Social Work And Health Committee - 20/06/2005

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th June 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Wright, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th May 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I INTRODUCTION - MR FRED MCBRIDE, CHILDRENS' SERVICES MANAGER

The Convener welcomed and introduced Mr Fred McBride who had been appointed as Childrens' Services Manager for Dundee City Council Social Work Department and on behalf of the Committee wished him well in his new post.

II ESTABLISHMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER TEAM

There was submitted Joint Report No 354-2005 by the Director of Social Work and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) on the proposed establishment of a full time Mental Health Officer (MHO) team to enhance the Social Work Department's ability to respond to statutory obligations contained within the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, which would be implemented in October 2005.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to the proposed service provision arrangements as outlined in paragraph 8.1 of the report to implement the new Act which imposed new and extended duties in local authorities in particular required local authorities to appoint a sufficient number of Mental Health Officers (MHO's) in relation to compulsory measure of care and treatment under:

(a) The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003;

(b) The Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995;

(c) The Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000;

(ii) that the personnel implications arising from this report be remitted to the Personnel Committee for consideration.

III COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH TEAMS - ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL SOCIAL CARE OFFICER POSTS

There was submitted Joint Report No 338-2005 by the Director of Social Work and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) proposing increasing social care provision within Community Mental Health teams to enhance the Social Work Department's ability to respond to statutory obligations contained within the forthcoming Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the proposed service provision arrangements as outlined in the report be approved; and

(ii) that the personnel implications arising from this report be remitted to the Personnel Committee for consideration.

IV REVIEW OF MONEY ADVICE PARTNERSHIP AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR MONEY ADVICE PROVISION

There was submitted Joint Report No 322-2005 by the Director of Social Work and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) advising of the outcomes of the review of the Money Advice Partnership and outlining proposals for the use of continued and approved funding from the Scottish Executive to Dundee City Council for the provision of money advice.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the contracts for money advice and debt counselling currently in place with the Citizen Advice Bureau and the Money Advice Support Team be renewed for a further three year period.

(ii) that all money advice workers employed via the Scottish Executive funding achieve "Approved Adviser" status from the Accountant in Bankruptcy and that they also work towards or already have achieved SVQ level 4 in Advice and Guidance;

(iii) that the continued development and implementation of a common statistical recording platform and joint working towards nationally agreed quality standards which all agencies must comply be approved; and

(iv) that the personnel implications arising from this report be remitted to a meeting of the Personnel Committee for consideration.

V CONSULTATION ON COMMUNITY JUSTICE AUTHORITIES

There was submitted Report No 382-2005 by the Director of Social Work on the key points contained in the Scottish Executive's consultation on Community Justice Authorities which formed part of the Management of Offenders Bill in response to the Reducing Re-offending consultation undertaken in 2004. The consultation on Community Justice Authorities was launched on 31st March 2005 and would close on 23rd June 2005.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the proposals and their significance in relation to the delivery of social work services in the criminal justice system be approved;

(ii) that the Director of Social Work be required to prepare a response to the proposals in consultation with other authorities within the Tayside Partnership;

h supporting the ADSW/COSLA proposals for eight Community Justice Authorities

h advocating that each local authority within Community Justice Authority should have an equal vote where matters come to the vote.

(iii) that the Director of Social Work be required to be provide further updates to Committee as work progressed.

VI INVESTIGATION INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION OF A SEX OFFENDER IN NORTHLANARKSHIRE

There was submitted Report No 383-2005 by the Director of Social Work advising of an issue arising from the recent investigation into the management of the post-release supervision of a sex offender in North Lanarkshire. Following on from publication of the outcome of the investigation, the Minister for Justice had asked that an audit and review of all cases of medium and high risk sex offenders be undertaken through the liaison arrangements for each Criminal Justice Social Work Grouping or Unitary Authority. This had to be organised in consultation with the police and the Scottish Prison Service and had to ensure attention would be paid to housing responsibilities and arrangements. The findings from the audit and actions taken were to be reported to the Inspectorate by 30th September 2005.

the Committee agreed:-

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

(ii) that the Director of Social Work progress an audit of sex offender cases in consultation with Tayside Police, the Scottish Prison Services, the Director of Housing and the other authorities within the Tayside Criminal Justice Partnership; and

(iii) the Director of Social Work and Director of Housing report back to Committee in October 2005 summarising the key actions arising from the audit and the recommendations contained in the report.

VII THE FUTURE OF MARYFIELD HOUSE

Bailie Borthwick declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of the employment of a member of his family at the Maryfield House facility.

