Social Work And Health Committee - 22/04/2002

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 22nd April 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Betty WARD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th March 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the Convener advised that a seminar on free personal care would be arranged for the benefit of members in the near future.

I REGISTRATION AND CASES SUB-COMMITTEE OF 27TH MARCH 2002

The minute of the above meeting, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes.

II CONTINUATION OF SURE START STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION

There was submitted Joint Report No. 269-2002 by the Director of Social Work and Director of Education seeking approval for proposals for taking forward Sure Start, Dundee for the period April 2002 to March 2004 to enhance and extend support and provision for children aged 0 to 3 and their families.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Continuation Strategy as outlined in the Report;

(ii)approved the proposals for expenditure of Sure Start funding in the financial years 2002/2003 and 2003/2004; and

(iii)instructed the Director of Education to liaise with the Director of Personnel and Management Services on the continued deployment of staff involved in Sure Start initiatives until the end of March 2004.

III SUPPORTING PEOPLE TEAM - REVIEW OF STAFFING ARRANGEMENTS

There was submitted Joint Report No. 225-2002 by the Directors of Housing, Social Work and Personnel and Management Services seeking approval for the extension of the Supporting People Team utilising the additional funding from the Scottish Executive for 2002/2003.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the proposed staffing structure as detailed in the report; and

(ii) the continuation of the Supporting People Team until March 2004.

IV STANDARD CHARGES FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY RESIDENTIAL UNITS

There was submitted Report No. 293-2002 by the Director of Social Work recommending the level of standard charge to be applied in 2002/2003 for local authority residential accommodation for adults.

The Committee approved the standard charges for local authority residential accommodation as detailed in the report.

V DRUG TESTING AND TREATMENT ORDERS

There was submitted Joint Report No. 248a-2002 by the Directors of Personnel and Management Services and Social Work informing members of the introduction of Drug Testing and Treatment Orders to Sheriff Court and High Court sittings in the Tayside area and seeking approval for the establishment of a range of posts which would be required to implement the scheme which would provide services to Angus and Perth and Kinross Councils as well as Dundee.

The Committee:-

(i)noted the contents of the report and in particular that Drug Testing and Treatment Orders would be available to Tayside Courts from the Summer of 2002, and

(ii)approved the establishment of a range of posts as detailed in the report which would be required to implement the scheme.

VI CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES; FINANCIAL ALLOCATION FOR 2002/2003

There was submitted Report No. 295-2002 by the Director of Social Work advising members of the financial allocation to the Criminal Justice Social Work Services of the Dundee City Council for the year 2002/2003 by the Scottish Executive and informing them that this would be the first year for direct funding of the new partnership groupings and the last year in which individual Councils would be advised of their own financial component within the grouping allocation.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report and,

(ii) agreed that the financial allocation by the Scottish Executive be accepted.

VII FOSTERING ALLOWANCE 2002/203 (

 

There was submitted agenda note ( AN29-2002) by the Director of Social Work seeking approval for rates of payment to be made to foster carers and adopters for the period 2002/2003.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i)agreed that the rates of payment and allowances as detailed in the note be approved; and

 

(ii)agreed that should the income support rate increase during 2002/2003, the allowances be increased accordingly.

 

CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

 

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public and press be excluded from the meeting in order that the undernoted items of business may be considered in private on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

 

VIII PROPOSAL TO FUND A SOCIAL CARE SUPPORT SERVICE

There was submitted Report No. 70-2002 by the Director of Support Services seeking approval to commission and purchase a family support service for persons indicated in the report.

The Committee:-

(i)noted and approved the contents of the report and authorised the Director of Social Work to commission a family support service as detailed; and

(ii)noted that the Director of Personnel and Management Services would report to the Personnel and Management Services Committee to seek approval for the deletion of posts currently in the Social Work Department staffing establishment as the result of the commissioning an alternative family support service.

IX PAYMENT TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION

There was submitted agenda note AN30-2002 about the request from a voluntary organisation for a financial contribution to assist budget requirements of the organisation. The Committee agreed that a one-off payment be made to the voluntary organisation as detailed in the agenda note.

BETTY WARD, Convener.

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