To receive apologies for absence from Members.

Councillor Della Hughes

Councillor Paula Ford had given her apologies that she would join the meeting late and Councillor Paul Davies gave his apologies that he would need to leave the meeting early.

Officers
Laura Kinsey, Head of Children’s Social Care and Glynis Evans, Community Mental Health Services Manager.

Invitees

Councillors Richard Granville and Jane Gebbie gave their apologies that they would need to leave the meeting early.

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008 (including whipping declarations)

None.

To receive for approval the minutes of a meeting of the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2 of the 08 12 22, 16 02 23 and 27 03 23.

RESOLVED:                  That the Minutes of meetings of Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2 dated 16 February, 27 March and 10 July 2023 be approved as a true and accurate record.

Invitees

Councillor Jane Gebbie - Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Social Services and Health

Claire Marchant - Corporate Director - Social Services and Wellbeing

Jacqueline Davies - Head of Adult Social Care

Mark Wilkinson – Group Manager – Learning Disability, Mental Health & Substance Misuse

Glynis Evans – Community Mental Health Services Manager

Robert Goodwin - Service Group Manager, Mental Health Services - Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

The Head of Adult Social Care presented the report, the purpose of which was to provide the strategic and operational context in which Adult Community Mental Health Services are delivered in the County Borough and to ask the Committee to provide comments on the future direction of services.

The Chairperson thanked the Head of Adult Social Care and Members discussed the following:

·         The referral pathway into the Social Care and Recovery Team, the typical intervention period and its importance as an early intervention and prevention team.

·         The notable increase in the number of referrals for young people on the autistic spectrum, the Code of Practice on the Delivery of Autism Services in Wales and the Authority’s training plan.

·         Local hackathon events and adjustments to improve services and communication for all people neurodiverse conditions.

·         The largely positive joint inspection of the North Community Mental Health Team and steps taken to address the areas for improvement and best practice. 

·         In relation to the Assisting Recovery in the Community Service:

-       types of therapeutic courses and counselling available;

-       evolution of the service;

-       age profile and reasons for people accessing the service; and

-       capturing service user experiences and feedback.

·         Current waiting lists for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and the role of schools and colleges in making referrals.

·         The success of the Wellbeing Retreat, the potential for the service to be extended and themes affecting users.

·         Sufficiency of funding for statutory Mental Health Services, targeted investment in Prevention and Wellbeing Services to prevent escalation of need to secondary services and the importance of safe and manageable caseloads. 

·         Improving communication around Mental Health and reducing stigma.

·         The development of a Regional Mental Health Strategy and any anticipated changes to the Interim Strategy following publication of the new National Strategy.

·         The intended audience for the Interim Strategy, the importance of partnership working and the steps taken to promote the available services.

·         The source and significance of the values and principles set out in the Interim Strategy and Professional Codes of Practice. 

·         The roll out and accessibility of identified training and how the Service works with voluntary organisations.

The Chairperson advised that there were no further questions for the Invitees, thanked the Invitees for their attendance and, advised that if they were not required for the next Item, they may leave the meeting.

RESOLVED:            Following detailed consideration and discussions with Officers and Cabinet Members, the Committee made the following Recommendation:

1. That the Committee write to the Members of the Senedd for Bridgend and Ogmore to request an invitation to the round table meetings run by them, involving third sector and voluntary organisations and relating to mental health and the Bridgend Mental Health Pathway.

and the Committee requested:

2.    Data relating to the notable increase in the number of young people on the autism spectrum being referred to the Community Mental Health Teams and a copy of the existing Code of Practice on the Delivery of Autism Services in Wales.

