SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE

 

THURSDAY 6 MARCH 1997 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:-  Provost Allan, Councillors Morrison (M), O'Rourke, McGhee, Mulholland, Finnie and Jackson, Councillor O'Rourke, Convener, in the Chair.

 

In attendance:-  The Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development), the Director of Central Services, Mr A Puckrin (for the Director of Finance), Miss L Brabender (for the Director of Legal Services), Mr D Stoddart (for the Director of Property and Technical Services) and the Director of Social Work.

 

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor Rebecchi.

 

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

 

291.00

ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM

291

 

The Convener referred to a report by the Director of Social Work on the future provision of residential care and education for young people in the care of Inverclyde Council.  The Convener indicated that consideration of the item was urgent to allow the Council to consider whether to withdraw from Joint User Agreements relating to residential establishments and moved that this item be added to the Agenda.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

 

292.00

REVENUE BUDGET 1996/97

292

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 February 1997 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the 1996/97 Revenue Budget as at 1 January 1997.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the current position of the Revenue Budget 1996/97 be noted;  and

(b)  That the Department continue to endeavour to make savings wherever possible.

 

293.00

CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - FINANCIAL PROGRESS

293

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 February 1997 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the Capital Programme 1996/97.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Policy and Strategy Committee to consider increasing the Social Work Capital Budget by £9,000 in order to fund the overspend in the Capital Programme Budget.

294.00

CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS

294

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 7 February 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1996/97.

NOTED

 

295.00

COMMUNITY ALARM UNIT - CENTRAL CONTROL SYSTEM

295

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 14 February 1997 by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval to seek tenders for the provision of a central control system for 885 community alarms currently installed in Inverclyde residents' homes at an estimated annual cost of £80,226.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Director of Social Work be authorised to terminate the existing Joint User Agreement with South Lanarkshire Council;

(b)  That approval be given to the Director of Social Work in consultation with relevant departmental Directors to invite tenders for the provision of an alternative central control unit service for the community alarm schemes in Inverclyde;

(c)  That it be remitted to the Director of Social Work to prepare a service specification in consultation with the appropriate Officers of the Council;  and

(d)  That the Committee note the Social Work Department's objective to ensure the continuity of a high-quality service to individual users by which effectiveness can be balanced with efficiency.

 

296.00

REGISTRATION - VARIATION:  HOLY ROSARY HOME (LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR), GREENOCK

296

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 12 February 1997 by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval of changes in the registration information under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, Section 62 for the Holy Rosary Home (Little Sisters of the Poor), 44 Union Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted and that the Committee approve the variation;  and

(b)  That the Director of Central Services issue a new Certificate of Registration to the Holy Rosary Home (Little Sisters of the Poor).

 

297.00

AUTHORISED PROVIDERS LIST:  HEATHERPARK HOMES LTD, TROON

297

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 February 1997 by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval to include Heatherpark Homes Ltd, 3 Craigend Road, Troon on the Authorised Providers List.

DECIDED:  That Heatherpark Homes Ltd, Troon be included on the Authorised Providers List to provide a home care service in Inverclyde.

 

298.00

AUTHORISED PROVIDERS LIST:  MATILDA CARE TRANSPORT, 119 FINNART STREET, GREENOCK

298

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 February 1997 by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval to include Matilda Care Transport, 119 Finnart Street, Greenock on the Authorised Providers List.

DECIDED:  That Matilda Care Transport be included on the Authorised Providers List to provide a home care service in Inverclyde.

299.00

MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS OUTWITH INVERCLYDE

299

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 February 1997 by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval for the payment of maintenance rates for persons from Inverclyde who may be resident in establishments located outwith Inverclyde.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee note the residential establishments outwith Inverclyde which might be utilised by the Council;  and

(b)  That the Committee approve the recommended rates in order that the Director of Social Work may make appropriate payments for residents' care in the event of placements being made.

