Social Work And Health Committee - 28/01/2013

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 28th January, 2013.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost Bob DUNCAN

 

Depute Lord Provost Christina ROBERTS

 

BAILIES

 

Willie SAWERS

Helen WRIGHT

Ian BORTHWICK

 

Derek J SCOTT

 

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Ken GUILD

Stewart HUNTER

Lesley BRENNAN

John ALEXANDER

Ken LYNN

Georgia CRUICKSHANK

Jimmy BLACK

Vari McDONALD

Tom FERGUSON

David BOWES

Craig MELVILLE

Brian GORDON

Bill CAMPBELL

Gregor MURRAY

Richard McCREADY

Kevin CORDELL

Alan G ROSS

Norma McGOVERN

Will DAWSON

Kevin KEENAN

Fraser MACPHERSON

 

Laurie BIDWELL

 

 

Councillor Ken LYNN, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th December, 2012 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

 

No declarations of interest were made.

 

II SECONDMENT OF DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WORK

 

There was submitted Report No 60-2013 by the Chief Executive seeking approval of the secondment of the Director of Social Work to the post of Chief Social Work Advisor for the Scottish Government.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to the secondment of the Director of Social Work for an initial period of two years to the appointment of Chief Social Work Advisor for the Scottish Government;

 

(ii) to second the Director of Social Work on his current terms and conditions as set out in a contract agreement between Dundee City Council and the Scottish Government;

 

(iii) that the current manager of Strategy, Support and Performance Services, Mrs Jenni Tocher became the Acting Director of Social Work and Chief Social Work Officer for the City Council; and

 

(iv) that the Acting Director of Social Work be remitted to bring a further report on proposals for acting up arrangements within the Social Work Senior and Extended Management Team.

 

III THE FUTURE OF THE INDEPENDENT LIVING FUND AND THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE FUND

 

There was submitted Report No 38-2013 by the Director of Social Work providing information about the Social Work Department's response to the Department of Work and Pensions public consultation on the transitional arrangements for the Independent Living Fund, as appended to the report, as well as providing information on the potential impact that closing the Fund may have.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) the content of the response submitted by the Social Work Department as appended to the report; and

 

(ii) to note the current and future financial impact the closure of the Fund would have on the Council as detailed in paragraph 3.3 of the report.

 

IV REDEVELOPMENT OF ELMS SECURE RESIDENTIAL SERVICE

 

Reference was made to Articles V and VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee held on 25th June, 2012, wherein the Committee agreed to closure of the secure unit and to a change of use to create further intake provision for young people requiring residential care. The Director of Social Work was tasked with establishing a Multi-Agency Development Group to progress the development led by the Head of Children's Services and Criminal Justice Services.

 

There was submitted Report No 39-2013 by the Director of Social Work providing an update on work undertaken specifically in relation to developing services which would support closure of the Elms minimising the need for secure care and making recommendations for future use of the facility.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note the work being undertaken to strengthen multi-agency approaches to minimise the need for secure care;

 

(ii) to the change of use for the Elms to an open residential unit; and

 

(iii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to report back to Committee in February, 2013 with proposals to extend the Department's fostering capacity.

 

 

 

 

Ken LYNN, Convener.