 2005

41

There were submitted minutes of the meetings of the Inverclyde Joint Care Board of 29 September and 3 November 2005.

Noted

42

Findings of the Audit and Review of All Medium and High Risk Sex Offenders in the East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire Criminal Justice Grouping

42

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on the findings of the Audit and Review of all medium and high risk sex offenders in the East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire Criminal Justice Grouping.

Decided:

(1)   that the outcome of the Audit and Review exercise be noted;  and

(2)   that the implementation of the Revised Standards and Guidance for Working with Sex Offenders approved by the Criminal Justice Grouping Advisory Group be endorsed.

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 the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act as are set opposite each item.

Item                                                                                                                Paragraph(s)

Contract Management Framework for Social Work Services        3, 6 and 8

Specialist Care Home Provider Placement -

Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive                          3 and 8

43

Contract Management Framework for Social Work Services

43

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on the draft Contract Management Framework for Social Work Services which will allow the Council to discharge effectively all its responsibilities in respect of contracts for Housing Support, Social Care and Children’s Services.

Decided:

(1)   that agreement be given to the implementation of the draft Contract Management Framework for  Social Work Services;  and

(2)   that the Committee note and approve the list of projected contract values for 2005/2006 as set out in appendix 1 which are reported in accordance with the interim delegated powers arrangements.

44

Specialist  Care Home Provider Placement - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

44

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to secure a specialist care home placement for a patient in Merchiston Hospital.

Noted