Social Work And Health Committee - 27/04/2009

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 27th April, 2009.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jim BARRIE, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd March, 2009 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I PROCUREMENT POLICY FOR SOCIAL CARE SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 228-2009 by the Director of Social Work seeking approval to formally adopt the framework within which the Social Work Department purchased care services from the private and voluntary sector and requesting that the Director of Social Work be remitted to procure care services required through applying this framework.

The policy document was attached to the report.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to formally adopt the Procurement Policy for Social Care Services as appended to the report;

(ii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to procure services on behalf of service users in line with Dundee City Council's commissioning intentions through applying the Procurement Policy for Social Care Services and the principles of best value, within existing resources;

(iii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to follow national direction on procurement of Social Care Services through Scotland Excel, ADSW and COSLA while continuing to develop the high standard of social care procurement embedded locally; and

(iv) to continue to consider significant new service developments or changes to existing service delivery as previously through the various strategic policy papers presented to them.

II STRATHCARRON HOUSE REPLACEMENT

There was submitted Report No 233-2009 by the Director of Social Work seeking approval to the mechanisms for providing a replacement for Strathcarron House, Residential Unit for Young People.

The Committee agreed to a partnership model for the provision of the replacement new build.

III IMPLICATIONS OF THE NATIONAL CARE HOME CONTRACT - FEE LEVELS FOR 2009/2010 AND 2010/2011

There was submitted Report No 227-2009 by the Director of Social Work on the outcome of negotiations between COSLA, the Scottish Government and care home providers in relation to the ongoing development of a national care home contract.

The report also recommended payment rates for 2009/2010 for independent sector care homes as outlined in the national care home contract negotiations.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the outcome of the national care home contract negotiations, particularly the quality levels expected of care homes in order to receive higher weekly payments;

(ii) payments made to independent sector care homes were increased in line with the detailed recommendations as detailed in the report;

(iii) to note that these rates would be effective from 6th April, 2009 and would apply regardless of the local authority area in which the home was situated; and

(iv) to note that these rates were all inclusive and no supplements would be paid.

IV FOSTERING ALLOWANCES 2009/2010

On a reference to Article VI of minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd February, 2009, there was submitted Agenda Note AN105-2009 seeking approval for fostering allowances for 2009/2010.

The Committee agreed that, pending the outcome of the review of Dundee arrangements for the fostering of looked after children, the rates of payment and allowances as detailed in the note be approved and that they be effective from 30th March, 2009.

V ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL WORK - NOMINATION TO SCOTTISH PRISON SERVICE BOARD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN106-2009 reporting that The Association of Directors of Social Work had been invited to nominate an experienced senior manager to represent the Association as a non-executive member of the Scottish Prison Service Board.

The Criminal Justice Services Manager had been asked to represent the Association. The commitment would be approximately two days per month.

The Committee agreed the terms of the note.

VI ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL WORK - CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

There was submitted Agenda Note AN107-2009 reporting that the "Reflecting, Refocusing, Reconnecting" would take place at Crieff Hydro Hotel, Perthshire, from Thursday, 29th October to Friday, 30th October, 2009.

The cost of attendance would be approximately 260 including VAT and excluding travel and subsistence allowances.

The Committee agreed that elected member attendance at the conference be on the basis of one member of the Administration, one member of the Labour Group and one member of the Conservative Group.

Jim BARRIE, Convener.