There was submitted Report No 298-2005 by the Director of Social Work on the future viability of Maryfield House.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that Option 4 be approved as the re-provisioning plan for Maryfield House and that it be noted that this would result in the closure of Maryfield House in the financial year 2007/2008;

(ii) that the consultation process involving service users and representatives referred to within paragraph 7.1 of the report continue and that any outcomes be evaluated and addressed as required;

(iii) that the Director of Social Work and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) continue to consult employees at Maryfield House and their trade unions regarding all of the staffing implications including redeployment; and

(iv) that the Maryfield site be developed in partnership with a local Housing Association to create social rented housing for people with special needs.

VIII EXTERNAL AUDIT OF THE SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENTS CHILD CARE AND PROTECTION SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 356-2005 by the Director of Social Work on the outcomes of the external audit completed by Professor Norma Baldwin, University of Dundee, on the Social Work Department's Child Care and Protection Services.

The Committee agreed that the progress and improvements which were being made as part of, and in response to, the External Audit of the Child Care and Protection Services process be noted and approved.

IX SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE FUNDING TO IMPROVE FOSTERING SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 378-2005 by the Director of Social Work providing details of the Scottish Executive's proposed funding allocation to Dundee to improve fostering services and making recommendations on what services and improvements should be made with the monies.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) the proposed funding allocation from the Scottish Executive to improve Dundee's Fostering Service be approved and,

(ii) that the priority improvements to be made using this funding be:-

h to increase fostering allowances to 75% of the fostering network recommended rates

h to pay one additional week's allowance to carers at Christmas

h to introduce a dedicated out of hours support service for foster carers

h to run a sustained recruitment campaign over 2006 with the aim of approving additional 10 fostering placements by December 2007.

(iii) that the Director of Social Work be remitted to write a letter to the Scottish Executive

highlighting the continued underfunding of local authority fostering services.

X PAYMENT RATES FOR INDEPENDENT SECTOR CARE HOMES 2005/06

There was submitted Report No 372-2005 by the Director of Social Work recommending payment rates for 2005/2006 for independent sector care homes.

The Committee agreed that payments to independent sector care homes be increased as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report.

XI PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY VOLUNTARY BODIES 2005/2006

Bailie Borthwick declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of his employment with Age Concern, Scotland who it was proposed receive an award of grant.

There was submitted Report No 381-2005 by the Director of Social Work on the level of payments for services provided by voluntary organisations for 2005/2006.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that payments to the voluntary organisations listed in Appendix 1 of the report be made subject to the Director of Social Work remaining satisfied that the service provided met the service specification; and

(ii) that the Ardler Information Point be paid 23,650 for 2005/2006 and that, in accordance with paragraph 6.4 of the report, the organisation be advised to seek alternative sources of funding from 1st April 2006.

XII FORMER ST LEONARD'S RESIDENTIAL HOME FOR THE ELDERLY, ST LEONARD'S TERRACE ANDMENZIESHILL HOUSE RESIDENTIAL HOME FOR THE ELDERLY, DICKSON AVENUE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN271-2005 reporting that for operational reasons the former St Leonard's Residential Home for the Elderly, St Leonard's Terrace had been closed for some time and Menzieshill House Residential Home for the Elderly, Dickson Avenue, had recently closed following the construction of the new Menzieshill House.

As the Social Work Department had no further use for these buildings, the Committee agreed that the buildings be formally declared surplus to requirements and that the Director of Economic Development be given the remit to dispose of the properties.

XIII AUTHORISATION LIMIT FOR THE PURCHASE OF DOMICILIARY CARE AND SUPPORT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN272-2005 reporting:-

(a) that the Social Work Committee, at its meeting on 17th December 2001, agreed a limit of 356 per week for the purchase from external providers of domiciliary care and support services for older people.

Since then, the number and range of care packages at home has increased significantly, and a variety of purchasing arrangements were in place. It is therefore appropriate to review this limit to ensure equality of treatment of service users, regardless of the setting in which they receive care and support.

The Committee agreed that this limit be increased to 424 per week, in line with the rate for placements in homes with nursing care for older people.

(b) that the need for increased or very urgent intensive care can arise quite unexpectedly, usually because of a change in the health of the service user or of their carer. On occasion, the home care service cannot accommodate these changes immediately and external provision was sought.

The Committee agreed that, in these circumstances, the Director of Social Work be authorised to agree care packages up to the value of 550 per week, for up to four weeks.

(c) The Committee noted that, should a higher level and/or extended duration of care and support be required than authorised under (a) or (b), the case would be remitted to the Cases Sub-Committee for consideration.

HELEN WRIGHT, Convener