Agenda and minutes

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

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the Minutes of the People Policy Development Committee held on 16 September and 1 October 2020 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Dave Howes, Director of Social Services attended to update the Committee on the work that had been undertaken in the Social Services Directorate since the Covid-19 pandemic.

He went on to outline details of the recovery plan report that was presented to Cabinet on 15 October:

1.            Re-mobilise (short term – 4 months) – restarting and adapting a wide range of Council services;

2.            Refocus (medium term – up to May 2022) – a strategic response to support the city to emerge and grow from the crisis delivering our corporate priorities;

3.            Reshape (long term – after May 2022) – longer term City & County regeneration and development strategy.

The Director of Social Services informed the Committee that in relation to the first stage of the recovery plan, many of the services provided by the Social Services Directorate had carried on as normal during the pandemic.  However, some things such as running day services had been paused.

Emergency respite care had also carried on during the initial stages, with the number of people who required emergency respite care having increased. He stated that the risk had to be balanced against those without formal care & support where “staying in touch” had been essential. 

Whilst still in the midst of the first stage of the recovery plan it had highlighted that our emergency provision was in place and fit for purpose.

He went onto say that the main change encountered had been that the majority of our workforce were almost totally working from home with the exception of some multi-discipline hubs in Adult Social Care.  These staff had to undertake a certain amount of office based work, which had subsequently been made covid secure. 

In terms of stage 2 – re-focussing aspect of the Recovery Plan, he felt the Committee could assist with the emergency winter planning that would be undertaken.

In addition, he felt the Committee could assist in their continued co-production element from last year focusing on:

·                     Transformation of Mental Health Services – via co-production;

·                     Health & Community Services – enabling people to be safe and stay in their own homes.

The Chair thanked the Director of Social Services for the update. He stated that he would meet with the Cabinet Members for Adult Social Care & Community Health Services and Children Services to finalise topics for the People Policy Development Committee to consider during 2020-2021.

Resolved that the update be noted.

As previously advised, the Work Plan for 2020-2021 would be finalised with the relevant Cabinet Members and presented for discussion at the next meeting scheduled for 18 November 2020.

Amy Hawkins, Head of Adult Services requested that if possible the Committee consider including work on “Wellbeing of carers” into their Work Plan.  She stated that this topic crossed over aspects of Mental Health, complex care, community and preventative responses and would be a focus of her teams approach during the current Municipal Year.

Dave Howes stated he would also alert the Committee to any co-production work scheduled in the short term so they could consider their involvement.

Resolved that the update be noted.