Invitees:

Susan Cooper, Corporate Director, Social Services and Wellbeing

Cllr P White, Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help

Laura Kinsey, Head of Safeguarding and Family Support

Julia Morgan, Strategic Commissioning Officer

The Corporate Director of Social Services and Wellbeing presented a report updating the Committee about the revised service model within Bakers Way, the work undertaken within the placements residential and resource project board, the rota visiting undertaken in respect of the 3 in house residential units and the last 3 inspection reports for in house residential units.

Bakers Way had been open for just over 25 years and was a 5 bedded respite unit for children with disabilities. It provided a traditional model of care and the project was set up to ensure that the current service being delivered was meeting the needs of the children and young people accessing the service. The Bakers Way service continued to be delivered from the existing building, offering overnight breaks from Tuesday to Saturday, with no overnight short breaks on Wednesdays, when the outreach service would continue to run. Formal staff consultation would commence in January 2017 over a four week period with a three month change of contract notice period then being served. This would lead to the new service model being operational in May 2017. A bid for capital minor works funding had been submitted to enable adaptation works to be carried out in Bakers Way during 2017 to ensure all children had equal access to the services available within the unit and to adjust the existing door frames to be EU compliant with new larger wheelchairs which were now being utilised.

The Committee referred to the CSSIW report on Bakers Way and the recommendation to achieve improvements for children and young people by not making emergency short term placements which necessitated cancelling services for other younger people and adversely affected the support for those families.  The Corporate Director of Social Services and Wellbeing explained that this related to an emergency placement which was the only option available at that time and CSSIW were fully consulted and understood the need for the placement to be made. This issue had been discussed within the Children with Disabilities Board and was one of the reasons why the establishment of a 52 week in house provision in Heronsbridge was being proposed.

The Committee referred to the £100k savings linked to the remodelling of Bakers Way and questioned the level of take up. The Group Manager - Commissioning Contracts and Contract Monitoring reported that the 15/16 level was 60% however now it was closed for two days, occupancy levels were more like 90%. The Committee commented on the need to ensure proper support and adequate financing for any changes or developments to Children’s Residential Homes, particularly in light of the need for savings in this area.  The Committee requested that this be considered under the new FWP to monitor the progress and expenditure against savings requirements.

The Committee asked if the formal consultation was underway. Members were advised that discussions with HR were still ongoing and the consultation would commence when discussions were concluded.

The Corporate Director of Social Services and Wellbeing explained that the Placements, Residential and Resource Project Board had been overseeing a review of the two residential care homes, Sunnybank and Newbridge House. The aim of the project was to review children’s residential provision, identify gaps in service delivery and to develop a strategy to mitigate these gaps whilst achieving efficiencies and income through service delivery. The Committee requested that a visit be organised to Sunnybank House for a small group of Members from the CYP Committee.

Sunnybank Complex Needs Unit housed four beds for complex needs. There was no local provision for complex needs and some children were placed in high cost out of county placements. The project Board was considering if those needs could be met in-house as a potential source of savings. The Board was also looking at determining whether therapy services could be found and commissioned externally, in-county or whether an in house residential service was required.

Newbridge House was a transition unit for 16-17 years to independence but there were limited options available in terms of suitable accommodation for young people to reside in. A huge analysis had been undertaken to identify options to alter the provision.

The Group Manager - Commissioning Contracts and Contract Monitoring explained the reasons why placements were under pressure and the options that were being developed. The options appraisal to be undertaken in February 2017 would show what combination of assessment units, complex needs units, transition units and long term residential would be needed to move forward. Workshops would also be held to engage with children and those that had been through the system.

The Committee referred to consideration being given to foster carers being trained to the same therapeutic level as residential workers. Members were advised that information was being gathered on the skill mixes of individuals and how they could be used more effectively. 

The Group Manager - Commissioning Contracts and Contract Monitoring explained that there were conversations with neighbouring authorities and Western Bay which were not part of an official strategy but just part of working together. The Committee strongly supported regional working for the provision of complex needs and recommended that this be formalised with a clear strategy and plan to take this forward in order to increase options and provision.

The Committee referred to the importance of a dialogue with health in relation to children with complex needs. The Corporate Director of Social Services and Wellbeing explained that there were representatives from Health and Police on the project Board. The Committee asked for further information regarding the funding contributions for those organisations on the project Board.

The Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help reported that more fostering parents and carers were needed. Training was essential and even though foster parents could not be forced to undergo training, the most suitable foster carers should be used for appropriate cases.

The Committee asked if the therapeutic approaches suggested would be suitable for mental health issues and if they were in line with best practice. The Corporate Director of Social Services and Wellbeing explained that there appeared to be an increase in the numbers with emotional issues across Wales. Concerns had been raised about the service that could be offered and a gap in the provision and work was being undertaken to fill this gap more effectively.

The Members requested more information why young people felt that their voices were not being heard, was it because they were being prevented from doing things. Members were advised that the comments made by young people were in the context of their own personal views on what they felt they should have and was reasonable. This was a difficult area and it was important to listen to each child individually. Members recommended the need for further work to be undertaken for advocacy for children and young people to ensure that their voices are heard and their views taken on-board.

Members raised concerns that 2 care homes were reasonable and 1 was close to failing with no improvement to date and was the right model in place to deal with the challenges.  The Corporate Director of Social Services and Wellbeing explained that work was underway to address the problem. The current model was being reviewed to find something more suitable. There was a police presence at the moment with support being offered to break down barriers and to review the missing child register and the Child Sexual Exploitation register.

Members referred to the point raised about long term sickness and overall morale of the staff group and the need to address this issue urgently. Members were advised that dealing with challenging children and behaviour was a difficult area and additional staffing was provided where possible. Training was given to managers and staff along with proper consultation and engagement.

The Committee referred to the establishment of a group to look at Looked After Children, the cost of placements and the importance of this role for a future scrutiny committee.

The Committee suggested that all members of the Children and Young People and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committees should carry out rota visits. Members were pleased that private sector children’s homes were now incorporated into the Rota Visiting Scheme but expressed disappointment at the level of visits reported. The Committee recommended that Rota Visiting should be a condition of service for Members sitting on the Children and Young People and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committees to ensure that more venues are visited more regularly than are currently.

Conclusions

The Committee strongly supported regional working for the provision of complex needs and recommended that this be formalised with a clear strategy and plan to take this forward in order to increase options and provision.

Members recommended the need for further work to be undertaken for advocacy for children and young people to ensure that their voices are heard and their views taken on-board.

The Committee commented on the need to ensure proper support and adequate financing for any changes or developments to Childrens Residential Homes, particularly in light of the need for savings in this area.

The Committee requested that this be considered under the new FWP to monitor the progress and expenditure against savings requirements.

Rota Visiting  

Members were pleased that private sector children’s homes were now incorporated into the Rota Visiting Scheme but expressed disappointment at the level of visits reported.

The Committee recommended that Rota Visiting should be a condition of service for Members sitting on the Children and Young People and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committees to ensure that more venues are visited more regularly than are currently.

The Committee requested that a visit be organised to Sunnybank House for a small group of Members from the CYP Committee.

The Committee asked for further information regarding the funding contributions for those organisations on the project board.