Health & Social Care Committee

Tuesday 28 August 2007 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost McCormick, Councillors Ahlfeld, Brooks, Fyfe, Grieve, McCabe, McIlwee, McKenzie, MacLeod, Moran and Rebecchi.

Chair:  Councillor McIlwee presided.

In attendance:  Corporate Director Education and Social Care, Head of Social Work Services, Head of Community Care and Strategic Services, Mr F Jarvie (for Head of Legal and Administration), Ms A Edmiston (for Chief Financial Officer) and Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs.

In attendance also:  Mr D Walker, Director, Inverclyde Community Health Partnership.

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

490

Revenue Budget 2007/08 - Period 3

490

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance on (1) the Revenue Budget 2006/07 out-turn and (2) the position of the Revenue Budget 2006/07 as at Period 3 (30 June 2007) which showed a projected overspend of £233,000.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that the out-turn for 2006/07 and the current projected overspend for 2007/08 of £233,000 as at 30 June 2007 be noted;  and

(2)                                                                                                   that it be noted that the Corporate Director Education and Social Care had been asked to report to the Corporate Management Team on 23 August 2007 on proposals for bringing the Social Care projections back within budget.

491

Social Work Services Quarterly Performance Information

491

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care providing quarterly performance management information in respect of Social Work Services.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that the Committee note the service targets which are being met and those areas where improvement is required;

(2)                                                                                                   that a report be submitted to the next meeting providing an analysis of performance in respect of assessments and making recommendations for any improvements in the current arrangements;  and

(3)                                                                                                   that an information sheet be prepared for Members on the trends over the past five years in relation to the placement of looked after children.

492

Social Work Services Complaints Procedures - Annual Report

492

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care on the annual performance of Social Work Services relative to the statutory procedures as determined by the Scottish Executive Guidance and Directions on the operation of complaints procedures in respect of the Social Work function (SWSG5/1996).

Decided:  that the Committee note the annual performance of Social Work Services in respect of the statutory complaints procedure 2006-2007.

493

Creating a Community Health and Care Partnership in Inverclyde

493

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care appending a joint paper prepared by the Council and Inverclyde CHP seeking endorsement by both the Health and Social Care Committee and the Inverclyde Community Health Partnership Committee for progressing through a series of defined stages towards a Community Health and Care Partnership for Inverclyde.

Following discussion, Councillor McIlwee moved:

(1)                                                                                                   that agreement be given in principle to the creation of a Community Health and Care Partnership subject to approval by the Policy and Resources Committee;

(2)                                                                                                   that prior to consideration of the issue by the Policy and Resources Committee, a seminar be arranged for all Members setting out the issues involved;

(3)                                                                                                   that agreement be given to the formation of the Community Health and Care Partnership as set out in section 5 of the joint paper;

(4)                                                                                                   that agreement be given to engage with key stakeholders regarding the principles involved, within the timescales detailed in the joint paper;  and

(5)                                                                                                   that regular reports on progress be submitted to the Committee.

As an amendment, Councillor Fyfe moved that no decision be taken by the Health and Social Care Committee at this time and that a seminar for Elected Members setting out the issues involved be held prior to consideration by the Policy and Resources Committee.

On a vote, 2 Members voted for the amendment and 8 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that agreement be given in principle to the creation of a Community Health and Care Partnership subject to approval by the Policy and Resources Committee;

(2)                                                                                                   that prior to consideration of the issue by the Policy and Resources Committee, a seminar be arranged for all Members setting out the issues involved;

(3)                                                                                                   that agreement be given to the formation of the Community Health and Care Partnership as set out in section 5 of the joint paper;

(4)                                                                                                   that agreement be given to engage with key stakeholders regarding the principles involved, within the timescales detailed in the joint paper;  and

(5)                                                                                                   that regular reports on progress be submitted to the Committee.

494

Care Home Fees 2007/08

494

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care on Care Home Fees for 2007/08.

Decided:  that the Care Home Fee rates for 2007/08 as appended to the report be noted.

495

Charging 2007/08

495

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care on the current position in relation to the charges levied for Social Work Services.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that the implementation of charges for Social Work Services as detailed in appendix 1 to the report be noted;  and

(2)                                                                                                   that a report be submitted to the next meeting on the impact of charges for community alarms.

