Social Work And Health Committee - 21/05/2001

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE held at Dundee on Monday, 21 May, 2001.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Betty WARD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 16 April, 2001 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTES

 

(i) Minute of Meeting of Registration & Cases Sub-Committee of 6 February, 2001

 

The minute of the above meeting was submitted and noted.

 

(ii) Minute of Meeting of Registration & Cases Sub-Committee of 2 May, 2001

 

The minute of the above meeting was submitted and noted.

 

II PUBLICATION OF DUNDEE'S EARLY YEARS AND CHILDCARE PLAN 2001 - 2004

There was submitted Joint Report No 311-2001 by the Directors of Education and Social Work detailing the Early Years and Childcare Plan 2001 - 2004.

The Committee noted and approved the contents of the report, insofar as its interests were concerned.

III INDEPENDANT ADVOCACY SERVICES IN TAYSIDE - JOINT PROTOCOL

There was submitted Report No 318-2001 by the Director of Social Work informing the Social Work Committee of the review of independent advocacy services within Tayside and seeking agreement for the Director of Social Work to sign the joint protocol detailing the key principles underpinning the provision of independent advocacy services.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i)acknowledge the content of the report and the proposed joint protocol;

(ii)instruct the Director of Social Work to sign the joint protocol on behalf of the Council.

IV SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE (ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW POSTS)

There was submitted Joint Report No 319-2001 by the Directors of Social Work and Personnel and Management Services seeking the Committee's approval to expand the range of services available to the Courts that would contribute to the increased effectiveness of existing services.

The Committee approved the recommendations and content of the report, insofar as its interests were concerned.

V WORKING TOGETHER FOR DUNDEE'S CHILDREN IN NEED - ADOPTION SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 320-2001 by the Director of Social Work informing the Committee of the Adoption and Permanence Panel business between April 2000 and March 2001 and of Dundee City Council's performance in achieving permanence for Dundee's children in need.

The Committee noted and approved the contents of the report.

VI ANNUAL REPORT 2001 ON SOCIAL WORK SERVICES IN SCOTLAND

Reference was made to the overview report on Social Work services "Changing for the Future" which was published by the Social Work Services Inspectorate on 2 May, 2001. The report examined the preparedness of social work services for the 21st Century.

It was noted that Dundee's review of services for older people had been highlighted in the National Report as an outstanding model of a politically led and thoughtful review of services.

VII PROPOSALS TO PAY A GRANT TO THE KICK IT KICK OFF PROJECT

It was reported that "Kick It Kick Off", a community project organised by Tayside Police which offers football based courses to young people involved in drug misuse/or offending, had requested a grant of 3,000 to provide funding for a pilot course targeting primary age children involved in drug use and offending, to run a course specifically for looked after and accommodated young people and for a summer tournament.

The Committee approved the awarding of a grant to the "Kick It Kick Off" project and noted that this grant would be paid from the Children's Services Development Fund.

VIII PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE ELMS, SECURE UNIT, SOUTH ROAD, DUNDEE TO ACCOMMODATE NEW OPERATION REQUIREMENTS

There was submitted Joint Report No 321-2001 by the Director of Social Work and City Architectural Services Officer detailing new work which had been identified by the Social Work Services Inspectorate of the Scottish Executive and independent security advisers as being necessary to meet the operational requirements at The Elms, Secure Unit, South Road, Dundee, following consultation with management, secure unit staff and local residents.

The Committee agreed to the following recommendations:-

(i)That all improvements as detailed in Clause 6.3 of the report be approved.

(ii)That the City Architectural Services Officer be authorised to negotiate with the original Contractor, Taycon Construction Ltd, Dundee, up to a value of 265,000 and enter into a Partnership arrangement, with a view to agreeing a programme and carrying out this work at the earliest possible date.

(iii)That the South and West Wing (which includes Education), be closed during building operations to ensure the safety of staff, clients and residents, it being anticipated that the Secure Unit would require to be closed for a maximum period of 4 weeks.

(iv)That a Health and Safety Plan and Risk Assessment be prepared in conjunction with the Contractor and Management and that this be implemented to allow the North and East Wings (Close Support Unit plus Administration) to function during building works.

(v)That a temporary site access be formed from Wellburn Street, via the old Tennis Pavilion site, to allow improvement works to be carried out to the access from South Road, it being noted that the Council is owner of the ground which it is proposed to use for this temporary access, and that the temporary access would be required for a period of approximately 4 weeks during which controlled traffic safety arrangements from the Elms would be implemented at Wellburn Street.

(vi)that it may be remitted to the appropriate officers to prepare a report answering in detail members questions relating to the development of this project.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973 that the public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that they involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

IX REGISTRATION OF RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS

There was submitted Report No 279-2001 setting out the Committee's determination details of a proposed variation to a Condition of Registration for a Residential Establishment.

The Committee approved the application for variation in condition as detailed in the report.

Councillor Barrie declared an interest in this item and took no part in the discussion thereof.

It was reported that the Convener had agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 51(3)(b) in view of the timescales involved.

X REGISTRATION OF RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS

There was submitted Report No.333-2001 setting out for the Committee's determination a new application for Registration for a Residential Establishment.

The Committee approved the application as detailed in the report.

BETTY WARD, Convener.