Agenda item

To consider the report

DECISION:

·       To accept the contents of the report.

Note:

To refer the report's recommendations to the attention of the Care Scrutiny Committee

To share the 'Llechen Lân' report with Committee Members

A report was submitted by the Chair detailing the main findings of the recent meeting of the Controls Improvement Working Group as they discussed the Plas Pengwaith, Llys Cadfan and Plas Hafan audits. It was reported that the audits had received a 'limited' level of assurance because, "although controls are in place, compliance with the control needs to be improved and/or introduce new controls to reduce the risks to which the service is exposed". It was explained that the Improvement Working Group was an opportunity to ask the relevant officers about the findings of the audits, addressing the main matters / deficiencies. It was reiterated that control matters had received attention and the audits did not in any way reflect the quality of care provided to the residents who were always prioritised, and in their chosen language.

It was noted that the main reasons for the control weaknesses were lack of resources, staffing and the pressure placed on the Managers as a result. The lack of recruitment and retaining staff, as well as dependency on agency staff following changes to the pay structure after losing the right for enhanced pay was discussed.

It was agreed in the Working Group that it would be beneficial for the Adults, Health and Well-being Department to conduct a joint review with Internal Audit to look at agency staff expenditure and the financial implications.

The members thanked the officer for the report.

Matters arising from the ensuing discussion:

·        The meeting had been beneficial - it provided an opportunity for the homes' managers and officers to respond honestly to the situation

·        ⁠Concern about agency staff costs – it was agreed that there was a need to conduct a review to try to retain staff under the management of Cyngor Gwynedd - this would reduce turnover

·        A suggestion to include a summary of the matters that required attention at the end of the report

·        There was a need to refer the recommendations of the report for the attention of the Care Scrutiny Committee

In response to a question regarding the Chancellor's intention to impose national insurance on employers' pension contributions and, as a result of care agencies having to pay higher employment costs, the concern that this would exacerbate the staffing situation, it was noted, although the details had not been confirmed, that workers in the public sector would be exempt from the change, as the government's departments would have to make substantial cuts to their budgets to fund the change. It was reiterated that the Council was expected to receive repayment for the national insurance costs of Council homes staff, but there was no expectation that such compensation would be payable for staff employed through agencies.

The Cabinet Member for Finance reiterated that he had been in discussions with the Wales Cabinet Minister for Housing and Local Government regarding the situation and they expected more details in January 2025. The details would provide a picture of the impact on the budget - a sum that was likely to be approximately £5 million.

In response to a question regarding care workers' wages, the Audit Manager noted, although a pay rise had been presented in the last few years, that it was insufficient; that the weekend pay (the enhanced pay) had been 'historically attractive' and staff members were now leaving due to better terms in the health field and beyond.

In response to the report, the Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department noted that the officers who had attended the working group had seen it as a useful exercise and it was a good opportunity to have a further discussion to discuss the situation beyond what had been included in the audit report. He reiterated that there was an intention to respond to the findings and he welcomed a review of the agency staff costs considering that there was a substantial increase in the demand and the impact on the Care Homes.

The Social Services Statutory Director reiterated that staff recruitment in the care field was challenging, and that the Covid period had exacerbated the situation. However, he highlighted that the situation was slowly improving and the use of agency staff had halved (a comparison of 445 agency workers in the first half of 2023/24 compared to 208 agency workers in the first half of 2024/25).

In response to a question regarding the problem specifically in Gwynedd, considering that Gwynedd's population was older and required more care, and some areas of the County was depopulating as a result of young people leaving rural areas to seek work, it was noted that maintaining care services in the rural areas of the County was a problem. According to the Census, it was reported that the population of Gwynedd working age (16-64 years old) had reduced from 75,800 in 2011 to 70,700 in 2021 and there had also been a reduction in the number of children under 16 years old, as well as a substantial increase in the number of older people over 65 years old (and those over 85 years old), and the number of people who could do social care work was reducing.

He reiterated that the Llechen Lân - Older People's Social Services for the Future imposed a strategic direction and an action plan to try to highlight, get to grips and mitigate problems in the future, had been approved by the Cabinet (15 October 2024). ⁠ ⁠

RESOLVED:

To accept the contents of the report

Note:

To refer the report's recommendations for the attention of the Care Scrutiny Committee

To share the 'Llechen Lân' report with Committee Members