Social Work And Health Committee - 16/04/2007

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th April, 2007.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Helen WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th March, 2007 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I STRATEGY FOR DELIVERING IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN DUNDEE

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of the Education Committee held on 16th April, 2007 there was submitted Joint Report No 170-2007 by the Director of Social Work and Director of Education seeking approval for the development of a strategy to address and improve the educational attainment of Dundee's Looked after Children and Young People.

It also suggested a Corporate framework for improving these outcomes for our Looked After Children and Young People over the next 3 years.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the content of report and attached strategic action plan;

(ii) to direct the Directors of Education and Social Work to continue to implement the strategic action plan, and to review progress made towards the outcomes of the strategic action plan in March 2008;

(iii) to direct the Directors of Education and Social Work to explore different approaches and models of corporate parenting, such as that developed by the London Borough of Barnett and as recommended in, "We Can and Must Do Better" (SE 2007); and

(iv) to direct the Directors of Education and Social Work to review the progress of the LAC (Educational Attainment) Project on a six monthly basis over the next 12 months.

II THE CHILDREN'S RIGHTS SERVICE ANNUAL REPORT

There was submitted Report No 224-2007 by the Director of Social Work informing of the work undertaken by the Children's Rights Officer for Children and Young People Looked After by Dundee City Council, for the year 2006/2007.

The Committee agreed the annual report on the work of the Children's Rights Officer for the period 31st January, 2006 to 28th February, 2007.

III USER INVOLVEMENT POLICY

There was submitted Report No 226-2007 by the Director of Social Work seeking approval from the Social Work Committee to introduce a policy for involving service users and the public in planning, developing, delivering and evaluating social work services and a guide for the public on accessing community care services.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to approve the introduction of a User Involvement Policy, attached as Appendix 1 to the report;

(ii) to approve the introduction of Community Care Services in Dundee: A Guide to Meeting Your Needs, attached as Appendix 2 to the report; and

(iii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to develop a Strategic Action Plan that set out how the User Involvement Policy would be implemented in the department, with timescales and identified lead officers.

IV STANDARD CHARGES FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY RESIDENTIAL UNITS

There was submitted Report No 227-2007 by the Director of Social Work recommending the level of standard charge to be applied in 2007/2008 for local authority residential accommodation for adults.

The Committee agreed standard charges for local authority residential accommodation as laid out in Appendix 1 of the report.

V STORAGE/FILING ACCOMMODATION

There was submitted Report No 233-2007 by the Director of Social Work on extending the capacity of the existing record storage facilities in Alexander Street.

The Committee agreed to authorise the Director of Social Work to accept the quotation for the storage system from Randex Ltd and procure and accept, in conjunction with the City Architectural Services Officer, the ancillary building works to facilitate the system to be carried out by Dundee Contract Services.

VI VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL WORK IN SCOTLAND

There was submitted Agenda Note AN124-2007 advising that the Director of Social Work had been proposed as Vice President of the ADSW in Scotland from May 2007. As a result of this proposal, he would become President for twelve months from May 2008.

The Social Work Committee agreed to support this nomination.

Helen WRIGHT, Convener.