Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

No disclosures of interest were made.

No declarations were made.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting(s) and agree as an accurate record.

The Panel agreed the minutes of the meeting on 18 December 2019 as an accurate record of the meeting.

Questions must relate to matters on the agenda and will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

No questions were asked by members of the public.

Gemma Whyley, Child and Family Services Project Manager

Gemma Whyley, Transformation Programme Manager attended to present an update on progress with the Child and Family Improvement Programme.

Discussion Points:

·         Edge of Care is a regional wraparound service.  It is a flexible service 7 days a week and out of hours. 

·         Would be good for the Panel to see case studies in terms of Edge of Care. 

·         Staff Well-being and Engagement Strategy – Received agreement from CMT to roll this out as a full service.

·         Staff retention policy agreed by CMT and being implemented.  Important to create stability in workforce.

·         Integrated Advice and Assistance (IAA) – Rolling out formerly following pilot last year.  Seen reduction in demand for Council statutory services.

·         IAA is a multi-disciplinary team with staff based at the Guildhall including a primary healthcare worker, Education Welfare Officer, Adolescent worker and Police.  They are able to share information and decide what response is appropriate.  Name of service is changing to ‘Single Point of Contact’. 

·         Inspection Action Plans – There have been a number of inspections in CFS in last two years.  Responding to inspection action plans through the Improvement Programme.  Bulk of work is completed, a number of tasks are in progress and six have not started.  Five of those not started are related to the new Community Care Information System (CCIS) which is due to be implemented in June, so systems will be standardised across Wales.  Asked if Swansea can pilot the adoption module and education have ring-fenced access. 

·         Priorities Moving Forward – Hoping to launch a newly designed LAC team in April with an art exhibition.  Working with children and social workers to develop it.  It shows how the Department has embraced the Health and Well-being Act by engaging in co-production activity.

Actions:

·         Add item to future work programme – Edge of Care case studies.

Damian Rees – Principal Officer for Safeguarding

Damian Rees, Principal Officer for Safeguarding briefed the Panel on Safeguarding in relation to County Lines and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). 

Discussion Points:

·         Police intelligence from January 2020 has identified the majority of County Lines operations across Wales are in Swansea, and is significantly more than any other place in Wales.  This information is very tentative at present and needs to be unpicked further.  The trend appears to have increased but could be due partly to better monitoring and recording in Swansea.  Council can only hypothesise at present, as it needs significant research, and Council need to ensure robust safeguarding procedures are in place.  As this develops, the Department will be able to bring more robust information to the Panel.

·         Of the 20 young people who required intervention since April 2019 via the CSE protocol, six are from other local authorities. 

·         It is a priority in terms of the Improvement Programme and there is a strategic group driving this work. 

·         A targeted piece of work was undertaken between the Council and police, with railway staff, to help them be proactive and know what to do if they have concerns about a young person.

·         Council is already operationally using a contextual safeguarding approach but the formal pilot is starting. 

·         The other aspect of this approach is creating safe places for children to be.  Examples of a safe place include, changing some of the lighting in parks; opening up spaces children are going too; building relationships with children and diverting them into positive activities. 

·         Panel feels there has been a reduction in youth services.  Cabinet Member does not think there has been a reduction, however the ones that were not well used have gone, and the ones that are well used have remained. 

·         The Department is looking at possibly having an adolescent strategy. 

·         On 13 March 2020 an adolescent conference is being held for managers and front line staff.

Work Programme received and considered by the Panel.

Agreed the following items for the next meeting on 27 April 2020:

·         Briefing on Carers Assessments

·         Wales Audit Office report on Tackling Violence Against Women, Domestic (includes fieldwork in Swansea amongst others)

·         Performance Monitoring

The remaining items on the work programme are to be scheduled for the new municipal year. 

a)    Letter to Cabinet Member (18 December 2019 meeting)

b)    Response from Cabinet Member (18 December 2019 meeting)

Letters considered by the Panel.