Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

No disclosures of interest were received.

No declarations were made.

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

Panel agreed the Minutes of the meeting on 12 September 2024 as an accurate record of the meeting.

Letter to Cabinet Member following the meeting on 12 September 2024 and the response were noted.  The Panel appreciated the comprehensive response to the question about how young people’s belongings are carried.

Questions can be submitted in writing to scrutiny@swansea.gov.uk up until noon on the working day prior to the meeting. Written questions take precedence. Public may attend and ask questions in person if time allows. Questions must relate to items on the open part of the agenda and will be dealt with in a 10-minute period.

No questions were received.

David Howes, Director of Social Services

Julie Davies, Head of Child and Family Services

David Howes, Director of Social Services and relevant officers attended to brief the Panel on the West Glamorgan Safeguarding Board Annual Report for 2023-24 and answer questions. 

Discussion Points:

·       The Report is submitted to the National Independent Safeguarding Board which is charged with reporting to Welsh Government on the overall effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements in Wales.

·       The Report highlighted some good practice delivered through the four sub-groups. Panel was pleased to see the progress and that in terms of benchmarking with others this region is doing well.

·       Highlighted it was National Safeguarding Week which is a good opportunity to reflect on how awareness can be improved around safeguarding in communities whilst out and about.

·       Panel asked questions about Report sign off, engagement of partners, how the Report is dealt with in other organisations, action plan to support priority areas identified, responsibility for tracking an individual dealt with by a number of organisations, lack of metrics in Report to judge against.

Julie Davies, Head of Child and Family Services

Linzi Margetson, Principal Officer Safeguarding Quality and Performance

Linzi Margetson, Principal Officer Safeguarding Quality and Performance attended, summarising the Report and answering the Panel’s questions.

Discussion Points:

·       Panel received the Annual Report 2023-24 for the Service Quality Unit which includes examples of how the team have worked creatively to engage children and young people that they work with, and their feedback following the service review of care experienced children.

·       Panel feels a good thing about this Report is it talks about the Independent Reviewing Officer in particular which is something the Panel rarely talks about. 

·       Panel asked questions about the challenges faced within the Service particularly for staffing in terms of consistency of care, the transition from Child and Family Services to Adult Social Services and if schemes like ‘When I’m Ready’ are now in house.

Panel considered the work plan and noted items for the next meeting. 

Chair also confirmed the Joint Social Services Scrutiny Meeting to look at the annual budget will be held on 17 February 2025.