3.    That  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

Invitees

Councillor Jane Gebbie - Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Social Services and Health

Councillor Neelo Farr - Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Wellbeing

Claire Marchant - Corporate Director - Social Services and Wellbeing

Jacqueline Davies - Head of Adult Social Care

Laura Kinsey - Head of Children’s Social Care

Andrew Thomas - Group Manager - Sports and Physical Activity

Pete Tyson – Group Manager - Commissioning

Mark Wilkinson – Group Manager – Learning Disability, Mental Health & Substance Misuse

Michelle King - Integrated Community Services Manager- CRT (Bridgend Locality)

Shagufta Khan - Social Work Lead – Adult Social Care

The Corporate Director, Social Services and Wellbeing presented the Director of Social Services’ Annual Report 2022/23 to the Committee, for scrutiny prior to consideration by Council on 20 September 2023.

The Chairperson thanked the Corporate Director, Social Services and Wellbeing and Members discussed the following:

·         The Committee’s thanks to the Corporate Director for her leadership and to all staff for all of their hard work.

·         The financial implications and anticipated impact of the new children’s residential provision.

·         The sufficiency and planning of the Social Services and Wellbeing budget, grant funding and use of earmarked reserves.

·         The expert review of the spending in Learning Disability Services and the cost and value of foster carers.

·         Carers assessments and the importance of assisting unpaid carers to find and access information on the support available.

·         The role of the Participation Officer, steps being taken to ensure the voice of children and families are heard and further steps to be taken, including the establishment of a Parent Charter.

·         The fragility of staffing the prospect of standardised Welsh National pay, terms and conditions,the Memorandum of Understanding between local authorities regarding pay and work conditions for agency workers and measures to attract Social Care workers to Bridgend.

·         Factors contributing to the high numbers of Care Experienced Children and Children on the Child Protection Register and the anticipated impact of the Sustainability Plan for Children’s Social Care.

·         The importance of partnership and multi-agency working and the recent Care Inspectorate Wales – Joint Inspection of Child Protection Arrangements.

·         The data regarding Reablement Services, Disabled Facilities Grants, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and complaints and compliments.

The Chairperson advised that there were no further questions for the Invitees, thanked the Invitees for their attendance and, advised that they may leave the meeting.

RESOLVED:            Following detailed consideration and discussions with Officers and Cabinet Members, the Committee made the following Recommendations:

1.    That the financial modelling that is available to the Cabinet during the budget setting process, also be made available to the Budget Research and Evaluation Panel to assist with their budget discussions regarding financial sufficiency for the Social Services and Wellbeing Directorate.

2.    That the Committee write a letter, in support of the Deputy Leader and the Council’s response to the Welsh Government Consultation, Rebalancing Care and Support Programme, to the Welsh Minister for Social Services regarding standardised Welsh National pay, terms and conditions to prevent the “poaching” of staff by other local authorities and therefore ensuring that Bridgend retains a skilled workforce.

and the Committee requested:

3. An update on the progress and cost of the priority for Children’s Social Care to enhance in-house foster care capacity and implement therapeutic support service for foster carers

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Committee with the Forward Work Programme (FWP) in Appendix A for discussion and consideration, requested any specific information the Committee identified to be included in the items for the next two meetings, including invitees they wished to attend, requested the Committee to identify any further items for consideration on the FWP having regard to the selection criteria in paragraph 3.5, asked the Committee to note the Recommendations Monitoring Action Sheet to track responses to the Committee’s recommendations made at previous meetings in Appendix B and that the FWP for the Committee would be reported to the next meeting of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee (COSC).

The Committee requested that representatives from partner agencies involved in the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub be invited to attend for the scrutiny of the Care Inspectorate Wales – Joint Inspection of Child Protection Arrangementsitem scheduled on the FWP for 23 November 2023.

There were no further items identified for consideration on the FWP having regard to the selection criteria in paragraph 3.5, and this could be revisited at the next meeting.

There were no requests to include specific information in the item for the next meeting.

RESOLVED:   That the Committee approved the FWP in Appendix A,

                                 noted the Recommendations Monitoring Action Sheet  

                                 in Appendix B and noted that the FWP,

                                 Recommendations Monitoring Action Sheet and any 

                                 updates from the Committee would be reported to the

                                 next meeting of COSC.

To consider any item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in

accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

None.