Social Work And Health Committee - 17/12/2001

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 17th December, 2001.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Betty WARD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th November, 2001 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I AUTHORISATION LIMIT FOR THE PURCHASE OF DOMICILIARY CARE

Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th August, 1999 wherein a limit of 336 for the purchase of domiciliary care services from external providers was agreed.

The Committee agreed that this limit be increased in line with the current nursing home rate of 356 per week.

The Committee also authorised the Director of Social Work to make payments of up to 550 per week, for periods of up to four weeks when care could not be met from within the current home care service.

The Committee noted that in exceptional circumstances when a higher level of support would be required that the case would be remitted to the Registration and Cases Sub-Committee for consideration.

II THE REVIEW OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE CASES

Reference was made to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st February, 2000 wherein it was agreed that a further report be submitted to Committee on the results of the follow-up independent review/audit of Criminal Justice Cases. There was submitted Report No. 810-2001 by the Director of Social work which reported on the results of the review.

The Committee noted the results of the review and instructed the Director of Social Work to implement the recommendations detailed in the report in response to the review.

III DIRECT PAYMENTS

There was submitted Report No. 811-2001 by the Director of Social Work seeking authorisation to take forward the implementation of Direct Payments within the Council.

The Committee agreed to -

(i) instruct the Director of Social Work to set in place arrangements for the implementation of direct payments by April 2002;

(ii) approve the allocation of funding outlined in the report, and

(iii) approve the funding of staffing as outlined in the report in order to take forward the implementation.

IV DEPLOYMENT OF 2 SURE START HEALTH VISITORS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF CHILDRENAND THEIR FAMILIES IN EARLY YEARS SERVICES

There was submitted Joint Report No. 816-2001 by the Directors of Education and Social Work about the deployment of 2 Sure Start Health Visitors to promote the health and wellbeing of children and their families in Early Years Services.

The Committee noted and approved the contents of the report, insofar as its interests were concerned.

V ESTABLISHMENT OF A LINKED CHILDMINDING SCHEME

There was submitted Joint Report No. 817-2001 by the Directors of Education and Social Work about the establishment of a linked child minding scheme.

The Committee noted and approved the contents of the report, insofar as its interests were concerned.

VI CHILD AND FAMILY CENTRES WORKING GROUP

The Committee agreed to the establishment of a Child and Family Centre's Working Group which would examine current child and family centre provision and projected needs and resource requirements for the next few years.

The Committee agreed that the Convener of the Social Work Committee chair the group and that other representation be the Conveners of Education and Finance Committees, two members of the Major Opposition Group, one member of the Minority Opposition Group, and one member from one of the other groups, a representative from the Early Years Childcare Partnership (Voluntary Sector), three Trade Union representatives, two representatives from the Child and Family Centre staff, a representative from Local Health Care Co-operative and Officer representatives from the Departments of Social Work, Education, Finance and Neighbourhood Resources and Development as directed by respective Directors.

VII HOME CARE MANAGEMENT REPORT

Reference was made to Article XII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th August 2001 wherein recommendations for the development of the Home Care Service were agreed.

There was submitted Joint Report No. 748-2001 by the Directors of Social Work and Personnel and Management Services seeking authority for proposed changes to the management of the City Council's Home Care Service.

The Committee noted and approved the contents of the report, insofar as its interests were concerned.

VIII COMMUNITY ALARM SERVICE TO HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work on proposed changes to the current charging system for community alarms which would remove inequities in the current system and would allow essential reinvestment in the community alarm service.

The Committee agreed that this report be deferred to a future meeting to allow further consultation on the implications of the recommendations.

IX DOUGLAS HOUSE RESIDENTIAL HOME FOR OLDER PEOPLE - TEMPORARY USE BY NHS TAYSIDE

There was submitted Report No. 812-2001 by the Director of Social Work seeking approval for the granting of the temporary use of Douglas House Residential Home for Older People as an NHS facility for the duration of the Scottish Executive's Winter Planning arrangements.

The Committee agreed to -

(a) approve the temporary use of Douglas House as an NHS facility

(b) note that all placements within these premises would terminate by 31st March, 2002

(c) defer the disposal of the premises until after 31st March, 2002

(d) the temporary use of Council equipment which would remain within these premises

(e) note the arrangements to support this facility; and

(f) remit to the Director of Support Services to conclude leasing arrangements with NHS Tayside for the use of this facility.

BETTY WARD, Convener.