Invitees:

Cllr Hailey Townsend, Cabinet Member, Childrens Social Services and Equalities

Susan Cooper, Corporate Director, Social Services and Wellbeing

Laura Kinsey, Head of Children’s Social Care

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing presented a report which updated the Committee on the recent changes to Children’s Social Services since the function was transferred to her six months ago.  She advised of the introduction of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act, the implementations of the Welsh Community Care Information System (WCCIS) being led by Bridgend and the current budget pressure faced by the Authority and the Directorate.  She added that this was a complex statutory service with a high demand and the importance of protecting children from harm. 

Members queried the retention of staff and their training and development to enable them to stay with the authority.  The Corporate Director responded that there was a training budget provided by the Welsh Government to enable the Social Care Workforce Development Partnership (SCWDP) to provide training as directed.  She advised that there was no indication that this arrangement would change.  Social workers were also able to undertake training as part of their ongoing development with the Care Council for Wales, Continuing Professional Education and Learning (CPEL) consolidation programme.

Members queried the differences between the social worker vacancies numbers in the report.  It was explained that the service has ensured that all vacancies are covered either by temporary or agency staff.  A wide portfolio of further foundation training was available to staff in the western bay region and the authority was proactively identifying staff with the necessary experience and  an interest in coaching being trained to undertake senior roles.

Members asked how many Looked After Children were currently being supported by the authority.  The committee was informed that the service was currently supporting 390 children.

The Committee queried the progress of the implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act.  They were informed that the preparation made before its implementation had increase awareness of the act and its implications.  The increased level of assessments were reducing and the authority was responding to the new codes of practice.

The committee queried the effectiveness of the Multi agency safeguarding hub being based in the civic offices. The Cabinet Member indicated that discussions regarding the most suitable location for the hub were ongoing.     

Conclusion

1.    Members strongly supported the continued promotion of the ‘grow your own’ approach for social workers.

2.    The Committee recommend that the Bridgend MASH and the Just Ask Service be relocated from the Civic Centre to a more suitable location within the community in order to aid them in being more user friendly.

3.    The Committee proposed that a Pre-Council Briefing take place on the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs.

Additional Information

1.    The Committee asked for further information on the current staffing structure within Children’s Social Services including anonymised details of number of FTEs, current Agency figures, as well as detail on roles, team structures etc.

2.    Members asked for information on whether the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs were now all fully operational and whether there had been any difficulties experienced with the agencies working together.

3.    Members asked for further information on the mix of skills and services available within the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs and specifically what assistance is available for those in transition from Children’s to Adult Services.