Agenda, decisions and minutes

To elect a Chair for 2024/25.

To elect Councillor Beth Lawton as Chair of the Care Scrutiny Committee for 2024/2025.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Beth Lawton as Chair of the Care Scrutiny Committee for 2024/2025

To elect a Vice-chair for 2024/25.

To elect Councillor Dewi Jones as Vice-chair of the Care Scrutiny Committee for 2024/2025.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Dewi Jones as Vice-chair of the Care Scrutiny Committee for 2024/2025.

Councillor Dewi Jones was congratulated for being elected mayor of Caernarfon.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Anwen J Davies.

To receive any declarations of personal interest.

No declarations of personal interest were received.

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

None to note.

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the meetings of this committee held on the 11^th of April, 2024 be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee which took place on 11 April 2024, as a true record.

To discuss the Council’s ability to implement the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

To accept the report and note the following observations:

a)    To declare genuine concern about the situation and the Care Scrutiny Committee's unwillingness to accept the risk highlighted in the report.

b)    To request that the Cabinet Member for Adults discusses further with the Adults, Health and Well-being Department and create an action plan.

c)    To request that the Department provides a Progress report within six months.

d)    To note a wish to receive further information from an expert.

The report was submitted by the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being as well as the Assistant Manager for Safeguarding, Quality Assurance, Mental Health and Community Safety.

It was explained that Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) arrangements was the procedure prescribed in the law when a resident or patient must be deprived of their freedom when they did not have the capacity to agree on their care or their treatment, in order to keep them safe from harm. It was explained that conditions such as dementia or brain injury could lead to this lack of capacity. Emphasis was placed on the fact that each case was considered on its merits.

Members of the Committee were guided through the report, noting that DoLS was a statutory duty and that it was a requirement for Local Authorities to lead on DoLS matters within their communities and care homes, with the Health Board leading the field within hospitals. It was reiterated that every application for DoLS Standard Authorisation was expected to be completed within 21 days, with emergency applications being completed within 7 days. It was acknowledged that there was currently a waiting list of 340 in Gwynedd. It was emphasised that this meant that 340 individuals were being deprived of their liberty without authorisation. It was reiterated that 20 of those individuals had been waiting for Standard Authorisation for over three years because of changes to the waiting list as a result of priority.

The fact that the Council did not comply with the relevant legislations and that there were clear corporate risks here was highlighted. Reassurance was given that this matter had been escalated within the Adults, Health and Well-being Department's performance challenging meetings. It was explained that the report was a way to share information with the members regarding the situation, whilst trying to obtain the Committee's feedback and support. It was emphasised that this situation was not unique to Gwynedd, confirming that Local Authorities across North Wales and nationally had a waiting list for DoLS provision.

It was stated that the Council received 67 applications, on average, for Standard Authorisation Assessments every month. It was noted that 16 of those applications could be authorised in a timely manner. It was reiterated that a Standard Assessment was valid for a year, explaining that the individuals who had received a DoLS assessment must receive an additional assessment at the end of that period. It was ensured that the Department had a process to prioritise the individuals who were on the waiting list in accordance with urgent needs and the need to renew the Standard Authorisation.

It was reported that 18 employees within the Adults, Health and Well-being Department had qualified as Best Interests Assessors. It was noted that the Department had attempted to encourage these individuals in the past to conduct assessments for DoLS, but this was not sustainable because each assessment took a minimum of 10 hours to complete.

Reference was made to the resources available to get to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To give members the opportunity to scrutinise the work of the Strategic Safeguarding Panel for 2023/24.

To accept the report and note the observations.

A report from the Cabinet Member for Corporate Support and the Social Services Statutory Director was submitted.

An update was provided on the work of the Strategic Safeguarding Panel during the last year. It was explained that the Panel's work was integral to the operation of all Council Departments, as it considered safeguarding processes corporately. It was noted that the Cabinet had accepted the report at their meeting on 11 June 2024.

Attention was drawn to the main changes introduced during the last year, including amendments to the Panel's Terms of Reference, the Safeguarding Operational Group's Terms of Reference and publishing a new Safeguarding Policy. They were proud that the Safeguarding Policy was now clearer, especially regarding the definitions of protection and safeguarding. It was reiterated that training on this Policy would be developed in the near future.

It was confirmed that the Children and Supporting Families Department had received 7,230 referrals to children's services during the year. This statistic was compared with the average figure before the pandemic, where referrals to children's services were approximately 5,000 per year. It was noted that this was a substantial increase in referrals but it was confirmed that the annual figures had levelled by now, hoping that the number of referrals would decrease in years to come.

It was reported that there was an increase of 248% seen in the work relating to safeguarding concerns about practitioners and those in positions of trust, compared to 2022/23. It was confirmed that procedures were in place to respond to safeguarding concerns about those who, as part of their work, come into contact with children or adults at risk.

It was explained that there were 281 looked-after children at the end of March 2024. It was confirmed that the number of looked-after children had reduced during the last year but, because of the Council's responsibilities to protect asylum seekers and refugees, the number of children under the care of the authority had remained at 281, similar to the numbers at the end of March 2023. Likewise, it was confirmed that the number of Adults reports during the 2023/24 year was very similar to the numbers reported at the end of March 2023.

Pride was expressed that the Council had earned a 'White Ribbon' accreditation as it had adopted a strategic method to end domestic violence and to emphasise that it was not tolerated within the County. Furthermore, it was noted that 55% of Council staff, who worked in the public safety field, had attended an 'Ask and Act' training to give them confidence to support individuals experiencing violence, domestic abuse or sexual violence. It was emphasised that it was a priority for those staff members to attend the training over the next year.

