To receive apologies for absence from Members.

Cllr PA Davies, Cllr M Jones, Cllr AA Pucella, Cllr T Thomas.

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)

Cllr A Hussain declared a personal interest in Item 3 as he is Chair of the Brynawel Rehab Board of Trustees.

Invitees:

Susan Cooper - Corporate Director - Social Services and Wellbeing;

Cllr Phil White, Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help;

Jacqueline Davies, Head of Adult Social Care;

Laura Kinsey, Head of Children’s Social Care;

Martin Morgans, Head of Performance and Partnerships,

Elizabeth Walton James, Group Manager Safeguarding

Terri Warrilow, Adult Safeguarding and Quality Manager;

DCI Richie Weber, South Wales Police    

Louise Mann, Head of Safeguarding and Public Protection, Cwm Taf University Health Board  

Katie Davies, Area Services Manager Bridgend - Calan DVS.     

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing firstly welcomed the representatives from South Wales Police, Cwm Taf University Health Board and Calan DVS and thanked them for their attendance and contribution at the meeting.  She then briefly presented the Safeguarding report to Committee, the purpose of which was to update Members with requested information on:

·       Safeguarding (Adults & Children);

·       Regional Safeguarding Boards;

·       Bridgend Corporate Safeguarding Policy;

·       Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE);

·       Deprivation of Liberty Standards (DOLS);

·       Domestic Abuse;

·       Human Trafficking & Anti-Slavery;

·       Children and Adult Practice Reviews.

The Committee were advised that the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 sets out the need to establish Regional Safeguarding Boards for children and adults and Bridgend Council had just completed the transition from Western Bay into Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board. 

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing proceeded to describe the Membership and governance of the Safeguarding Board which included representation from Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil Councils.

The Chair made reference to the Board Membership, in that Bridgend County Borough Council seemed to be underrepresented in comparison to the other Councils, particularly with Merthyr as the delegates’ allocated seemed disproportionate to the Borough population.  The Corporate Director for Social Services and Wellbeing explained that the structure within the Annual Plan is draft and the Membership does cover a representative from Education but agreed to explore extending the invitation to include a legal officer.

A Member queried the figures provided within the Child Protection Register and questioned whether all recorded cases were new or children that have moved from age group to age group.   A Member followed this question by stating that the categories on the register should include children of parents who have alcohol or substance misuse.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing explained that the categories used on the register were set out by Welsh Government but the comments raised could be fed back as part of the ongoing review of the Performance Framework.

With reference to the year on year increase to DoLS referrals and the probability of the trend continuing due to rise in ageing population and the prevalence in dementia, the Committee raised concerns with financing and resourcing the process in the future.  The Adult Safeguarding and Quality Manager responded by providing details of Liberty Protection Safeguards which will be introduced in Spring 2020 which will hopefully be a simpler process and therefore more cost effective for the Council.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing concluded that since the introduction of DoLS it had been an area of monetary pressure and the Directorate are currently monitoring the process for more efficient ways of working.

On the subject of Adult Practice Reviews, the Committee queried what lessons had been learnt from the review referred to in the report and questioned the robust process now in place compared to previously, to ensure these incidents do not happen in the future.  The Corporate Director Social Care and Wellbeing added that practitioners continually ensure communications are resilient for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

The Scrutiny Officer reported on items to be considered at the meeting of the Committee on 16 September 2019 and sought confirmation of the information required for the subsequent meeting to be held on 10 October 2019. 

Resolved:

In relation to the item of Youth Offending Service scheduled for 16 September 2019, Members have requested that an organisational structure chart is provided for pre and post restructure.

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.