Social Work And Health Committee - 22/08/2011

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 22nd August, 2011.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jim BARRIE, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 27th June, 2011 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I CASES SUB-COMMITTEE - MINUTES OF MEETINGS

(a) The minute of meeting of the Cases Sub-Committee held on 24th June, 2011 was submitted and noted for information and record purposes, a copy of which is attached to this minute as Appendix I.

(b) The minute of meeting of the Cases Sub-Committee held on 10th August, 2011 was submitted and noted for information and record purposes, a copy of which is attached to this minute as Appendix II.

II SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT SERVICE PLAN REVIEW

There was submitted Report No 351-2011 by the Director of Social Work reviewing the performance of the Social Work Department in relation to its Service Plan 2010/2012 and adding new actions from assessments and reviews carried out in the past year.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to approve the contents of the Social Work Department Service Plan Review and instruct the Director to continue to improve on the level of performance; and

(ii) to approve the actions identified in this review that would be included in the Department's Service Plan.

III HIGH RISK OFFENDERS SELF-EVALUATION

There was submitted Report No 354-2011 by the Director of Social Work informing of the findings of a recent self-evaluation exercise and a related Improvement Plan on the risk assessment and risk management of high risk of harm sexual and violent offenders. The exercise was carried out by the Social Work Department alongside Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) and colleagues in Angus and Perth and Kinross between November 2010 and April 2011.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the findings of the self-evaluation on the risk assessment and management of the high risk offenders as outlined at 4.3 of the report;

(ii) to request that a progress report on the Improvement Plan as outlined in paragraph 4.4 of the report be submitted by the Director of Social Work in 12 months; and

(iii) to note the Improvement Plan as outlined in paragraph 4.4 of the report.

IV FUNDING FOR DUNDEE WOMENS AID IN RESPECT OF MULTI-AGENCY RISK ASSESSMENT CASE CONFERENCING (MARAC)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN130-2011 requesting that the Committee approve funding of 17,250 to Dundee Women's Aid in respect of the MARAC pilot. MARAC was a multi-agency risk assessment and management process for high risk victims of domestic abuse that was introduced in Dundee for a pilot period in May 2011. Funding would support increased capacity within the independent advocacy element of the MARAC process, allowing the number of cases being discussed by MARAC to increase whilst protecting mainstream early intervention services that addressed cases at a lower level of risk and prevent their escalation into the MARAC process.

The Director of Finance had agreed that this could be funded from the overall balance for General Contingencies in the 2011/2012 Revenue Budget.

The Committee agreed to funding of 17,250 to Dundee Women's Aid in respect of the MARAC pilot.

V CARE ACCOLADES 2011 - SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN131-2011 reporting that residential child care services were recognised at this year's Care Accolades. A special commendation under The Employer Award, Investing in the Workforce, Developing Practice, was presented to staff and young people from residential children's services in Dundee at an event held in Paisley Town Hall in June.

The annual Care Accolades event recognised best practice throughout the social service sector in Scotland. The special commendation for the residential child care services training project recognised the work the five young persons' units in Dundee had undertaken to build strong reflective teams which communicated effectively with young people.

Video Enhanced Reflective Practice (V.E.R.P.) was used as part of a training programme for staff. Video recordings of real life daily activity in the residential units helped to develop and strengthen the relationships between staff and young people. Overall, the programme gave participants the opportunity to reflect, achieve goals and share practice and allowed staff to acknowledge success in an atmosphere of learning together.

The programme also facilitated openness and young people were encouraged to critically evaluate staff working in all five units.

The final evaluation became an important and empowering feature of this programme and involved young people and staff evaluating their skills at pre and post-course stages. By participating in this reflective programme, teams were much more comfortable with critically analysing their communication and relationships with each other and the young people they worked with.

The Committee noted the recognition given to the department as outlined in the note.

VI ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL WORK CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION - MAKING A DIFFERENCE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN132-2011 reporting that the Criminal Justice Conference of the Association of Directors of Social Work would take place at Crieff Hydro Hotel from Thursday, 27th October, 2011 to Friday 28th October, 2011 with the theme "Making a Difference".

The cost of attendance per delegate would be 380, plus VAT, excluding travel and subsistence allowances.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Guild, moved that elected member attendance at this conference be on the basis of the Convener or nominee.

As an amendment, Councillor Hay, seconded by Bailie Scott, moved that no elected members attend the Association of Directors of Social Work Criminal Justice Conference and Exhibition on 27th October, 2011 and 28th October, 2011.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Councillors Guild, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross, Bailie Sawers and Lord Provost Letford (15); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Hay, Macpherson, Dick, Bailies Wright, Wallace, Scott and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (12) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

Jim BARRIE, Convener.

APPENDIX I

At a MEETING of the CASES SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th June, 2011.

Present:-

Councillor Jim BARRIE

Bailie Helen WRIGHT

Councillor Donald HAY

Councillor Jim BARRIE, Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

The Sub-Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

I PURCHASE OF PLACEMENT WHICH EXCEEDS THE APPROVED NATIONAL CARE HOME RATE

There was submitted Report No 336-2011 by the Director of Social Work requesting approval to continue to fund ongoing services required to support one service user at an external placement outwith Dundee, whilst he went through the transition from Children's Services into Adult Services.

The Sub-Committee agreed funding for up to a year, to facilitate the service user remaining at that external placement, whilst plans were put in place for him to move back to Dundee.

Jim BARRIE, Convener.

APPENDIX II

At a MEETING of the CASES SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 10th August, 2011.

Present:-

Councillor Jim BARRIE

Councillor Christina ROBERTS

Councillor Richard McCREADY

Councillor Jim BARRIE, Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

The Sub-Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

I PURCHASE OF PLACEMENT WHICH EXCEEDS THE APPROVED NATIONAL CARE HOME RATE

There was submitted Report No 381-2011 by the Director of Social Work requesting authorisation to provide residential care services for one service user which exceeded agreed authorised limits.

The Sub-Committee authorised funding for this placement in respect of this care arrangement on the terms as outlined in the report.

Jim BARRIE, Convener.