Agenda item

The Cabinet Member(s) will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

Councillor Rob Appleyard, Cabinet Member for Adult Services addressed the Panel. A copy of the update can be found on their Minute Book and as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary of the update is set out below.

Community Resource Centres and Extra Care Support Services

Following the decision by Sirona Care and Health last year to give notice on the contract to run these services, we have agreed that the best option to ensure continuity of high-quality care for residents and a smooth transition for staff, residents and tenants, is for the Council to become the direct operator of these services by September 2020. This news was shared with residents, tenants and staff last week. Detailed planning work for the transfer is being undertaken in partnership with Sirona.

Care co-ordination

One of the key priorities that residents highlighted during the extensive Your Care Your Way engagement process was to ensure that the service response to care needs was better co-ordinated and so the creation of a care co-ordination centre was one of the key improvements that Virgin Care were commissioned to deliver. In December, the Corporate Director and I visited the new centre that they have established at Peasedown St John and met some of the staff who have come together in one office and are now much better able to co-ordinate their responses, ensure prompt call handling and cross-cover for each other. I can see this helping residents and other professionals enormously in ensuring they receive a timely and joined up response when help is needed.

Domestic Violence & Abuse

Panel members will have seen within the papers recently published on the budget proposals, that we are proposing to support the ongoing delivery of local services to support victims of domestic violence and abuse - £152,000 per year. This funding has been at risk with external funding sources coming to an end. The leader has agreed that these services will move into my portfolio as there is such a key link with safeguarding vulnerable adults, in addition to the important links with safeguarding children and community safety.

Outbreak of novel Coronavirus in China

As you would expect, our Public Health team are keeping a watching brief on the progression of this outbreak. So far there are no known cases in the UK and the local risk is therefore currently considered to be very low. Any action needed in the UK will be led and co-ordinated by Public Health England, who provide advice and guidance to the public and local agencies as necessary in the event of any significant new development affecting the UK.

Bruce Laurence, Director of Public Health added that guidance relating to the virus was to be issued later today. He stated that 73 tests had been carried out in the UK and that so far all had been negative.

Councillor Liz Hardman said that she was concerned with the decision taken by Sirona to give notice on their contract.

Councillor Appleyard said that there would be an opportunity for the Panel to comment on this process at a future meeting.

Councillor Hardman commented that she was pleased to see support in the budget for the ongoing delivery of local services to support victims of domestic violence and abuse. She added that she was concerned to hear that a local day centre for people who have Alzheimer’s Disease was to close.

The Corporate Director (People) replied that this decision had been taken nationally by the Alzheimer’s Disease Society and that the Council was talking to the families involved.

The Chairman asked if the £152,000 mentioned for services relating to Domestic Violence & Abuse was greater than the previous budget or a reduction in service.

Bruce Laurence replied that the decision taken gives the Council a welcome initial platform whilst they continue to look at further sources of funding.

Kevin Burnett asked if B&NES schools were yet involved in Operation Encompass in relation to Domestic Violence & Abuse support.

The Director of Adult Social Care, Complex and Specialist Commissioning replied that she would seek a response for the Panel.

Councillor Kevin Guy, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services addressed the Panel. A copy of the update can be found on their Minute Book and as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary of the update is set out below.

Director changes

Members of the panel may be aware that Margaret Simmons-Bird, Director for Education Transformation, retired at the end of December. With Jane Shayler having retired earlier in the year, some changes have been made to Director portfolios so that Lesley Hutchinson has taken on the role of Director of Adult Social Care, Complex and Specialist Commissioning and following an open recruitment process, Chris Wilford has been appointed as the Director for Education, Inclusion and Children’s Safeguarding.

Ofsted Focused Visit on Care Leavers

During November, 2 Ofsted inspectors came to undertake a focussed visit looking at our services to Care Leavers. They looked at case notes, spoke to social work staff and to care leavers themselves. The letter summarising their findings was published in December at https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50135441. It is hugely positive to see the recognition of the level of commitment to our young people throughout the organisation, but it is also heartening to see that inspectors found from talking to staff that morale is high and staff have ready access to supportive managers who know the young people well. We are never complacent and we will be building the latest findings into our improvement plan going forward.

Ministerial visit looking at social work recruitment/training

On Friday 24^th January we hosted a visit from Michelle Donelan, Under-Secretary of State for Children & Families, who was interested to hear about the various routes in to social work and particularly the work we are doing with the charity Frontline. This year for the first time we have a group of 4 Frontline trainees working with a consultant social worker, using a training model that Frontline have used successfully in other parts of the country.

Councillor Paul May said that both Margaret and Jane were exceptional officers and that whilst knowing the qualities of the officers appointed asked can the Panel be assured that the department is staffed adequately.

The Corporate Director (People) replied that the team of directors had been reduced by 4 roles and that relevant support structures were being looked at. He said that he was pleased with the appointments that had been made.

Councillor Liz Hardman said it was wonderful to see the positive comments from Ofsted in relation to Care Leavers and asked if the follow up action plan could be shared with the Panel.

The Corporate Director (People) replied that he would be happy to do so.

The Chairman thanked both Cabinet Members for their updates on behalf of the Panel.