Social Work And Health Committee - 09/06/2008

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 9th June, 2008.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Helen WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th April, 2008 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I PERFORMANCE INSPECTION ACTION PLAN: DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT

Reference was made to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th December, 2007, wherein the outcome of the performance inspection of social work services provided by Dundee City Council undertaken by the Social Work Inspection Agency during 2007 was reported.

There was submitted Report No 248-2008 by the Director of Social Work providing details of actions the Social Work Department planned to take to address the recommendations made in the recent Social Work Inspection Agency Report on the "Performance Inspection of Social Work Services (in) Dundee City Council".

The Committee agreed:-

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

(ii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to implement and monitor the Action Plan and provide a final report when the formal follow-up inspection process is concluded.

II GUIDANCE ON OVERNIGHT STAYS FOR LOOKED AFTER AND ACCOMMODATED CHILDREN

There was submitted Report No 269-2008 by the Director of Social Work informing of the development of national guidance on overnight stays for looked after and accommodated children and the implementation of this guidance within Dundee.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the contents of Getting it Right for Every Child: Guidance on Overnight Stays for Looked After and Accommodated Children; and

(ii) to note that departmental procedures had been amended slightly to reflect the contents of the new guidance.

III FEES CHARGED FOR RESIDENCE ORDER APPLICATION REPORTS

Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th March, 2008, wherein the fees payable by the Council to curators ad litem and Reporting Officers were revised to be in line with the fees payable to Safeguarders.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN106-2008 reporting that under Section 11(5) of the Matrimonial Proceedings (Children) Act 1958, any expenses incurred by a local authority in connection with the preparation of a report should be paid by a party to the court action.

Reports compiled by the Council in relation to Residence Order applications were broadly similar to those provided by curators ad litem and Reporting Officers in legal proceedings involving children.

In order to bring these charges into line with the fees payable by the Council to curators ad litem and Reporting Officers, it was proposed that the following charges be applied:-

7                                             a fixed appointment fee of 219.40

7                                             augmented by 54.85 in respect of each additional child living with siblings or 109.70 in respect of each additional child living separately from siblings

7                                             written report fee of 109.70

7                                             augmented by 54.85 in respect of each additional child

The Committee agreed the terms of the note.

Helen WRIGHT, Convener.