Advisory Committee (social Work) - 26/02/2001

At a MEETING of the ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SOCIAL WORK) held at Dundee on Monday, 26th February, 2001.

Present:-

Councillor Betty WARD

Councillor Elizabeth FORDYCE

Mrs Elizabeth McNICOLL

Councillor WARD, Convener, in the Chair.

I MINUTE

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd November, 2000 was submitted approved.

 

II REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION UNIT - UPDATE

The Head of Registration and Inspection gave a brief verbal update on the work of the Registration and Inspection Unit.

There was circulated to members of the Advisory Committee a draft copy of a guide to registration which had been produced by the Unit, and members were asked to submit comments to the Head of Registration and Inspection as soon as possible.

There was also a brief update on staffing changes, and the Committee welcomed Mr Patrick Sweeney who would be acting as a temporary Inspector over the next few months. It was noted that all secondments had been extended for a further twelve months, however there was considerable uncertainty about the future, particularly amongst support staff, which weakened the service.

Finally, it was reported that a report would shortly be submitted to Committee proposing that the Early Years' Inspection Team should come under the management of the Registration and Inspection Unit from April.

III REGULATION OF CARE BILL

It was reported that Stage I of the Bill was well underway, and it was expected that Stage 2 (detailed consideration of the Bill) would commence at the end of March and last until mid May.

It was agreed that the undernoted documents be submitted to members of the Advisory Committee for their information:-

(i)Official Report of the Scottish Parliament Health and Community Care Committee, January, 2001.

(ii)Extract from Scottish Parliament Health and Community Care Committee, 7th February, 2001 (Stage I - Evidence given on the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill.

IVROLE , MEMBERSHIP AND FUTURE OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE

(i)Future Role of Advisory Committee

There was submitted a copy of a letter dated 15th December, 2000 from the Scottish Executive relative to the above, and indicating that it would be very much the decision of the Commission as to what form of advisory network they would wish to use.

It was reported that lobbying for the retention of Advisory Committees was continuing and the Head of Registration and Inspection would ask to be kept fully advised.

(ii) Membership

Concern was expressed regarding the lack of effective membership representing service users, and it was agreed that Dundee Independent Advocacy Service be invited to become a member of the Advisory Committee to represent service users.

(iii) Inspection Reports

It was remitted to the Head of Registration and Inspection to organise a distribution system whereby Inspection Reports would be submitted to individual members of the Advisory Committee on a rotational basis.

V PUBLICATIONS

 

There were submitted for the Committee's information the undernoted publications:-

 

(i) NAIRO Scotland Newsletter;

 

(ii) Care Forward - Newsletter from the Registration of Care Project.

 

VI THE REGISTERED ESTABLISHMENTS (FEES) (SCOTLAND) ORDER 2000 ETC

There was submitted a consultation document dated 16th February, 2001 requesting comments on proposed increases in Registration and Inspection fees arising from the Regulation of Care Bill.

Some concern was expressed regarding the level of increase and the Committee were asked to submit any comments to the Head of Registration as soon as possible who would prepare a draft response to be circulated to members of the Advisory Committee prior to the deadline of 30th March.

VII DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was agreed that the next meeting would be in May (precise date to be advised).