Agenda and draft 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 29 October 2024 as an accurate record of the meeting.

Letter to Cabinet Member following the meeting on 29 October 2024 was noted.

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.

Louise Gibbard, Cabinet Member for Care Services

Sarah Lackenby, Head of Digital and Customer Services

(Child and Family Services Panel Members invited for this item)

Sarah Lackenby, Head of Digital and Customer Services attended to brief the Panel on this item.  The full Annual Complaints and Compliments Reports 2023-24 were included for completeness but the focus of the Panel was Appendix B which looked at Social Services. Members of the Child and Family Services Panel were also invited for this item.

Discussion Points:

·       Adult Services saw a 5.6% decrease in Stage 1 complaints, with 24.1% from a single individual.  Justified complaints increased to 29.1%. Stage 2 complaints remained low.

·       Child and Family Services saw a 28.3% decrease in Stage 1 complaints. Justified complaints remained steady at 13.9%. Stage 2 complaints rose slightly.

·       Compliments reduced for both Adult Services and Child and Family Services in 2023-24 and are now more in line with pre-covid levels. 

·       Panel asked questions about compliance performance, difference between stage 1 and stage 2 complaint and feedback mechanisms.

Louise Gibbard, Cabinet Member for Care Services

Amy Hawkins, Interim Director of Social Services

Helen St John, Head of Integrated Community Services

Amy Hawkins, Interim Director of Social Services, Lucy Friday, Head of Adult Services and other relevant officers attended to brief the Panel on this issue including the meaning of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS), when and where they are applied, performance compared to the rest of Wales, legislation and next steps. 

Discussion Points:

·       Panel queried how DOLS works in terms of different settings.  Heard there are different legal frameworks depending on where the person is at the time. 

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