To submit the report of the
Statutory Director for Social Services (attached).
Minutes:
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.
Supporting documents: