Social Work And Health Committee - 23/05/2011

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 23rd May, 2011.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jim BARRIE, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th April, 2011 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MANAGEMENT OF EXTERNAL PROVISION OF COMMUNITY BASED SOCIAL CARE SERVICE

There was submitted Report No 162-2011 by the Director of Social Work, the purpose of which was to demonstrate how the external provision of social care services would be managed with particular reference to the quality of the service.

The Committee agreed to note the quality assurance measures to manage and monitor the quality of the external provision of community based social care services as outlined in paragraph 4.2 of the report.

II FISCAL WORK ORDER PILOT

There was submitted Report No 240-2011 by the Director of Social Work informing of a new Fiscal Work Order scheme, to be jointly piloted by the Social Work Department and the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) as an alternative to prosecution for an initial twelve month period from 2nd May, 2011.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the Fiscal Work Order pilot; and

(ii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to provide a review of progress in twelve months.

Councillor Barrie declared a financial interest in the undernoted item of business by virtue of a family member being a recipient of the scheme and withdrew from the Chamber prior to its consideration, whereupon the Chair was taken by the Depute Convener, Councillor Lynn.

Councillors Fordyce, Andy Dawson, Asif, Macpherson and Roberts also declared financial interests in the undernoted application by virtue of family members being recipients of the scheme and withdrew from the Chamber prior to its consideration.

III IMPLICATIONS OF THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENTS REFORM

There was submitted Report No 249-2011 by the Director of Social Work, the purpose of which was to advise elected members of the implications of the forthcoming reforms to the Blue Badge Scheme.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the contents of the report;

(ii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to implement the proposed eligibility criteria changes with immediate effect; and

(iii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to report back to Committee on further implications of the reform once guidance is issued by the Scottish Government.

Councillor Jim Barrie re-entered the Chamber at the conclusion of this item and resumed the Chair.

Councillors Fordyce, Andy Dawson, Asif, Macpherson and Roberts also re-entered the Chamber at the conclusion of this item of business.

IV OAKLAND CENTRE COMMUNITY LINK SERVICE

There was submitted Report No 250-2011 by the Director of Social Work to inform the Committee of the development of a Community Link Service which will be integral to the Oakland Centre.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to endorse the establishment of the Community Link Service; and

(ii) to endorse the measures being taken in order to engage older people with the resources within their community.

V SELF DIRECTED SUPPORT: DRAFT BILL AND DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALISED SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 252-2011 by the Director of Social Work providing information about the Social Work Department's recent response to the Scottish Government's Self Directed Support Draft Bill. This matter was first brought before elected members on 28th June, 2010 (Report No 359‑2010). This report also provided elected members with information on the Social Work Department's development of a Personalisation Strategy.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the recently submitted Dundee City Council Social Work Department response to the Scottish Government's consultation on the Self Directed Support Draft Bill appended to the report;

(ii) to support the continued development of the personalisation agenda in Dundee and note the progress made to develop our local Personalisation Strategy in line with the Government's National Self Directed Support Strategy; and

(iii) to receive proposals for the use of the additional funding outlined in paragraph 3.1 at a later date.

VI CHOOSE LIFE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN83-2011 advising that proposals for the implementation of the Choose Life strategy were approved by the Social Work Committee on 16th February, 2004 (Report No 150-2004). The report highlighted proposals for the implementation of Choose Life in Dundee and advised that a sub-group of Healthy Dundee (The Choose Life Steering Group) had been established to oversee the development and implementation of the local suicide prevention strategy. The sum of 87,000 has been allocated to support suicide prevention.

The Choose Life Steering Group has now approved funding for continuation of the following service:-

Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (WRASAC) - 30,000

The money will be used for the continuation of a post for a self harm, self injury and suicide support worker for a period of one year. This post supports women at risk of suicide who have been sexually abused. Support is delivered on a one to one basis, by group, e-mail, letter, telephone or via the telephone helpline.

The Committee agreed to the release of funding to meet the Choose Life suicide prevention agenda for 2011/2012.

Jim BARRIE, Convener.