Social Work And Health Committee - 16/06/2003

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th June 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Wright, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th May, 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I THE ELMS SECURE UNIT EXTENSION (PARTNERING)

There was submitted Joint Report No 409-2003 by the Director of Social Work and City Architectural Services Officer seeking approval for extension of the Elms Security Unit within the existing site on South Road.

The Committee agreed:-

(i)that the proposed extension of the Elms Secure Unit total cost 120,000 inclusive of professional fees be approved; and

(ii)that the City Architectural Services Officer be authorised to negotiate a contract not exceeding 100,000 under a partnering arrangement with an appropriate contractor and the Director of Support Services in conjunction with the Director of Social Work to issue an acceptance for the contract subject to Scottish Executive funding being received.

II INSPECTION OF THE CARE ARRANGEMENTS AND EDUCATION IN THE ELMS SECURE UNIT

There was submitted Joint Report No 398-2003 by the Director of Education and Director of Social Work seeking approval of the Joint Social Work and Education in response to the Social Work Services Inspectorate and HM Inspector of Education following their inspection of the care arrangements and education at the Elms Secure Unit in June 2002.

The Committee agreed insofar as its interests were concerned, to approve the Joint Social Work and Education response to the inspection report on the Elms Secure Unit and to note the Director of Social Work's intention, subject to staff and trade union consultation, to bring forward a report to the Personnel and Management Services Committee proposing changes to the social work management structure at the Elms.

III RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 402-2003 by the Director of Social Work providing a comprehensive update on the progress that had been made in developing residential childcare services in Dundee.

The Committee agreed:-

(i)that the content of the report be noted;

(ii)that the Social Work Department's progress report and action plan 2003/2004 for residential childcare services as detailed in the report be approved;

(iii)that the issues raised by young people about the service and the challenges posed by them by fully involving them in the way the service is operated and in its future development as outlined in the report be acknowledged; and

(iv)that the Director of Social Work bring forward a report to the Personnel & Management Services Committee on proposals to change the management and staffing structure within the residential child care service following full staff and trade union consultation.

IV TENDERS RECEIVED - WATER HYGIENE

There was submitted Report No 415-2003 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing an offer which had been negotiated with a specialist contractor for works to be carried out in various social work properties in relation to Water Hygiene Phase II.

The Committee agreed that the offer received from Ion Limited, Coatbridge, for works to various social work properties in relation to Water Hygiene Phase II amounting to 48,500 and after adding fees for professional services to 56,677 be accepted.

V GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS

Councillor Fordyce declared a non financial interest in this item by virtue of her involvement with Shelter Scotland as a volunteer speaker; Councillor Borthwick declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of his employment with Age Concern; Councillors Grant and Will Dawson declared a non financial interest in this item by virtue of their Council appointments to the Grey Lodge and Councillor Barrie declared a non financial interest in this item by virtue of his involvement with the Dundee Blind and Partially Sighted Society.

There was submitted Report No 403-2003 by the Director of Social Work on the recommended grant awards to voluntary organisations for 2003/2004.

The Committee agreed that the payment of grants to the voluntary organisations listed in the report and at the levels outlined be approved.

VI ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL WORK ANNUAL TRAVEL AWARD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN303-2003 on the annual travel awards made by the Association of the Directors of Social Work which provided award winners with financial support to visit another country to learn more about international practice in their chosen study area.

The Committee noted that Rose Sinclair and Maureen Gurnin who were both based within the Criminal Justice Social Work Service in Dundee had won this award which had been presented to them on 22nd May, 2003 at the annual conference of the Association of the Directors of Social Work and that they were planning to visit other services in Ontario, Canada later in 2003.

VII THE JOINT PROTOCOL ON MISSING CHILDREN, ABSCONDERS AND CHILDREN OTHERWISE MISSINGFROM LOCAL AUTHORITY CARE

There was submitted Report No 401-2003 by the Director of Social Work seeking approval of a protocol which had been developed by Tayside Police and the Social Work Department to ensure the provision of a caring and appropriate response to children who go missing, who abscond or otherwise absent themselves from local authority care. The absconder protocol set out the role and responsibilities of the Police and the local authority for such children.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the joint protocol on missing children, absconders and children otherwise missing from local authority care as detailed in the report be approved; and

(ii) that the protocol be implemented as from 1st September, 2003.

HELEN WRIGHT, Convener.