Agenda item

The Committee considered the draft Annual Report of the Statutory Director of Social Services on the Performance of Social Care Services in Carmarthenshire 2018/19. Members were informed that there was a statutory requirement for the Director of Social Services to report annually on delivery and performance, as well as plans for the improvement of the whole range of social services. 

The report detailed the progress made on areas identified for improvement in last year’s report and highlighted those areas to be developed in the current year.  It examined each service area within Social Care and showed how service strategies, actions, targets and service risks will be addressed and delivered operationally by the service this year, based on the approved budget.

The report outlined how the service performed in 2018/19 together with an assessment on the future, together with strategic priorities for 2019/20.  It linked closely with the Business Plans for the Directorates of Community Services and Education & Children’s Services.

Following publication of the report, Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and the Welsh Government will complete their analysis and review of the report.  There will be a formal meeting with CIW in October to discuss their analysis and proposed plan.  This will be followed by an Annual Letter to Council in late November/early December, confirming their analysis and inspection plan.  The process will link in closely with the Wales Programme for Improvement and the Annual Letter from the Wales Audit Office.

The Director of Community Services stated that it was a very positive report on the whole, however, officers were coming to the end of their ability to simply drive efficiencies and it was essential to look at how demand is funded. 

A number of questions were raised to which the Director of Community Services responded.  The main matters were as follows:-

·         It was asked why the ‘Children in Care’ figures had reduced.

The Director of Community Services advised that the figures were low compared to the rest of Wales but not in comparison to the rest of the UK.  The return to home rate had doubled due to a better social care system actively working to get children home. Children should only be looked after in the public care system when there are no other alternatives available.

·         The report stated that “a priority will be to make the in house service more efficient as its proportion of the overall domiciliary care market grows”. It was asked how this would be achieved.

It was stated that a range of plans were in place to make domiciliary care more efficient. The use of technology would assist with deploying the workforce more efficiently and the commissioning of care could be improved. The Director of Community Services advised that the drive in efficiencies had reached the end and the Authority, while in a better position than most other Authorities may have to start making difficult decision regarding service cut backs.

·         A question was asked what steps were being taken to safeguard children being educated at home.

The Director of Community Services advised that this would be a question for the Director of Education and Children to answer, however there were a number of safeguarding cases. He stated that there was a lack of statutory framework and that professional bodies had recommended to Welsh Government, that at minimum there should be a register of children being educated at home in place. The Committee was also advised that the Government would be issuing draft guidance soon. The Director of Community Services stated that the vast majority of home schooled children are happy and that parents should have greater rights such as the statutory right to attend exam centres and additional support if required.

·         Concern was expressed regarding the rate of delayed transfer of care.

The Director of Community Services advised that when data was analysed there were a number of reasons for delays. It was stated that it was not helpful to isolate one specific problem area and that the entire process needed to be reviewed starting with assessing how service users enter the system through to discharge.  The Director of Community Services advised that while there was a shortage of resources, the Authority did not bed block.  There was a need to increase capacity and that the more rural areas in the North of the county struggled with capacity to deliver care packages.

·         It was asked if Depravation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) was grant funded.

The Senior Safeguarding Manager advised that limited grant funding was received and that Carmarthenshire received a high amount that was proportional and relative to the numbers in care.

·         An update on recruitment and workforce planning was requested.

The Director of Community Services advised that the overall pressure on service was amplified by vacancies. He assured the Committee that there was a focus on workforce planning as without the workforce services cannot be delivered.

·         It was stated that it was difficult to get physiotherapy treatment in hospitals. How can the Authority make sure this is provided?

The Director of Community Services advised there was a National recruitment issue for physios.  It was also stated that while Welsh Government had created more training placements there was still not enough to produce the number of physios required in the future.  Work was being done to utilise care assistants and domiciliary carers to assist with re-enablement.

·         It was stated that the information regarding the rate of delayed transfers of care were useful if would be beneficial to have additional statistics.

The Director of Community Services advised the Committee to provide him with the questions they would like answered with regards to delayed transfer of care and he would arrange for a report to be produced.

RESOLVED that that the Draft Annual Report of the Statutory Director of Social Services on the Performance of Social Care Services in Carmarthenshire 2018/19 be received.