Social Work And Health Committee - 17/04/2000
I RESPONSE TO THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT "REGULATING CARE AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES WORKFORCE
There was submitted Report No. 287-2000 by the Director of Social Work together with an Appendix to the Report, being a response prepared by the City Council to the Scottish Executive consultation document Regulating Care and the Social Services Workforce.
The Committee noted and approved the response as detailed in the report.
II CHILDREN'S SERVICES DEVELOPMENT FUND - ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND PROPOSALS FOR 2000/2001
There was submitted Report No. 288-2000 by the Director of Social Work seeking approval to deploy the new resources from the Childrens Services Development Fund 2000/2001, taking account of the three additional objectives set by the Scottish Executive.
The Committee agreed to: -
(i) note and agree the contents of the report and in particular to authorise the deployment of the extra resources from the Childrens Services Development Fund (2000/2001) in the following way:
to develop and implement a Foster Care Strategy for Dundee with emphasis on expanding skill-based specialist fostering (100,000)
to plan and develop throughcare and aftercare services for looked after children (30,000)
to extend the support to vulnerable families with emphasis on preventing family breakdown through making available extra grant assistance to local voluntary organisations (9,000); and
(ii) instruct the Director of Social Work to bring back a report to Committee on the progress made in improving service delivery to looked after children and vulnerable families through the use of the monies available from the Childrens Services Development Fund.
III RATES OF PAY FOR INDEPENDENT SECTOR RESIDENTIAL AND NURSING HOME CARE
There was submitted Report No. 289-2000 by the Director of Social Work proposing revised payment
rates for independent sector residential and nursing home care.
The Committee agreed that:-
(i) payments made to independent sector residential and nursing homes be increased by 3% on average from 10th April 2000, as detailed in the report; and
(ii) the Director of Social Work be instructed to continue negotiations with independent sector providers on fee levels, with a further report being presented to Committee in due course.
IV CHARGES AND RATES OF PAYMENT FOR RESPITE CARE
There was submitted Report No. 290-2000 by the Director of Social Work proposing a standard payment to carers for respite accommodation provided under the Home from Home scheme and the charge to be levied on users of all respite care services.
The Committee agreed to:-
(i) approve a standard payment of 140 per week to carers supplying respite care to older people in their own homes. (108 per week in 1999/2000); and
(ii) approve a charge of 53.40 per week (51.35 in 1999/2000) for respite care of up to eight weeks in total within the financial year 2000/2001 plus 61.30 per week (59.40 in 1999/2000) where the service user is in receipt of residential allowance.
V STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES
It was reported that the Social Work Services White Paper, Aiming for Excellence published in March 1999 had included a commitment to the introduction of a strategic framework for childrens services.
The draft framework had been subject to consultation through the membership of the Childrens Services Strategic Planning Group and their response had been forwarded to the Scottish Executive.
The Social Work Committee remitted to the Director of Social Work to report back with a full report once the Scottish Executive had published the final strategic framework.
VI CONFERENCE - ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL WORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE
It was reported that the above conference was to be held in the Hilton Dunblane Hydro on 9th to 12th May, 2000.
The Committee approved the attendance of the Director of Social Work or her nominee together with one member of the Labour Group, one member of the Scottish National Party Group and one member of the Conservative Group.
VII PAYMENT OF GRANT TO COUPLE COUNSELLING
It was reported that Couple Counselling (formerly Marriage Counselling), a voluntary organisation which provides services to people experiencing relationship difficulties, had been provided with funding by the Social Work Department in the past in line with a service level agreement.
However, for 2000/2001 and future years, Couple Counselling would be required to submit an application for grant funding, with funding being awarded only if the organisation successfully meets relevant criteria.
It was anticipated that the first round of grant awards would be made in June, 2000 which would present difficulties for Couple Counselling as they could not sustain their service and commitments to staff until June without some funding from Dundee City Council.
The Committee therefore agreed that a payment equivalent to three months funding at the 1999/2000 level (2,240) be made to assist the organisation with cashflow management over this transitional period. If Couple Counselling are subsequently awarded a grant, this payment would be deducted from the overall sum awarded. If they were unsuccessful in obtaining grant funding, the payment would help them to manage the reduction in service which would be necessary as a result.
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 item of business on the grounds that it may lead to the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.
VIII MINUTE OF MEETING OF COMPLAINTS REVIEW COMMITTEE
The minute of meeting of the Complaints Review Committee of 13th March 2000, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted and approved.
BETTY WARD, Convener.