Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

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 18 September 2019 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Matters Arising:

Minute 16 – Transition for Children and Young People with a Disability

The Chair reminded the Committee that the launch of Swansea Parent Carer Forum would be taking place on 18 October 2019 at 9.30 am at Swansea Grand Theatre.  Unfortunately, he would be unable to attend but encouraged other Members to attend.

In addition, Chris Francis reported that Heidi Lythgoe would like to clarify the following points highlighted in the previous meeting:

·                 In terms of the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Act and the New Curriculum, representatives of the Swansea Parent Carer Forum had been liaising with the Education Department via the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Strategic Steering Group, rather than directly with the Schools;

·                 In relation to the Carers Assessment Survey – it was not about the quality of communication with Social Services, rather their experience in accessing the Carers Assessments.

The Partnership and Commissioning Manager and Principal Officer Prevention, Wellbeing and Commissioning provided a presentation on the Council’s Approach to Strategic Commissioning. 

The Officers were accompanied by Amanda Carr, Swansea Council for Voluntary Services (SCVS) who provided information on alternative models of delivery that the Committee might also wish to consider.  These included details of Micro-enterprises and Co-Operatives which link in with the strength based approaches outlined by the Officers.

In response to questions from Members of the Committee, the following issues were discussed:

·                 All staff in Social Services were working towards the Strategic Commissioning goals, however it was identified that there were gaps in Education that had been highlighted as a ‘risk’ to the Director of Education;

·                 Acknowledged that there should be Performance Indicators (PI’s) in order to monitor outcomes;

·                 Need to standardise procedures, eg Contract Monitoring and learn from each other in terms of the best practice;

·                 A staff training event had been arranged in November around the Integrated Personal Commissioning (IPC) Framework  in order to add value, identify gaps / duplication;

·                 The difference between procurement and commissioning;

·                 The difference between strategic commissioning and commissioning reviews;

·                 Welsh Government funding streams had been combined and reduced to:

·                 Housing Support Grant;

·                 Children & Communities Grant;

·                 The 13% uplift in costs related to Domiciliary Care arrangements;

·                 Why there were different arrangements for Social Services provision in other Local Authorities as ‘one size did not fit all’.  However, it was acknowledged that processes could be standardised via the new legislation changes;

·                 How partners were contributing via the Swansea Public Services Board (PSB) via their 4 workstreams:

·                 Early Years;

·                 Live Well, Age Well;

·                 Strong Communities;

·                 Working with Nature;

·                 In addition, both Swansea PSB and Neath Port Talbot PSB had been chosen by the Welsh Government to work collaborately as Regional Early Years Pathfinders;

·                 The link between the PSB and West Glamorgan Regional Programme Board (RPB);

·                 How the 3^rd Sector linked with grass roots, community based organisations and could connect decision makers with planners and community members;

·                 3^rd sector could also act as an enabler for smaller organisations to connect them to certain facilities such as legal and governance arrangements;

The Chair thanked the officers for their informative presentation.

He stated that the Committee had previously discussed focussing on isolation / loneliness in the elderly. 

Amanda Carr stated that two new schemes were currently being discussed that might assist with the topic being suggested, however one was still in the very early stages.  Therefore, it was suggested that further discussions should take place between the Chair and the Officers.

Resolved that

1)              The presentation be noted;

2)              The Chair liaise with the Officers in relation to the exact requirements in relation to this topic for the next meeting.

Update on first meeting of Sub Group.

The Principal Business Development and Commissioning Lead provided a verbal update as follows:

·                 The first Task & Finish group had taken place on 13 September 2019;

·                 The next meeting was due to take place on Friday, 18 October 2019 but was slightly delayed due to the launch of the Swansea Parent Carer forum;

·                 Monthly meetings would take place between now and January 2020;

·                 The draft skeleton document would be considered together with the stakeholder map to ensure engagement with all relevant partners;

·                 Discussions had been arranged with the Principal Officer Mental Health and Learning Disabilities and Head of Vulnerable Learner Services;

·                 2 Transition cases had been discussed with a representative from Health regarding changes of integration whereby some recommendations had been suggested;

·                 The Director of Social Services would be meeting colleagues from Health on Monday, 21 October to discuss the recommendations;

·                 Confirmed that progress was ‘on track’ for the draft Policy to be considered by the Committee in January 2020.

The Chair thanked the Principal Business Development and Commissioning Lead for the update.

The Chair presented the updated Work Plan for 2019-2020.

Resolved that the Work Plan be noted.