SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE

 

THURSDAY 17 APRIL 1997 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:-  Provost Allan, Councillors Morrison (M), O'Rourke, McGhee, Rebecchi 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), Mr H McNeilly (for the Director of Legal Services), Mr A Gerrard (for the Director of Property and Technical Services) and the Director of Social Work.

 

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

 

484.00

ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS

484

 

The Convener referred to reports by the Director of Social Work on (i) the establishment of a Service Manager to implement the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and (ii) the establishment of an Assistant Service Manager to undertake the external management of the Balrossie Residential Unit.  The Convener indicated that consideration of both items was urgent to enable the posts to be filled in early course and moved that these items be added to the Agenda.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

 

485.00

REVENUE BUDGET 1996/97

485

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 March 1997 by the Director of Social Work on the current position of the 1996/97 Revenue Budget as at 28 February 1997.

NOTED

 

486.00

CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - FINANCIAL PROGRESS

486

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 March 1997 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the Capital Programme 1996/97.

NOTED

 

487.00

CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS

487

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 21 March 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1996/97.

NOTED

488.00

LYNEDOCH STREET ATC:  KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT - APPROVAL TO PROCEED TO TENDER

488

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 21 March 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services seeking the Committee's approval to seek tenders for the provision of kitchen and laundry equipment at Lynedoch Street ATC at an estimated sum of £25,000.

DECIDED:

(a)  That approval be given 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 competitive tenders for the works;  and

(b)  That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest tender received, provided it is no more than 10% (greater than) the approved estimate.

 

489.00

REVISED MAINTENANCE RATES:  INDEPENDENT SECTOR PROVISION

489

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 March 1997 by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval for the payment of maintenance rates to independent sector providers.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the increased scale of charges established by Central Government be noted;  and

(b)  That the Committee approve the recommended rates as set out in the Appendix to the report for implementation from 14 April 1997.

 

490.00

MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS OUTWITH INVERCLYDE

490

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 April 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.

 

491.00

MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN INVERCLYDE

491

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 March 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 within Inverclyde.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee note the residential establishments within 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.

492.00

COMMUNITY CARE (DIRECT PAYMENTS) ACT 1996:  IMPLEMENTATION

492

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 March 1997 by the Director of Social Work requesting the Committee to consider adopting a policy in relation to the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996.

DECIDED:  That the Committee:-

(i) note the implementation of the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 from 1 April 1997;

(ii) give the Director of Social Work discretion to consider the scheme for the relatively few potential clients likely to benefit from, and who are prepared to comply with, the significant demands of the arrangements as set out in the legislation and regulations;

(iii) request the Director of Social Work to consult with those interested disabled individuals and those groups representing disabled people in Inverclyde concerning their views on the Act and its implementation;  and

(iv) request that the Director of Social Work submit a report at the end of the financial year 1997/98 which would indicate how the powers of the Act may have been used and of the consultation outlined in (iii) to permit the Council to review its policy on this matter in light of experience.

 

493.00

FOSTERING ALLOWANCES 1997/98

493

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 3 April 1997 by the Director of Social Work advising the Committee of the increase in the rate of fostering allowances for 1997/98 as recommended by COSLA.

DECIDED:  That the Committee approve the new rates for fostering allowances for 1997/98 as recommended by COSLA.

 

494.00

REGISTRATION - VARIATION:  KEY HOUSING ASSOCIATION LTD, GOUROCK

494

 

SUBMITTED:  Report 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 Key Housing Association Ltd, 11-19 Adelaide Street, Gourock and 106 Shore Street, Gourock.

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 Key Housing Association Ltd.

 

495.00

REGISTRATION - VARIATION:  SALVATION ARMY, FEWSTER HOUSE, GREENOCK

495

 

SUBMITTED:  Report 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 Salvation Army, Fewster House, 10 Terrace Road, 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 Salvation Army.

496.00

BABY ADOPTION SERVICES

496

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 March 1997 by the Director of Social Work advising the Committee of the establishment of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Adoption Service and recommending that Inverclyde Council become a partner in this service.

DECIDED:

(a)  That Inverclyde Council become a partner in the Glasgow and West of Scotland Adoption Service as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report;  and

(b)  That the existing criteria for adoptive applicants as set out in Appendix 2 of the report be continued.

 

497.00

INTRODUCTION OF SUPERVISED ATTENDANCE ORDER SCHEME

497

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 March 1997 by the Director of Social Work advising the Committee of the proposed introduction of a Supervised Attendance Order Scheme sentencing option at Greenock Sheriff and Inverclyde District Courts.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee note that the necessary consultative process with sentencers has been satisfactorily completed and that the Inverclyde Supervised Attendance Order Scheme has been submitted to the Scottish Office for formal approval;  and

(b)  That the report be remitted to the Personnel Committee for endorsement and further action, following receipt of formal approval and the agreement of necessary funding from the Scottish Office.

 

498.00

IMPLEMENTATION OF CHILDREN (SCOTLAND) ACT 1995 - ESTABLISHMENT OF SERVICE MANAGER POST

498

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 10 April 1997 by the Director of Social Work requesting establishment of a post of Service Manager to undertake additional responsibilities as a consequence of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee approve the establishment of the post of Service Manager to undertake additional responsibilities as a consequence of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995;  and

(b)  That the report be remitted to the Personnel Committee to approve the post.

 

499.00

RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

499

 

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)

 

Future of Balrossie Residential Unit                                                                               6, 9 & 12

 

Establishment of Post of Assistant Service Manager - Balrossie

Residential Unit                                                                                                            11

 

Recommendation to Refuse Childminding Application                                                    6

 

500.00

FUTURE OF BALROSSIE RESIDENTIAL UNIT

500

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work on the future of Balrossie Residential Unit and the Committee agreed to take the action relating to the future position of services in Inverclyde and the staff at the Unit recommended in the report, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

501.00

ESTABLISHMENT OF POST OF ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER - BALROSSIE RESIDENTIAL UNIT

501

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work outlining the current and likely management requirements in respect of Balrossie Residential Unit and requesting the establishment of the post of an Assistant Service Manager at the Unit and the Committee agreed to take the action recommended in the report, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

502.00

RECOMMENDATION TO REFUSE CHILDMINDING APPLICATION

502

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on an application to register as a childminder and it was agreed that the application be refused, all as detailed in the Appendix.