 

300.00

COMMUNITY CARE SERVICE CONTRACT:  APPROVAL TO BLOCK FUND

300

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 12 February 1997 by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval to fund the Richmond Fellowship Scotland, 7 Lyle Street, Greenock within the terms and conditions of block contract as required by Council Financial Regulations.

DECIDED:  That the Committee approve block funding for a fixed period of five years within the terms and conditions of contract for the Richmond Fellowship Scotland, the cost to be contained within the 1997/98 Revenue Budget.

 

301.00

FUTURE PLANNING FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE AND EDUCATION PROVISION

301

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Social Work on the future provision of residential care and education for young people in the care of Inverclyde Council.

DECIDED:

(a)  That it be remitted to the Director of Social Work to submit a further report on the future operation of the Balrossie Residential Unit;  and

(b)  That approval be given for the withdrawal of the Council from Joint User Agreements in respect of Balrossie, Newfield and Kerelaw Open School.

 

302.00

RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

302

 

On the motion of the Convener it was agreed unanimously that, in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items 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)

 

Social Work Capital Programme:  McPherson Centre, Gourock - Phase III                 8

 

Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 - Section 34A:  Appointment of

Safeguarders etc                                                                                                          1

Assumption of Parental Rights in respect of Children in Care - Case

for Consideration                                                                                                         5 & 6

 

303.00

SOCIAL WORK CAPITAL PROGRAMME:  McPHERSON CENTRE, GOUROCK - PHASE III

303

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Property and Technical Services seeking the Committee's authority to proceed with the preparation of tender documents for Phase III of the McPherson Centre and thereafter to invite tenders for the work.

DECIDED:  That the Committee give approval (i) for the estimated cost for this project of £540,200 and (ii) to the Director of Property and Technical Services to proceed with the preparation of tender documents and thereafter it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to invite tenders.

 

304.00

SOCIAL WORK (SCOTLAND) ACT 1968 - SECTION 34A:  APPOINTMENT OF SAFEGUARDERS ETC

304

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 February 1997 by the Director of Central Services seeking the Committee's approval to the re-appointment of persons previously appointed by the Council as Safeguarders for the purposes of children's hearings and proceedings in the Sheriff Court.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee agree to the appointment of the Safeguarders listed in the Appendix to the report from 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998, subject to the individual's agreement to appointment and no subsequent adverse comment being received by the Director of Central Services;  and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the Directors of Social Work and Legal Services to consider the relevant qualifications and experience for new applicants, to seek and consult on nominations of persons resident in or close to Inverclyde who are interested in being appointed as a Safeguarder, Curator ad Litem, or Reporting Officer and to report to the Committee with recommendations for appointments to meet the requirements of the proposed regulations.

 

305.00

ASSUMPTION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS IN RESPECT OF CHILDREN IN CARE - CASE FOR CONSIDERATION

305

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work recommending the Committee to consider the assumption of parental rights of the Inverclyde Council for two children in care.  The Committee heard submissions from the Officers on behalf of the Director of Social Work to supplement the report and after discussion agreed:-

(a)  That, in exercise of the powers delegated to them by The Inverclyde Council as local authority for the purpose of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, the Social Work Committee resolve, in respect of the undernoted children presently in the care of the Council, that all the rights and powers of the parent or parents indicated be transferred to and vested in the Council in terms of the sub-section of Section 16 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (as amended) referred to in the appropriate column below.

305.00

Case No    Children     Date of Birth      Parent(s)                Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

305

                                                                                           as amended by the Children Act 1975

 

1                1/M/97       15.08.85            Mother/Father        16(1)(A)(ii) in the circumstances specified in sub-section of  16(2)(D) and 16(2)(E)

 

2                1/P/97        08.12.86            Mother/Father        16(1)(A)(ii) in the circumstances specified in sub-section of  16(2)(D) and 16(2)(E)

 

(b)  That the Committee agree to the continuation of current access arrangements under supervision;  and

(c)  That authority be granted to the Directors of Social Work and Legal Services for all necessary action to be taken in connection with the assumption of parental rights and suspension of access arrangements.