Agenda item

To accept the report and note the work and progress made in 2021/2022 in the areas of work that were brought forward regionally through the North Wales Regional Partnership Board.

The report was submitted by Cllr Dilwyn Morgan    

DECISION 

To accept the report and note the work and progress made in 2021/2022 in the areas of work that were brought forward regionally through the North Wales Regional Partnership Board.  

DISCUSSION 

The report was submitted, noting that this was an annual report for the North Wales Regional Partnership Board. It was explained that the report highlighted the work of the board for 2021/22 and had been drawn up and written to satisfy the Governance's guidance. It was explained that the board had been established back in 2014, in order to comply with part 9 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2015.  

The Head of Regional Collaboration drew attention to the main points and the key work being done in the region. It was explained that the role of the Board was to bring partners together in order to integrate services when possible. It was expressed that the governance system was complex but the Regional Partnership Board was the main board and was responsible for giving a clear direction to work in partnership across the region and ensure that work was being completed. It was explained that the board reported to the North Wales Leaders' Board.  

It was highlighted that two main programmes could be seen by the Board in 2021/22, namely the Integrated Care and Transformation Programme Fund. It was explained that the Integrated Care fund had been established back in 2014, and had enabled the region to work together to assist older people with complex needs, children with complex needs, carers and looked after children or children at risk of coming into care. It was noted that the Transformation programme had been established in April 2018 with the purpose of improving services which was to commence as a three-year plan, but it had been extended as a result of the pandemic.  

It was explained that the two programmes had ended in 2021/22 and that a new programme was now in place since April 2022, which was the Regional Integration Fund. As a result, the report provided a summary of the work of the two main programmes as well as the main points raised from the evaluation, which included the opportunities to develop plans and improve the relationship between partners. It was expressed that money had been a problem since the budget had been for a year only, and therefore made it difficult to plan further.  

It was expressed that the team had also been working on creating a Population Needs Assessment, which assisted the region to develop priorities and for local authorities to be able to plan locally. It was noted that for the future, the Committee was eager to build on this year's work and to plan for the next 5 to 10 years.  

The Corporate Director for Social Services added that this report looked specifically at the end of Morwena Edwards' period in her post. It was noted that the report highlighted that it was a much broader field than care alone, with elements to be seen in the Housing and Education field. It was highlighted that the influence of the Board was essential when moving forward.  

Observations arising from the discussion 

·                Pride was expressed from seeing an investment for a period of more than a year, so that the Board could plan to a realistic timetable to transform services.