Agenda item

To report to the Scrutiny Committee on the performance of the Adults, Health and Wellbeing Department.

To accept the report.

A report was submitted by the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being and the Head of Department.

It was reported that the department implemented the Council Plan 2023-28, and it reported on the progress to the end of March 2025. It was noted that she was aware of all the challenges that the department faced and that this had been highlighted more than ever before as part of the Llechen Lân report. It was noted that she was happy to report that significant progress had been made during the year.

A summary was given of the main projects that had seen progress or caused concern, noting that there were some examples in the report, and that it did not refer to every workflow as the department's projects were very broad.

During the discussion, the following observations were submitted by the Members:

The Head of Department, who was retiring, was thanked for all his hard work over the years and the new Head of Department was welcomed.

The Cabinet Member was asked to ensure that the Council contacted the Government in Cardiff to challenge to ensure that the grants available for the autism team until 2027 continued beyond this. It was also asked how many were waiting for a domiciliary care assessment and what were the figures regarding this. In terms of challenging the Government, it was noted that it was a permanent process for the cabinet members and happened on a weekly basis. To answer the member's question, it was explained that the waiting list for domiciliary care had reduced to 64. It was explained that the department's priority was to ensure that the people on the waiting list were safe. In terms of the number of people waiting for an assessment, it was mentioned that the department had this information every month until the end of March with 129 assessments held over the last two months. It was confirmed that no individual was being refused an assessment.

It was asked what was being done to improve the situation in terms of older people waiting for a care and support plan. It was noted that it was a very timely point as the department was currently doing a lot of work under the preventative banner and that people were waiting for a more detailed assessment. It was reported that there was a need to move away from the mentality that domiciliary care was required to support people. Domiciliary Care was one of the options, but a lot of work was being done within communities to support people who required help and support. It was noted that the Social Services and Well-being Act emphasised the need to look at the strengths of individuals instead of what they could not achieve.

It was asked what the department saw as the biggest obstacle in making more Direct Payments to support people. It was explained that complications in the process of establishing the arrangements had been an obstacle for people to be eager to consider direct payments, but a lot of work had been made by the Department to simplify the process and secure officers to provide support to people to put the arrangements in place.

Attention was drawn to the 'DOLS' arrangements. One member explained that he was unsure of the difference between 'DOLS' and lack of mental capacity. It was asked whether it would be possible to get an explanation of the difference between the two. It was explained that there was a long waiting list for DOLS and that this was true across Wales. It was explained that DOLS in essence worked with people who did not have the mental capacity to make specific decisions. If someone did not have the ability to make decisions regarding safety, the best welfare decisions had to be made on their behalf. If this meant that individuals were under consistent supervision and were not free to leave, a DOLS assessment had to be completed. It was agreed to arrange an information session for members on mental capacity assessments and the DOLS procedure.

Attention was drawn to the dementia units, and it was asked what the reason for the slippage and the delay was in opening these units. It was reported that the Bryn Blodau unit had partially opened, and that staffing was the main reason for the delay in the opening. It was confirmed that things were now moving forward and the unit had to open as soon as possible. It was noted that Plas Hedd had faced many challenges in terms of construction work but there was hope that these challenges had now come to an end and the sooner the better that these units could be opened.

DECISION

To accept the report