Social Work And Health Committee - 14/04/2008

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 14th April, 2008.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Helen WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th March, 2008 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I CARE COMMISSION - INTRODUCTION OF NEW GRADING SYSTEM

There was submitted Report No 186-2008 by the Director of Social Work detailing changes to the Care Commission inspection process and the proposed arrangements for reporting the outcomes of inspections to the Social Work and Health Committee.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the content of the report; and

(ii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to prepare an annual report on key themes emerging from the inspection of Dundee City Council Social Work Services.

II PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY VOLUNTARY BODIES 2008/2009

Councillor Ken Lynn declared a non-financial interest in this item of business by virtue of his employment with Dundee Cyrenians and his Council appointments to Tayside Association for the Deaf and Dundee Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People.

Councillor Richard McCready declared a non-financial interest in this item of business by virtue of his Council appointments to Tayside Association for the Deaf and Dundee Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People.

Councillor Mohammed Asif declared a non-financial interest in this item of business by virtue of his Council appointment to Tayside Council on Alcohol.

There was submitted Report No 228-2008 by the Director of Social Work detailing the recommendations of the Director of Social Work on the level of payments for services provided by voluntary organisations for 2008/2009.

The Committee agreed payments to the voluntary organisations listed in the report at the levels outlined, subject to the Director of Social Work remaining satisfied that the service provided met the service specification.

III CHOOSE LIFE

Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee held on 16th February, 2004, wherein proposals for the implementation of the Choose Life Strategy were approved including the establishment of a sub-group of Healthy Dundee (The Choose Life Steering Group) to oversee the development and implementation of the local suicide prevention strategy. The sum of 87,000 had been allocated to support suicide prevention.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN73-2008 reporting that the Choose Life Steering Group had now approved continued funding for a year for continuation of the following services:-

7 WOMEN'S RAPE AND SEXUAL ABUSE CENTRE (WRASAC) - 30,000

7 BARNARDO'S ROLLERCOASTER PROJECT - 30,000

7 CHOOSE LIFE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER - 20,000 PER ANNUM WITH INITIAL EXTENSION FOR SIX MONTHS

The Committee agreed to the release of funding as indicated to meet the Choose Life suicide prevention agenda for 2008/2009.

IV FOSTERING ALLOWANCES 2008/2009

There was submitted Agenda Note AN74-2008 seeking approval for fostering allowances for 2008/2009.

The Committee agreed that the rates of payment and allowances as detailed in the note be approved and that they be effective from 31st March, 2008.

V ADULT SUPPORT AND PROTECTION ACT 2007

On a reference to Article III of minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 16th April, 2007, wherein the Dundee Adult Protection Committee was established, it was reported that Professor James Hogg had been successfully appointed as the independent chair.

The Committee noted the appointment.

VI NATIONAL ADVISORY BODY FOR OFFENDER MANAGEMENT

It was reported that the Convener of the Social Work and Health Committee had been nominated to chair the group of Community Justice Authority Conveners. As a result, Bailie Helen Wright had also been nominated to become a member of the National Advisory Body on Offender Management chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice.

The Committee noted the appointment.

Helen WRIGHT, Convener.