Issue - meetings

The Cabinet was reminded that under the Social Services and Wellbeing Act the ‘Director of Social Services’ had a duty to advise Councillors on – amongst other things – the challenges, risks and circumstances where staff issues affected an authority’s ability to discharge its statutory responsibilities, and to brief the Chief Executive and Councillors on matters likely to cause public concern, and strategies to deal with those situations.

Accordingly, the Cabinet considered a report on the challenges facing Social Care in Wales arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of this on the residents in Carmarthenshire and some of the actions being taken to mitigate this. Although the most acute pressures were in older people services the report also noted pressures in mental Health, learning disabilities and Children’s Services. The report stated that any significant risks going forward would be considered carefully and reported where necessary. The Cabinet was assured that the position was being managed locally but that it was inevitably impacting on individual’s quality and overall provision of care in Homecare. The Authority, it was noted, had a robust system of reporting, decision making and management in place with clear lines of sight corporately and through the political leadership.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to note the content of the report and the implications and the key actions being taken.