Agenda item

To submit the report of the Statutory Director for Social Services  (attached).

Submitted – the Statutory Director of Social Services submitted her annual report offering an overview of 2019/20 performance and outlining the journey in Gwynedd in providing services for individuals who needed advice, support or care from the Council.

The Director noted that she was happy with the performance of the Social Services for 2019/20 although there were some challenges to overcome. The year in question, which referred to the period pre-Covid, now felt like ages ago, and the crisis had emerged as that year ended. She sympathised with the many people who had been affected by the virus.  She thanked all staff of the sector in Gwynedd for their heroic work during the last few months, and for their work over the coming months. She also thanked others who had supported this heroic effort, the volunteers, carers, members from the third sector and Council partners, and also the Council's other departments for their willingness to release staff to assist in many ways, so that departments in the care field could focus on responding to the crisis. She noted that it had been challenging for her to find the time to put the annual report together, and she thanked Sophie, Nia and Bethan for volunteering to help her with the work.

The Director took advantage of the opportunity to also thank Marian Parry Hughes (Head of Children and Families Department) and Aled Davies (Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department) for their valiant work during the year, and she thanked Cabinet Members in the care field, Councillors Dilwyn Morgan and Dafydd Meurig for their continued support and assistance. She noted that members were welcome to contact both heads of departments after the meeting with any detailed questions.

To conclude, the Director noted that this period had enabled both departments to push forward a number of their projects and vision, and that they were eager to continue with the good work that had been undertaken in light of such a sad situation.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. During the discussion the following matters were raised:

·         It was noted that Welsh Government's desire to set a target as a way of ensuring that they saw a reduction in the number of looked after children conveyed the wrong message; and the fact that Gwynedd had not set a target for reducing the numbers was welcomed, as this would lead to the risk of declining standards in terms of safeguarding the most vulnerable, and run the risk of us not implementing what mattered in terms of the children.

·         The fact that the dementia units were going ahead as a result of years of battling for them, was welcomed.

·         It was noted that the report was commendable, which reiterated the excellent work that had been undertaken in both departments.

·         The language guidance in eight languages at the beginning of the report was welcomed, and the Social Services were congratulated for being imaginative in displaying that more than one language existed in this area.

·         It was noted that both departments had gone through a very difficult period and that staff had had to adjust rapidly to a different situation. However, the work had been extremely good and the doors of the Director and both heads of departments were always open to members.

·         In response to a question regarding how the numbers of looked after children could be reduced safely, it was noted that what mattered was that the service did the right thing for those children, protected them and ensured that the family thrived. The aim was to keep families together, but that it was done in a safe manner. A number of looked after children now still lived at home with their parents or close family and, therefore, those children did not always realise that their situation was different to any other child. 

·         It was asked how a sufficient number of foster parents could be ensured. In response, it was noted that there was a number of fantastic foster parents in Gwynedd, and that a campaign held at the beginning of the pandemic in order to recruit more of them had been very successful. Such campaigns would have to continue but it was also important to have foster parents who specialised in specialist aspects of fostering.

·         It was asked how dependency on specialised placements could be reduced. In response, it was noted that this was a substantial challenge as the needs of some children could be so complex, and it was important to respond to the individual and find the most suitable placement for them.

The Director was thanked for her presentation.