Social Work And Health Committee - 23/02/2009

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 23rd February, 2009.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Helen WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 26th January, 2009 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I PROTECTING SCOTLANDS COMMUNITIES: FAIR, FAST AND FLEXIBLE JUSTICE

There was submitted Report No 93-2009 by the Director of Social Work on the proposals contained in the Scottish Government's report, Protecting Scotland's Communities: Fair, Fast and Flexible Justice, which was published in December 2008 and outlined a coherent offender management strategy. The plan brought together the reforms of the Scottish Criminal Justice System and the 2007 Review of Community Penalties and the work of the Scottish Prisons' Commission.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that Protecting Scotland's Communities outlined the Government's commitment to a policy that would deliver immediate, visible, effective, high quality, flexible and relevant justice which was central to helping communities become stronger, safer places to live and that the report highlighted the proposed changes, particularly those which would have an impact on service delivery;

(ii) to note the proposals contained in the report and implications for service delivery; and

(iii) to endorse the actions being taken locally to implement proposals and improve services within Dundee.

II REFORMING AND REVITALISING - REPORT OF THE REVIEW OF COMMUNITY PENALTIES

There was submitted Report No 116-2009 by the Director of Social Work advising that a report on the Government's Review of Penal Policy, Reforming and Revitalising, carried out in 2007, was approved by the Social Work and Health Committee on 6th February, 2008. The report highlighted the potential implications for delivering community penalties, actions that could be taken locally and the need for ongoing consultations with Community Planning Networks. As instructed, this report now provides Committee with a twelve month update on the review and actions that continued to be taken to implement the four themes in the review of:-

(i) reparation and payback

(ii) rehabilitation and reintegration

(iii) quality and enforcement

(iv) community engagement

The Committee agreed to note and endorse the progress of action being taken locally to implement Reforming and Revitalising.

III MENTAL HEALTH ACCOMMODATION AND SUPPORT

There was submitted Report No 141-2009 by the Director of Social Work outlining plans for developing accommodation and support for 17 individuals with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the contents of the report;

(ii) to approve the plans for the 17 individuals; and

(iii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to commission 16 accommodation with support places.

IV IMPROVING TRANSITIONAL PLANNING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT NEEDS

There was submitted Report No 124-2009 by the Director of Social Work illustrating how improved transitional planning arrangements were improving outcomes for young people in Dundee who left school and would continue to have additional support needs as adults. Within the Social Work Department, the developments were led jointly by Children's Services and Community Care Services. The developments were gaining national recognition.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that the multi-agency Transition Forum had been established;

(ii) to note that the Social Work Department had agreed a Transition Protocol;

(iii) to note that there was developing collaborative practice involving children's and adult services from agencies across Dundee;

(iv) to recognise the improved outcomes for this group of young people in the areas of personalised plans, participation, reduction of duplication, improved support and service delivery; and greater clarity of responsibility as described in paragraph 4.3 of the report; and

(v) to endorse future plans through the Transition Forum for development in improvement and co-ordination of services, user involvement, improved procedures and better forecasting of future need as outlined in paragraph 4.4 of the report.

V KINSHIP CARE STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 123-2009 by the Director of Social Work advising of the Scottish Government Strategy "Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) in Kinship and Foster Care" and of the steps Dundee had taken to achieving the aspirations of the Strategy.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the publication of the National Strategy "Getting it right for every child in Kinship and Foster Care";

(ii) to note the development of the Kinship Care service in Dundee;

(iii) to agree the recommendations for service development; and

(iv) to instruct the Director of Social Work to prepare a further report on Kinship Care in 2009 taking account of emerging national developments and local response to these.

VI PRESSURES ON THE EXTERNAL FAMILY PLACEMENT BUDGET

There was submitted Report No 125-2009 by the Director of Social Work advising of key actions to reduce the projected overspend in the budget for external family placements.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the context and current pressures on the budget for commissioning external family placements;

(ii) to note that the Director of Social Work and Children's Services Manager were undertaking a review of Dundee's arrangements for the fostering of "Looked After" children; and

(iii) note the key actions taken by the Social Work Department to reduce the level of expenditure.

VII GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS 2008/2009

There was submitted Report No 84-2009 by the Director of Social Work detailing the recommendations of the Director of Social Work on the Section 10 grant awards to voluntary organisations for 2008/2009.

The Committee agreed to make payment to the voluntary organisations listed in Appendix 1 of the report at the levels outlined.

VIII CHOOSE LIFE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN55-2009 advising that proposals for the implementation of the Choose Life strategy were approved by the Social Work Committee on 16th February, 2004. The report highlighted proposals for the implementation of Choose Life in Dundee and advised that a sub‑group of Health Dundee (the Choose Life Steering Group) had been established to oversee the development and implementation of the local suicide prevention strategy. The sum of 87,000 has been allocated to support suicide prevention.

The Choose Life Steering Group had now approved funding for the following services:-

SAMARITANS (NATIONAL) - 1,000

The money would be used to increase the Samaritans ability to attend outdoor events to offer emotional support to those who are at risk of taking their lives. This was a Scotland-wide venture involving volunteers from the majority of the branches attending festivals and events throughout the country and funding had been sought from all areas.

SAMARITANS - 1,000

The money would be used to fund a dedicated area with a PC and peripheral equipment within the Dundee branch in order to deal with the increasing amount of text messages being sent to the Samaritans.

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

IX ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL WORK (ADSW) ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2009

There was submitted Agenda Note AN56-2009 reporting that the annual conference of the Association of Directors of Social Work would take place at Crieff Hydro Hotel from Wednesday, 13th May to Friday, 15th May, 2009.

The cost of attendance would be approximately 585 plus VAT per person excluding travel and subsistence allowances.

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

Helen WRIGHT, Convener.