496

Proposed Partnership - Social Care/MacMillan Cancer Support

496

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care seeking approval to establish a partnership initiative with MacMillan Cancer Support to ensure the fast tracking of income maximisation for individuals diagnosed with cancer, their families and households.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that the Committee approve the proposals detailed in the report;  and

(2)                                                                                                   that it be remitted to the Head of Organisational Development and Human Resources to progress recruitment of the two temporary posts detailed in the report.

Councillor Fyfe left the meeting at this juncture.

497

Children’s Rights and Information Officer Annual Report 2006/07 and Workplan 2007/08

497

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care on (1) the work carried out by the Council’s Children’s Rights and Information Officer during the period April 2006 to March 2007 and (2) seeking approval of the proposed workplan for the period April 2007 to March 2008.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that approval be given to the Children’s Rights and Information Officer Annual Report for 2006/07 appended to the report and for its publication and distribution;  and

(2)                                                                                                   that the proposed workplan for 2007/08 be approved.

Councillor Rebecchi left the meeting at this juncture.

498

Integrated Children’s Services Plan Annual Update 2007

498

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care seeking approval for the 2007 Annual Update of the Integrated Children’s Services Plan for Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that the Integrated Children’s Services Plan Annual Update 2007 be approved;  and

(2)                                                                                                   that it be remitted to the Corporate Director Education and Social Care to submit this to the Scottish Executive.

499

The Inverclyde Joint Community Care Statement of Intent 2006/07 including Supporting People Annual Review - Position Statement

499

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care (1) on the current position regarding the Inverclyde Joint Community Care Statement of Intent 2006/07, including the Supporting People Annual Review and (2) seeking approval to extend the status of the document until financial year 2008.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that the report be noted;  and

(2)                                                                                                   that approval be given to the continuing status of the Joint Community Care Statement of Intent  2006/07 until such time as the Joint Community Care Plan 2008/10 is submitted for approval.

500

Telecare Development Programme

500

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care on the development of the national Telecare Programme and its implementation within Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that the progress made in the Telecare Development Programme within Inverclyde be noted;  and

(2)                                                                                                   that support be given to the development of a wider Telecare Strategy for Inverclyde.

501

Social Work Services - Authorised Providers List Annual Report

501

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care advising of amendments made to the Social Work Services Authorised Providers List in accordance with Rule 2.2 of the Council’s Standing Orders, Rules of Procedure - Contracts for Procurement of Social Care Services.

Decided:  that the amendments to the Authorised Providers List as detailed in the report be noted.

502

Update on the Use of the Refurbished Former Boglestone Library

502

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care providing updated information on (1) the closure of Devol Resource Centre for people with learning disabilities and (2) the subsequent use of the refurbished former Boglestone Library which will now be known as Social Work Outreach Services.

(Provost McCormick left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

503

Inverclyde Joint Care Board - Minutes of Meetings of 19 April and 14 June 2007

503

There were submitted minutes of the meetings of the Inverclyde Joint Care Board of 19 April and 14 June 2007.

Noted

504

Hope Street Flat

504

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care advising of a change in the use of the Hope Street flat from a respite resource to an extension to the day opportunities outreach service provision.

Noted

505

Reporting Structure for Evaluating Educational Attainment of Looked After Children

505

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care seeking approval of a proposed reporting structure to monitor and evaluate the educational attainment of looked after children.

(Provost McCormick returned to the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that approval be given to the reporting structure as outlined in the report.

506

Educational Attainment - Looked After Children

506

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care seeking approval to engage the research services of the Scottish Institute of Residential Childcare in conjunction with the University of Strathclyde to carry out an evaluation of the educational attainment of looked after children in Inverclyde.

Decided:  that approval be given to the use of the Scottish Institute of Residential Childcare and the University of Strathclyde to carry out an evaluation of the educational attainment of looked after children in Inverclyde, at a cost of £20,000.

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 item 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.

507

Merchiston Re-provisioning - Status Report

507

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care advising of progress made in relation to the Merchiston Hospital closure programme and the resettlement of those people for whom Inverclyde Council has a responsibility.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that it be noted that by August 2007, all of the people with learning disabilities who lived within Merchiston Hospital and for whom Inverclyde Council had a responsibility will be resettled within the community;  and

(2)                                                                                                   that it be noted that this concludes the re-provisioning programme for Inverclyde Council and allows Merchiston Hospital to progress to complete closure.