Advisory Committee (social Work) - 06/02/2002
At a MEETING of the ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SOCIAL WORK) held at Dundee on Tuesday, 6th February, 2002.
Present:-
Councillor Betty WARD
Councillor Elizabeth FORDYCE
Councillor Neil I C POWRIE
Ms Catherine MAIDMENT (Dundee Independent Advocacy)
Apologies were intimated from Mr John Mitchell.
Councillor WARD, Convener, in the Chair.
I MINUTE OF MEETING OF 18TH JUNE, 2001
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th June, 2001 was submitted and approved.
II MATTERS ARISING
On a reference to Article V of the minute, Distribution of Inspection Reports, it was remitted to the Committee Services Officer to circulate with this minute details of all reports which were available for inspection, and thereafter members could advise which reports they would wish copied to them.
It was also agreed that the Head of Registration and Inspection contact the appropriate member of the Independent Advocacy Service to clarify the most appropriate method of their obtaining access to Inspection Reports.
III REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION UNIT - UPDATE
The Head of Registration and Inspection gave a brief verbal update of the work of the Registration and Inspection Unit both in the area of community care and early years.
She advised of specific issues of concern which were being monitored and complaints being investigated and in both areas.
The Committee noted the work of the Unit and expressed their appreciation of the efforts of all the staff.
It was reported that all home care and housing support services would in future be regulated by the Commission, although this would not come into effect immediately in April 2002. This would ensure that a number of service providers who had previously not been regulated would now fall within the remit of the Commission.
The Committee noted and welcomed this development.
IV REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION ANNUAL REPORT 2000/01
The Committee noted the Annual Report of City Council Registration and Inspection Service for 2000/1. It was further noted that no report would be produced for 2001/2 because of the transitional arrangements.
V SCOTTISH COMMISSION FOR THE REGULATION OF CARE (SCRC) UPDATE
The Head of Registration and Inspection gave an update of the structure of the Commission and where Dundee fitted in within the structure. It was noted that Dundee would be contained within the new Central East region, which would be managed by a Regional Manager.
VI TRANSFER ARRANGEMENTS TO SCRC
The Head of Registration and Inspection reported that all 12 members of staff in the service at present would be transferring to the Commission on 26th March and negotiations were still ongoing regarding the details of terms and conditions.
A local transitional plan was in place, to try to ensure a smooth transfer of functions, staff, data, etc, whilst ensuring that the day to day work of the unit continued to be carried out effectively.
It was noted that whilst it was clearly a difficult time for staff, morale was in general good, due in no small part to the fact that they very much welcomed the new developments in the Regulation of Care legislation.
VII NATIONAL ADVISORY FORUM
It was reported that whilst the new legislation had abolished Advisory Committees, a vigorous lobby for some form of local accountability had led to proposals for the setting up of a National Advisory Forum, which would operate through a system of local Sub-Committees.
The Head of Registration and Inspection would update the members with further information on this as it became available.
Thereafter, the Convener thanked the members of the Advisory Committee for their attendance and their support over the last few years, and expressed their appreciation of the efforts of the staff of the Registration and Inspection Unit. She also expressed her hope that some form of local accountability would continue through the National Advisory Forum and its Sub-Committees.
BETTY WARD, Convener.