The Committee received a presentation from the Head of Safeguarding and Family Support on the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (Wales) Act 2014 which received Royal Assent on 1 May 2014. 

The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee that officers had been able to influence the legislative process by requesting that the word ‘Wellbeing’ be inserted into the title of the Act.  The Act would set out a new legal framework to bring together and modernise social services law and will take effect from April 2016.  He stated that it was the intention of the Act to make social services sustainable by addressing economic challenges, taking into account demographic changes and would give people more control over their lives and their care and support. 

The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee of what needs to change in that people were not being helped early enough, or stopping problems arising, which meant that when people finally do get care it was of a more intensive and costly nature.  He stated that too much time, skills and resources went into over-elaborate assessment which did not help people with matters they are concerned about or achieve the outcomes they want for themselves.  The Council had been proactive in this regard by co-locating staff with ABMU colleagues in hubs.    

The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support outlined a new approach and the fundamental principles of the new system which were about people; wellbeing; earlier intervention and collaboration.  He informed the Committee of the new legislative framework of the Act in that it set out powers and duties on local authorities and other bodies.  Secondary legislation would be made under the Act and used where more detail or prescription is required and Codes of Practice issuing Guidance with the force of law to help people and organisations to work within the new framework.  He highlighted the eleven components and the building blocks of the Act.  He stated that the Act was much more than a social services and wellbeing way of thinking but about an us and not them approach.  He highlighted the challenges and opportunities presented by the Act and how the Council will behave as employers. 

The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee that local authorities and their partners will ensure successful implementation of the new approach and that the Deputy Minister for Social Services had announced a Delivering Transformation Grant last year and this year.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that the grant would be for £220k across the Western Bay region.  In order to access the grant funding a self-assessment would have to be made by the Head of Safeguarding and Family Support and Head of Adult Social Care which would be accompanied by a response from the Council which would be used by the Western Bay as the basis for their response to be submitted to the Welsh Government by 5 February 2015.        

The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee of the timetable for implementation of the Act, in that formal consultation on two tranches of draft regulations and codes of practice would take place from November 2014 and the summer of 2015 in order that they made by the national Assembly from summer 2015.  Staff training would take place in 2015 and 2016.  The Act would be implemented in April 2016. 

The Committee questioned the requirement of part 7 of the Act regarding the safeguarding of both adults and children at risk.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that the Act will place adult safeguarding on the same footing as safeguarding for children.  The Committee questioned whether adults at risk were at home or in care.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee there was much greater synergy with children and adults being at risk in the same home.  She stated that the relationship between mental health children’s services could be strengthened and there was the possibility of establishing a joint safeguarding team.  The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee that the service hold regular meetings with the police to consider adults at risk. 

The Committee questioned whether there would be Member representation on the Board structure.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that there is Member representation on the Leaders’ Board on Western Bay and safeguarding matters could be reported to that Board.    

The Committee also questioned whether looked after children and young carers could have reduced to access leisure facilities.  The Corporate Director Communities informed the Committee the Council had a duty to promote wellbeing and that the Group Manager Sports and Physical Activity had done some work on allowing looked after children to access leisure facilities at reduced rates and that work would need to be done on establishing the numbers of young carers and the cost of doing so. 

The Cabinet Member Wellbeing informed the Committee that the Minister had stated that it was intended that the Act be cost neutral however the Council needed to do deliver services differently as a result of the Act.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that there was a need for the Council to concentrate on people with complex needs and there was a need to nurture relationships with the third sector.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing also informed the Committee that the Group Manager Sports and Physical Activity would report back on young carers being granted reduced rates to leisure facilities.             

The Committee questioned the support received by schools in reporting abuse.  The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support commented that there is a robust arrangement in place with teachers being designated to recognise concerns of abuse and who to report abuse to. 

The Committee requested clarification on the eligibility criteria so that an individual would be eligible for social care.  The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee the service would assist individuals in what they could do for themselves and that a care and support plan would be put in place.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that the introduction of the Act could raise expectations. 

RESOLVED:              That the content of the report be noted and that the committee   would receive further updates throughout 2015-16.