Reference was made to an increase in a number of matters during the last year, such as retail crime (thefts from shops). It was confirmed that the Council had collaborated with the Police to ensure that information about support to cope with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Developing a residential provision for looked-after children in small group homes needs to be scrutinised as the project is part of the Council's Plan.

a)    To accept the report and wish the development every success.

b)    To note the Committee's desire to receive an update once the residential home has opened and there has been a settling period.

The report was submitted by the Cabinet Member for Children and Families and the Assistant Head of Resources - Children and Supporting Families, noting that the development of a residential home for looked-after children was a priority within the Council Plan.

⁠The background of the plan was shared, noting that there were currently approximately 280 children in the Council's care. Everyone who was a part of the fostering plan was thanked, because the majority of looked-after children had been placed with foster families. It was explained that others lived at home with their families but were receiving consistent support from the Council. It was acknowledged that approximately 20 looked-after children were currently in the Council's care who needed a residential placement and there were insufficient placements to currently offer that service without externalising. Members were reminded that many children were currently placed in areas beyond Wales, such as Bristol and Northumbria.

It was confirmed that the aim of the plan was to replace the need to externalise with the provision provided by the Council, managing to provide residential care for looked-after children for a substantially lower cost than the current average costs.

It was explained that the plan placed two looked-after children in a house in the community to ensure that they had a stable home when fostering was not an appropriate solution for them. Details were provided on a number of the plan's advantages, including receiving care in Welsh, remaining in their local school and continuing to foster a relationship with friends and family when possible. It was confirmed that the main purpose of the Plan was to provide specialist care in Welsh for children locally, removing the need for them to leave the county, or leave Wales to receive this. It was emphasised that the plan complied with the Council's Equality Plan, as well as The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

It was explained that a suitable house had been bought in Morfa Bychan to offer residential care to children between 10 and 18 years old. It was highlighted that the current emphasis was to secure staff for the houses to enable the plan to develop in a timely manner before considering such options for the future. It was reiterated that they hoped to buy two other houses in different communities in the County soon. It was acknowledged that purchasing and completing alterations to the first house was a slow process because necessary procedures and policies were being developed concurrently with the development of the house. ⁠It was emphasised that purchasing homes in the future would be a faster process, because these procedures and policies would already be operational.

It was reported that the plan needed to be completed by the end of 2027, emphasising that three registered residential homes would be required by then. It was acknowledged that many risks had derived from this timetable, namely; difficulty to find a second or third suitable building or difficulty to get the first child in the first  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To elect a member to represent the Scrutiny Committee on the Mid Wales Joint Committee for Health and Care Scrutiny Group.

To elect Councillor Linda Morgan to represent the Scrutiny Committee on the Mid Wales Joint Committee for Health and Care Scrutiny Group.

RESOLVED To elect Councillor Linda Morgan to represent the Scrutiny Committee on the Mid Wales Health and Care Joint Committee Scrutiny Group

To present the Committee's draft work programme for 2024/25 for adoption.

a)    To adopt the Committee’s work programme for 2024/25.

b)    Agree to add an additional item, Charging Policy for Care (Adults, Health and Well-being Department) to the 26 September 2024 meeting.

The report was submitted by the Senior Language and Scrutiny Advisor.

Members were reminded that the Committee's Forward Programme was based on the matters discussed in the Committee's Annual Workshop held on 30 April 2024.

It was confirmed that three items had been scheduled for each meeting during the year, except for one specific meeting in November to only scrutinise the Social Housing field and a meeting in January to discuss Health matters such as concern about GPs, mental health and collaborative relationships with the ambulance service.

An update was given that the Senior Language and Scrutiny Advisor had received a request from the Adults, Health and Well-being Department for the Committee to consider adding a 'Charging for Care Policy' item for the 26 September 2024 meeting. It was explained that the Department was eager to receive observations and the Committee's considerations before submitting the report to the Cabinet. It was noted that this meant that four items would be scrutinised at the Committee meeting on 26 September 2024.

Members were encouraged to consider the matters they wished for the Departments to include in the reports to the Committee. It was reiterated that it would be possible for Members to discuss those matters in a series of preparatory meetings. It was emphasised that the aim of the preparatory meetings was to identify the main matters which required scrutiny within the fields, leading to supplementary questions in the formal meetings. It was confirmed that the Senior Language and Scrutiny Advisor would consult with the Democracy Services Officer to find suitable dates for the preparatory meetings, attempting to ensure that they would be hosted on Thursdays due to the availability of Members. It was acknowledged that this would not be possible on every occasion, but it was ensured that the time that the meetings would start would be 4pm because this time was convenient for the majority of the Members.

RESOLVED

a)    To adopt the Committee's work programme for 2024/25.

b)    To agree to add the additional Charging for Care Policy item (Adults, Health and Well-being Department) to the meeting on 26 September 2024.

To nominate representatives to attend the Adults, Health and Well-being Department & Children and Supporting Families Department performance challenge meetings.

To nominate Councillor Einir Wyn Williams as representative to attend the Adults, Health and Well-being Department & Children and Supporting Families Department performance challenge meetings.

RESOLVED To elect Councillor Einir Wyn Williams as representative to attend the performance challenging meetings of the Adults, Health and Well-being Department and the Children and Supporting Families Department.