Social Work And Health Committee - 18/04/2005

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th April, 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st March, 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I THE PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE ADULTS IN DUNDEE - AUDIT REPORT

There was submitted Report No 243-2005 by the Director of Social Work informing of the contents of the report "The Protection of Vulnerable Adults in Dundee - Audit Report" and requesting that an action plan be developed to take forward the report's findings.

The Committee approved the report "The Protection of Vulnerable Adults in Dundee - Audit Report" the summary of which had been attached to the report and agreed that an action plan be developed to take forward the report's findings.

II PERFORMANCE INSPECTION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES

There was submitted Joint Report No 245-2005 by the Director of Social Work and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) advising of the key findings and recommendations arising from the Inspection of Criminal Justice Social Work Services within the Tayside Partnership. The inspection had been conducted by the Social Work Services Inspectorate in September 2004 and was the fourth in a series of inspections of practice of all local authorities providing Criminal Justice Social Work Services across Scotland. It was reported that the Tayside Partnership had three months to submit an action plan to the Social Work Services Inspectorate detailing how the recommendations would be progressed.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the findings and recommendations contained within the report be noted;

(ii) that the Director of Social Work be required to prepare an action plan addressing the recommendations contained in the report;

(iii) that the Director of Social Work be required to provide an update to Committee on progress in relation to the action plan; and

(iv) that the personnel implications arising from the report be remitted to the Personnel Committee for consideration.

III FOSTERING ALLOWANCES 2005/06

There was submitted Agenda Note AN169-2005 seeking approval for rates of payment for fostering allowances for 2005/2006.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the rates of payment and allowances as detailed in the note be approved;

(ii) that, in relation to Link and Residence Allowances, should the level of income support rates increase during the financial year those allowances be increased accordingly; and

(iii) that, in relation to Fostering Allowances, once Scottish Executive allocations to Local Authority Fostering were known those allowances be reviewed.

IV SUPPLY OF FURNITURE FOR SOCIAL WORK OFFICES, CLAVERHOUSE

There was submitted Report No 262-2005 seeking approval to accept the recommended quote for the supply of office furniture for the new social work office development at Jack Martin Way, Claverhouse, Dundee.

The Committee agreed that the required office furniture be purchased from Wagstaff Office Interiors.

V ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL WORK - CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION -MANAGING RISK IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN170-2005 advising that the above Conference would be held at Crieff Hydro Hotel from Thursday, 27th October until Friday, 28th October, 2005. The cost of attendance would be 320 plus VAT per person excluding travel and subsistence allowances.

The Committee agreed that the elected member representation at the Conference be on the basis of one member of the Administration, one member of the SNP and one member of the Conservative Group.

HELEN WRIGHT, Convener.