Agenda item

To submit the report of the Statutory Director of Social Services.

To accept the report.

The Statutory Director of Social Services presented her annual report regarding the performance of the Social Services in Gwynedd during the previous year.

The Director thanked Manon Elwyn Hughes (Senior Executive Officer) for her assistance in compiling the annual report.  As part of her presentation, the Director highlighted some of the lessons learnt, outlining the priorities for the coming year.  She also explained how the Service assessed people's needs and placed them in the centre when shaping services and care provision.  She noted that the performance of Gwynedd Social Services was good on the whole again this year and that Care Inspectorate Wales agreed with this.  She added that the last two years had posed incredible challenges for the Service, and it was obvious from the performance that managers and staff had made a heroic effort to cope with what was required of them during this time. 

At the end of her time in the post, the Director noted that it had been an honour to be Director and before that, Head of Department, and thanked everyone she had worked with over the years.  She thanked the members, the scrutiny members and the cabinet members in the care field over the last ten years.  She also noted that she had received excellent support from three Chief Executives during her time in the post, namely Harry Thomas, Dilwyn Williams and the current Chief Executive, Dafydd Gibbard.  She also took advantage of the opportunity to thank the Heads of Department, Marian Parry Hughes (Head of Children and Families Department) and Aled Davies (Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department) and the late Gwenan Parry for their work in the care field, and also Catrin Thomas (Assistant Head of Supporting Families) and Carys Fôn Williams (Head of Housing and Property) for their work on the Gwynedd Supporting People programme. She also thanked all the in-house, external and third sector staff, unpaid carers and foster parents who had been part of her journey over the last ten years, and she wished the new Director well.

Members were given an opportunity to make observations and ask questions.  The following matters were raised by individual members:

·         It was noted there was a need to include more information under performance measure 20 on page 196 of the agenda (Percentage of children who returned home from care during the year) to state clearly to people outside the care system, new members etc. that there were strategies in place to ensure that these children were safe.  In response, it was confirmed that the wording would be reviewed, and the members were asked to contact the Director if they were of the opinion that there was anything else in the report that was vague. 

·         Referring to the Autism Plan (page 169 of the agenda), it was noted that it had been given to understand previously that the Plan had begun with children and then moved on to people, but that children and people were mentioned in the same paragraph here.  In response, there was pride that the Plan was in place and that it derived from learning from autistic individuals’ experiences, and it was noted that it was very much hoped that this would continue.  It was agreed that there was work to do in terms of the transition period, and although some counties had merged their autism service for children and adults, it was not believed that this was mandatory.  Nevertheless, there was a need to ensure that the individuals in question transferred seamlessly from one phase of their life to the next in terms of Council services, and this was something that the team that would be established and the new director would keep an eye on.

·         In response to a question, it was noted that it was believed that the Council had advertised for a coordinator and two social workers to develop and implement the Autism Plan, but that an officer from the service would contact the member to confirm the situation.

·         Referring to the proposal to ensure training and raise awareness of autism for the workforce, it was enquired whether this would be for the entire workforce in Gwynedd, Social Services staff or for the Children's Team only.  In response, it was explained that some staff required more specialist training than others, but it was expected that everyone, members and staff, would have an awareness of this important field.

·         The Chairman was asked to send a note to the Council's front line staff on behalf of the members and they were thanked for their work in very difficult circumstances over the last two years.

RESOLVED to accept the report.