Agenda and minutes

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In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous Prevention and Social Care Cabinet Advisory Committee meeting.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2015 be agreed as a correct record.

Noted the comments of Councillors in relation to the work of Cabinet Advisory Committee’s compared to Scrutiny. 

The Chair will provide a verbal update.

The Chair made reference to th Executive Summary of the effectiveness of Local Area Co-ordinators (LAC’s) during their initial months of employment.

The Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Healthy City stated that there were issues to be considered before the effectiveness of LAC’s could be reviewed properly.  He added that it was too early to assess their effectiveness on the ground as they had not had sufficient time.  However, he added that the appointment process which also involved Swansea University, was very positive and the LAC’s had made significant contacts within their respective communities and had dealt with individual cases.  He recognised the need to obtain assistance with funding in respect of the cost of LAC’s and commented that long term they could prevent many issues that affected other organisations such as the Police and health.  Discussions were on-going with other organisations in the hope that they could see the potential long-term benefit of having LAC’s within many communities.  The next stage would be to expand the number of LAC’s in Swansea.

Discussions centred around the following: -

·         The areas where the work was being undertaken needed to be correctly referenced in the report;

·         The CAC can help the Cabinet Member in assessing the effectiveness of LAC’s in the future;

·         The Authority can examine different methods of expanding LAC’s in the future;

·         A decision cannot be made with regard to LAC’s until the outcome of the review had been completed;

·         Assessing which Wards had LAC’s in the future and who would make the decision;

·         Using the facilities and services within communities to prevent them entering the care system and to assist them in living independent lives;

·         Wealthier areas within the Authority were not necessarily better at assisting individuals within their communities;

·         It was important that all Councillors were involved in the establishment of LAC’s within communities.

AGREED that: -

1)    The contents of discussions be noted;

2)    The Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Healthy City provides a map of the Authority outlining LAC areas and a job description of LAC’s for discussion at the next meeting.

The Chair will provide a verbal update.

The Chair referred to previous site visits to sheltered accommodation a few months previously.  She added that the site visits had raised a few issues and she was working with Housing in order to address these.

The Committee discussed issues as follows: -

·         Details to be considered if new builds were being erected;

·         Recognising that people were happier at home as opposed to being taken into care;

·         The positive aspects of the sheltered housing schemes in Pembrokeshire and Crymych and the need to consider establishing similar sheltered housing complexes in Swansea;

·         The importance of working in partnership and recognising the benefits of prevention to the wellbeing of individuals;

·         The positive aspects of sheltered housing at Hazel Court, Sketty and Llys Gwalia, Gorseinon.

The Chair stated that she would provide an update at the next meeting.

AGREED that the contents of the discussions be noted.

The Chair will provide a verbal update.

The Chair updated the Committee regarding Dementia Awareness Training and courses being provided by organisations within Swansea.  She added that the training should be provided to Councillors and staff in order to raise awareness.  She had been in discussions with Human Resources trainers regarding hosting the training and establishing what the Authority could contribute to the training.

An update would be provided at the next meeting.

AGREED that the contents of the update be noted.

The Chair presented an updated Work Programme 2015/16.

AGREED that the contents of the report be noted.